Entering their third year as a varsity program, South Warren has thus far met or exceeded every goal they have set for themselves. In 2011, their goal was to make the playoffs in their first season. Check. In 2012, their goal was to host a home playoff game. Not only did they meet that goal, they won that game for their first postseason victory and won a second to advance to the region finals, far exceeding expectations. And so they find themselves entering 2013 with loftier goals than ever. Their senior class began the South Warren football program, which fielded only JV/Freshman teams in 2010. They are the forerunners of the Spartan program and they will seek to leave a lasting legacy at South Warren, a legacy that includes a regional title.

 

Head Coach Mark Nelson will enjoy a team that will boast the most experience and talent yet in the short Spartan history. He'll have the services of senior QB Jay Eblen, a dual-threat who will be in his third year starting under center. Also returning are the two primary ball carriers from 2012, seniors Drew Wilken and Joel Iyiegbuniwe. Wilken is the leading returning rusher in terms of per carry average and Iyiegbuniwe has generated interest from several colleges this offseason, including an offer from hometown team WKU. Protecting Eblen and opening the running the lanes are three returning interior linemen, all seniors. Defensively South Warren will have the services of the recruiting jewel of the team, recent UK commit Adrian Middleton. Middleton checks in at a healthy 6'4", 275 lbs. Middleton is one of the few Spartans that does not play on both sides of the ball, so he remains fresh to blow up the interior of the offensive line. If he is not double teamed, good luck keeping him out of the backfield. Another defensive standout returning is ILB Cody Chaffin, the team leader in tackles in 2012 with 78 solos and 47 assists. Wilken will also return to shore up the linebacking corps, while Eblen and Iyiegbuniwe will see time in the secondary.

 

South Warren's 2013 schedule sees a few slight tweaks from a year ago, with one very significant rival added. The Spartans will continue their rivalry with Warren East in the season opener, moving it from Bowling Green's bowl game at WKU to a home and home matchup, this year playing at South Warren. They'll also continue their series against close neighbors Logan County and Russellville. But the most significant pickups on the schedule are Daviess County and Greenwood. 6A Daviess County represents the largest school the Spartans have ever met on the field. Greenwood is the highlight of the schedule. South Warren was formed from a large portion of Greenwood, and many of these players played on the same middle school team, so the faces will be familiar. South Warren has enjoyed many successes that Greenwood did not attain for many years, and the Spartans will look to rub more salt in that wound with a victory in the first meeting between the schools. The schedule has a much greater balance between small schools and large schools than the first two years. This should help prepare the Spartans for their inevitable bump up as high as 5A following the 2015 realignment. In district play, the keystone game is their October 18th meeting with Monroe County. The Falcons are the one team the Spartans have been unable to solve, losing by an average of more than 27 PPG in their three meetings so far. That included an embarassing 41-0 loss at home last year in the de facto district championship game. With a pair of D1 recruits leading them, South Warren will be ready to ground the Falcons in 2013.

 

Above all, 2013 is a window of opportunity for South Warren. They enjoy a significant enrollment advantage over the other 3A teams, with an enrollment that would actually place them among the largest 4A teams in the state. They will reap the benefits of one of the more experienced rosters in the state, with several three year starters on both sides of the ball. There will be added pressure to achieve even greater success before the window closes and they find themselves on a playing field with schools more their size.

 

Players To Watch

• Adrian Middleton - DT - 6'4", 275 lbs - Senior - Kentucky commit Middleton is the monster of the team, the best player in the very short South Warren history. He only compiled 40 solo tackles last year, but every one of them was a highlight. It was not uncommon to find him charging through the line, reaching out with one arm, and flinging the quarterback to the ground with ease.
   
   
  
• Jay Eblen - QB/SS - 5'11", 180 lbs - Senior - Eblen is the general on the field for the Spartan offense, and their leading producer on the ground and through the air. Last year Eblen threw for 1,433 yards and 15 TDs in addition to racking up 700 yards and 12 TDs on the ground. Eblen is a scrambling quarterback, which can at times lead to trouble, but just as often keeps plays alive for much longer than they otherwise would, leading to open receivers downfield. In either case, he's entertaining as hell to watch.
   
   
  
• Joel Iyiegbuniwe - RB/FS - 6'2", 205 lbs - Senior - Iyiegbuniwe doesn't have a name that exactly rolls off the tongue (most call him by his nickname "Iggy") but you'll hear it often during a South Warren game. Iyiegbuniwe is the big play threat for the Spartans, be it on a kickoff, run around the end, or even when jumping a route on defense to take an interception back to the house. Look for the Spartans to get the ball in his hands often, preferably in the open field where he will blow by opposing defenses or just simply make them miss.
   
   
  
• Cody Chaffin - OLB - 6'1", 195 lbs - Senior - Cody is officially listed as a TE along with his linebacker duties, but sees very little time outside of his linebacker position. Which suits him just fine. Chaffin has a nose for the ball and there are very few defensive snaps you won't find him near the outcome or making the play.
  

Very nice preview.

Is there resentment between South Warren and Greenwood over South Warren's immediate success? Greenwodd was horrible for many years and they don't seem to be all that much better now.

 

 

Is South Warren catching flack for being a 4A school playing in 3A? I haven't seen much on here but I imagine that if they improve upon their success from last year then they will get the Mercer County treatment. Which I still feel is unfair to South Warren.

Is there resentment between South Warren and Greenwood over South Warren's immediate success? Greenwodd was horrible for many years and they don't seem to be all that much better now.

 

 

Is South Warren catching flack for being a 4A school playing in 3A? I haven't seen much on here but I imagine that if they improve upon their success from last year then they will get the Mercer County treatment. Which I still feel is unfair to South Warren.

 

I don't really get a resentment feel about the football program. There was a lot initially in basketball because South Warren pillaged them, but not so much football. Their 7 on 7 game was really intense though, especially from the Greenwood side. So they're at least chomping at the bit to play them.

 

I do feel that a lot of people feel that South Warren was and is afforded advantages that Greenwood was not. Greenwood got a single year in 2A before having to go up to 3A in the old 4 class system. Greenwood had to step right up to play teams like Franklin-Simpson, Warren Central, Bowling Green, and Owensboro Senior in their district. They weren't good enough to beat Warren East or Logan County (who were also in-district), but couldn't hope to even remotely compete with those others. Compare that with Monroe County, Edmonson County, Adair County, and Hart County for South Warren. Only Monroe is a traditional power, with Edmonson having some upswings at times. Perks of South Warren beginning with the six class system. South Warren also learned from the Greenwood "mistake", which was starting with a varsity program out of the gate despite not having the personnel to do it. South Warren started as a JV/Freshman program, built a base and some confidence, and used that momentum leading into varsity play. Finally, South Warren started with unbelievable facilities. I'm fairly certain Greenwood did not.

 

Occasionally it does pop up the issue that South Warren is so much bigger than the schools. The furor is probably not as much compared to Mercer County because Mercer County was an established school that absorbed another school, enabling them to become a state power immediately. South Warren did not enjoy either of those advantages, being carved out of two other schools and not even having the luxury of building with seniors. But as they grow more successful, it is getting brought up more and more. If they make a significant impact this year, you can be almost certain you'll hear it a lot. I'm not entirely certain why they were allowed to stay in 3A. The terms for a school getting swapped mid-alignment was:

 

"There will be a review of alignments after the first two years with potential adjustments in class based on schools having a 12% or higher change (increase or decrease) in average boys enrollment, and such change placing a school below or above class bounds."

 

South Warren started with 413 boys in 2010, the figure used to place them. The next year, they had 488 (18% jump). The year after that, 525 (7.6% jump). In all, the average of the two years following their initial one jumped by nearly 23%. I'm not really upset about them still being in 3A because I want to see them do well, but I think it'll be a fair criticism by their opponents.

I feel if South is going to get a deep run it needs to be this year. They have the right elements but will it all come together...I am very anxious to see!

 

I being a district rival have no beef with the bigger school argument...only 11 can play at a time, granted there is power in numbers and more talent to choose from, but if you breed football players all is good:lol2: