Tigers to host Bulldogs for season opener

STAFF REPORT
BSN

PAINTSVILLE — After finishing as the 2019 Class A runner-up, Paintsville is preparing to host Lawrence County in its 2020 high school football season opener. The Tigers and Bulldogs are scheduled to meet at Memorial Field at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 21. The matchup will serve as a season opener for each Eastern Kentucky high school football squad. When the two teams met in Louisa in 2019, Paintsville pulled away to win 48-17. Following a shutout loss to Pikeville in the Class A state title game, Paintsville ended the 2019 season 11-4. The Tigers are slated to face Beechwood at Georgetown College for the second straight year. Paintsville has additional home games scheduled versus Hazard, Union (Va.) and Fairview. The Tigers' 2019 schedule includes away games versus Pikeville, East Jessamine, Betsy Layne, Raceland and Lexington Christian. Senior quarterback Jake Hyden is on his way back to lead the Tigers. As a junior in 2019, Hyden completed 106-of-206 passes for 1,609 yards and 15 touchdowns. On the ground, rushed 128 times for 776 yards and 10 touchdowns. Quarterback Baden Gillispie is poised to lead the Bulldogs. Gillispie rushed 158 times for 1,170 yards and 24 touchdowns in 11 games for Lawrence County during the 2019 prep football season. During the same stretch, Gillispie completed 19 of 50 passes for 344 yards and five touchdowns.
Paintsville's 2020 schedule follows.

Paintsville High School Football
2020 Schedule
Aug. 21 Lawrence County, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 28 vs. Beechwood, 7:30 p.m.
(at Georgetown College)
Sept. 4 at Pikeville, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 11 at East Jessamine, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 25 Hazard, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 2 Union, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 9 Fairview, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 16 at Betsy Layne, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 23 at Raceland, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 30 at Lexington Christian, 7:30 p.m.