Background

 

The Bluegrass Bowl was established in 1995. The Bowl’s objective is to showcase the excellent quality of high

school football in the state of Kentucky. This unique setting features top teams from around Kentucky. The first teams to play

in the event included Hazard High School, Trinity High School, Jessamine County High School and host Lexington Catholic. The

event brought together teams and fans from the state’s largest city and from its proud mountain region. Truly a one-of-kind

setting in Kentucky High School football. In 2008 the event went beyond the state border when Indiana’s defending 3A champions

Bishop Chatard came to Lexington. And in 2012 the game between the Lexington Catholic Knights and Nashville’s Ensworth

Tigers was broadcast live on national television on ESPN.

 

In 2009 there were two notable changes to the event. The first is that the current sponsor, Republic Bank, became the events

primary sponsor. Republic Bank’s commitment to the Bluegrass Bowl has allowed the event to become more special each year.

The second change was to include a slate of middle school teams from around the state in the morning and early afternoon. Since

2009 this has provided Kentucky high school, and middle school, football fans a full day of dawn-to-dusk football feature rising

talent from around the Commonwealth.

 

 

The 2013 Bluegrass Bowl

 

This year the Republic Bank Bluegrass Bowl is an all Kentucky event that again showcases some of Kentucky’s best players from

different parts of the state. The participating teams include the perennial 6A power Saint Xavier Tigers from Louisville under

new head coach Will Wolford; the up and coming Bryan Station Defenders coached by Frank Parks; the defending 5A champions

Bowling Green Purples coached by Kevin Wallace; and the host team the Lexington Catholic Knights coached by state champion

coach Bill Letton.

 

With this impressive lineup the Republic Bank Bluegrass Bowl has once again strived to meet its goal of showcasing the high quality

of high school football in Kentucky.

Bowling Green Purples vs. Bryan Station Defenders

 

The 5:30 p.m. game will feature two-time defending state Class 5A champion the Bowling Green Purples, against the up and coming

6A Bryan Station Defenders. The Purples of Bowling Green are coached by Kevin Wallace. They meet a Bryan Station squad

coached by Frank Parks, who is building his team into a leading program in Lexington.

 

Bowling Green comes into the 2013 season with 15 returning starters, including 9 on the offensive side of the ball. Four senior

lead this experienced team: Nacarius Fant (5’ 10 174 lbs) at wide receiver, Devin Haynes (6’2” 175 lbs) at quarterback, Blue Tisdale

(6’1” 185 lbs) at running back and Lincoln Quick (6’2” 205 lbs) at linebacker. Loaded with talent, the Purples are a favorite to be

playing in front of a home crowd for a third straight 5A title in December.

 

The Bryan Station Defenders were 6-5 in 2012, with 5 games decided by less than touchdown in the first season with Frank

Parks as coach. The Defenders always have talented players and look to improve their record in 2013. This year’s team includes

sophomore Marcus Floyd, who had an impressive 705 yards last season with 9 TDs. Other players expected to have big

years include wide receiver Devin Key and defensive back Glenn Spencer.

 

St. Xavier Tigers vs. Lexington Catholic Knights

 

The second high school game of the evening will feature the St. Xavier Tigers and Lexington Catholic Knights. The Tigers are under

new leadership this year as Will Wolford takes over for long time coach Mike Glaser, who retired at the end of the 2012 season.

The Tigers come into 2013 with maybe their strongest team in the last few years. What was a relatively young team by St. X

standards in 2012 will feature seasoned starters in 2013. This team is led by senior running backs: Austin Davis, Treyveon Percell

and Charles Walker. These three running backs combined for over 2,400 yards and 37 TDs. Walker led the Tigers running backs

with 1,148 yards in 2012. When the Tigers take the air, they have returning their 2012 leading wide receiver William Roshkowski

– with 19 catches and 4 TDs. Defensively, the Tigers return two outstanding senior linebacker Andrew McCormick (52 tackles) and

senior defensive tackle Lenny Broyles (29 tackles).

 

The Knights coach Bill Letton, in his 8th season as head coach, counters this strong St. X team with his own set of proven

playmakers. At quarterback will be junior Reese Ryan (6’ 2” 180 lbs). Ryan is one of the top quarterbacks in the state and already

has offers from Louisville and Illinois. Like his predecessor, Ryan gives the Knights the capability to strike long on any play at any

time. Sophomore Sam Letton (6’3” 212 lbs) will be a favorite Ryan target. Letton had an outstanding freshmen season and is on the

radar of major colleges. Senior wide receiver David Bouvier (5’ 7” 140 lbs) has been named to the All-City squad the last two years

and broke the single season receiving record for the Knights in 2012 with 86 catches. He is on pace to break the career record in

2013. In the backfield, the Knights will have three-year starting seniors Marcelis Logan (5’ 8” 167 lbs) and Noah Mitchell (5’7” 183

lbs). Both Logan and Mitchell have offers from colleges and will be playing at the next level as proven running backs.

 

Leading the Knight defense will be 3-year starter and two time All-City senior middle linebacker Josh Mesmer (6’ 2” 211 lbs).

Mesmer led the Knights in tackles in 2012 and was second in tackles in 2011. Other returning starters include senior defensive

lineman Marty Brown (5’10’ 190 lbs), cornerback Kairon Snowden (5’ 6” 160 lbs) and junior linebacker Cody Mitchell (6’0” 165 lbs).

Senior Malik Guidry (5’7” 165 lbs) will start at cornerback and junior Braxton Couch (6’0” 170 lbs) will give the Knights the speed

needed to run their unique 3-5 defensive configuration.

Where are these games played at?

Where are these games played at?

 

I believe at Lex Cath.

Hopefully y'all get to good close game.

Where are these games played at?

 

These are played at Joseph K. Ford Stadium on the Lexington Catholic Campus on Clays Mill Road in Lexington.

 

The middle school games start at 9 a.m. and include Lexington Catholic playing Elkhorn in both 7th and 8th grade levels and Wayne County playing Westport (Louisville) in an 8th grade game.