Over the past two years, the Dragons have established themselves as arguably one of the top 10 teams in the state regardless of class. They have played in three straight region title games, and have only one loss to a team in those three years that didn't play for a state title. Unfortunately for Warren Central, they have six losses to teams that did, and three of those losses prevented them from winning even a single region title during that time. In the last two years, the prevailing feeling on Morgantown Road is that Bowling Green prevented them from not only winning a region title, but a state title as well.

 

This leaves Warren Central entering 2013 with many questions about what to do moving forward. They've seen a lot of success but they have not gotten to where they feel they are capable of going. They'll have a lot of gaps to fill as well in their quest to achieve those goals. Gone is the advantage of five senior lineman that the Dragons graduated last year. Gone is a three year starter at quarterback. And gone are their top two rushers. But enough about what Warren Central lost, what do they return? Their primary returning offensive weapon in their Wing-T offense is WB Rondell Green who averaged 8.3 YPC last season on 61 rushes. He'll likely be complimented on the opposite wing by junior Daryen Ross who posted 260 yards in limited work last season. The likely quarterback for Warren Central will be senior Chris Porter-Bunton, who has actually generated a fair amount of college interest as a wide receiver, the position he played primarily last season. With Porter-Bunton in the backfield, the Dragons will look more like the team featured in the first season under HC Mike Rogers when he came to Warren Central in 2009. That team threw much more sparingly but confused defenses with three speedy and talented backfield runners in addition to a bruising fullback. Porter-Bunton's mobility may help make up for an inexperienced line, especially in the early part of the season. Defensively the Dragons should return six starters, anchored by junior MLB Emmitt Smith and senior WLB Byron Carver. Of all the players on Warren Central's team, no player passes the eye test more than these two bruisers. They'll be called upon to tighten up a defense that allowed an average of 29.5 points in two games to Bowling Green last year, their only two losses. The Dragons have only once ever beaten Bowling Green when allowing that many points in a game.

 

The 2013 schedule sees a fairly significant uptick in difficulty for the Dragons as they are beginning to experience a taste of what Bowling Green has been dealing with - no one close wants to play them. The Dragons had great difficulty finding a game for Week 10, so they were able to jump at the opportunity to play arguably the most tradition rich program in the state, the Highlands Bluebirds. Warren Central has also added games against 2A Semifinalist Louisville DeSales, traditional powers Owensboro and North Hardin, as well as an appearance against Boyle County in the Rebels' bowl game. This gauntlet may find Warren Central with a few more bumps and bruises as well as more entries in the loss column than the past few years. They're hoping that it will pay off in preparation for where they want to go. In-district the Dragons are the clear #2 team behind Bowling Green, and will be strongly favored in all games except that one. The game against Bowling Green is October 18th, two weeks before their matchup with Highlands. Few teams, if any, can boast of two games that challenging so close to each other. Few teams, if any, would WANT two games that challenging so close to each other.

 

Warren Central remains confident that they can win a state title in 5A, but they will have to find a way to reach even the semifinals before they can truly be seriously considered a threat for the title. Will they ever be able to escape the Purple shadow of their "big brother"?

 

Players To Watch

• Chris Porter-Bunton - QB/WR/FS - 6'4", 200 lbs - Senior - In a perfect world, Porter-Bunton would be playing in his more natural position of wide receiver rather than throwing the ball, but look for the Dragons to still look for ways to split him out wide. As QB, Central will look to take advantage of his athleticism and the greater opportunities provided by the ball being in his hands on almost every snap.
   
   
  
• Byron Carver - TE/OLB - 6'2", 230 lbs - Senior - Carver's size gives him a matchup advantage over most teams the Dragons will face, and should be the favorite passing target on the team. Last year he notched 374 yards and 8 TDs in an offense that threw sparingly. Defensively, the Dragons seek ways to get Carver matched 1 on 1 on the edge with offensive lineman, where his size and speed can yield maximum results.
   
   
  
• Emmitt Smith - MLB/FB - 6'3", 240 lbs - Junior - Emmitt Smith has half the battles won already. He has the frame of a football player, and he has a name synonymous with football. Smith has begun to generate some more interest in recruiting circles, and will be leaned on to continue the strong play he exhibited late last season to lift the Dragon defense. Smith also saw spot work at the fullback position in 2012, and may be called upon to carry the ball more this season.
   
   
  
• Rondell Green - WB/CB - 6'0", 180 lbs - Senior - After a strong sophomore campaign Green was expected to be the lead wing for the Dragons, but a hand injury kept him from carrying the ball as much as the Dragons would have liked last season. He still put up 507 yards rushing with 8 TDs on the ground, as well as hauling in 4 TD receptions and running one kickoff back for a score. Defensively, Green is the standout in the secondary where he notched 6 interceptions, one of which he took back for a score.
  

Good stuff, DF.

Nice DF!

I will be rooting for the Dragons, except for the game with the Purples. They are our toughest rival and I have the greatest respect for their program and Coach Rogers. If not for Bowling Green's run the last couple of years, they would have almost certainly won their 1st state championship in football. I know that championship will come, but I hope they can wait just a little bit longer. When the Purples and Dragons play, all bets are off and anything can happen.