article South Warren Spartans vs 4A in 2015

[Doubletake1906]

Similar to PurplePride, I would like to stir the pot a little. The Spartans (now in 4A) will have the most challenging schedule they have had in their past 4 years of existence. The past 2 seasons have been their most successful since the program began posting a combined record of 24-3...

 

With Coach Smith returning for his 2nd year as head coach, and the team returning virtually every starter from both sides of the ball, I believe this team is primed and ready to make a run at a 4A State Championship. Some areas of improvement for them to make that run will have to be filling the void at Running Back, more commitment to the passing game, and cutting down on their turnovers.

 

Julius Allen has been their horse at RB the past two seasons, and he has done an outstanding job. His inside running and ability to squeak out 4-5 yards every time he touched it was very valuable. His counterpart at RB was a Sophomore Speedster who could hit you for a big gain, but is sometimes unpredictable. A super talented athlete, but my expectation is that they utilize a RB by committee with a combination of him with rising Senior Austin McElwain.

 

South Warren lost in the Semi-Final of State due to a few reasons but none bigger than losing the battle of field position and lack of commitment to the passing game. Up until playing Louisville Central, the Spartans had a fairly balanced running and passing attack spreading the ball out to the different recievers to open things up for their running game. I believe they could benefit from getting the ball into their playmakers hands at the reciever positions, and allowing them to make a play...

 

Finally, he Spartans turnover ratio at key moments in games was a little too high last year. My guess is that Coach Smith will spend a lot of time addressing this in the offseason, and it shouldn't be an issue when the season begins.

 

The Spartans district in 4A is tough consisting of football powerhouses like Franklin Simspon, Warren Central, and Warren East. But my opinion is that if they can get out of their district (possibly the toughest in 4A), the odds are in their favor to make it all the way to The State Championship. What are your thoughts?

[Cynical]

South needs to win it this year. They lost to a very average Louisville Central team that featured no marque players and middle of the road speed given what they have had in the past. South is not going to give up points, that's a given. I say for now, it's the Spartans and John Hardin to see who slaughters Johnson Central for the crown.

 

Now after this year...:o

[JDEaston]

I don't know much about them, were they 5a last year?

[Doubletake1906]

South needs to win it this year. They lost to a very average Louisville Central team that featured no marque players and middle of the road speed given what they have had in the past. South is not going to give up points, that's a given. I say for now, it's the Spartans and John Hardin to see who slaughters Johnson Central for the crown.

 

Now after this year...:o

 

I would not go as far as to call Louisville Central Average.... Yes they took some hits early in their season but they took a while to figure out who they were as a team. They had a two QB system, and from what I saw, they didn't even find out who was the better of the two until they played Corbin. Therefore they were just hitting their stride when they beat South. And again a lot of them beating South was more so South Warren beating themselves by not executing a solid offensive game plan. I am sure they have learned from their mistakes the past two years.

[coach1980]

4A has added several new faces this season . I think Franklin County, and Mason County and John Hardin are schools added in the mix . I had seen both Mason and Franklin Counties play a couple years ago and they were contenders. Should be a good season in 4A.

[hoss403]

South needs to win it this year. They lost to a very average Louisville Central team that featured no marque players and middle of the road speed given what they have had in the past. South is not going to give up points, that's a given. I say for now, it's the Spartans and John Hardin to see who slaughters Johnson Central for the crown.

 

Now after this year...:o

 

I think 4A is wide open this year. As a JH fan, I am very interested in the SW/JH game early in the year, even though if they were to meet again in the playoffs the game would mean little at that point. After this year, forget about it. The title goes through JH.

[Cynical]

After this year, forget about it. The title goes through JH.

 

That's a bold statement from a school that has yet to get over the hump. In the early 2000's Paducah Tilghman had an unbelievable run of kids in Joe Casey, Hunter Cantwell, and a host of others. They were thought to be a lights-out almost sure-fire to win it all bet...a couple of times. They never even made it there. The 2011 JH team was a once-in-25-year'ish team and they stumbled against a BG team that was smaller and who had a superstar Soph. WR. My point being, until JH wins it, they are NEVER going to be who the title will go through. You gotta get over the hump. Until then, you're just another of many trying to see what it's like at the top.

[Cynical]

I think JH is loaded...I just don't know if they can get over that mental hump though.

 

The JH/SW game should be a great one for SW. It will be the first true test of elite speed SW has played in a regular season game. The closest they have come is Warren East and Russellville and neither of those brought to the table what JH will in 2015. Should be a great game.

[Doubletake1906]

I think JH is loaded...I just don't know if they can get over that mental hump though.

 

The JH/SW game should be a great one for SW. It will be the first true test of elite speed SW has played in a regular season game. The closest they have come is Warren East and Russellville and neither of those brought to the table what JH will in 2015. Should be a great game.

 

Not true regarding them playing against speedy opponents... Last year they also demolished Paducah Tilgman and E Town... They also narrowly lost to Louisville Central.... All of which traditionally have just as much, if not more, speed as John Hardin...

[Cynical]

Regular. Season.

 

Read the post all the way through before responding.

 

And yes, Tilghamn has some speed, legit speed. Etown is a crying joke and if that is your comparative measure of "elite speed" then two things are abundantly clear:

1. SW hasn't seen much speed in their lives.

and 2. JH is going to destroy SW.

 

As for Louisville Central, that was a very average Louisville Central team when measured against past Central teams. As much is evident in their scores.

[Doubletake1906]

Regular. Season.

 

Read the post all the way through before responding.

 

And yes, Tilghamn has some speed, legit speed. Etown is a crying joke and if that is your comparative measure of "elite speed" then two things are abundantly clear:

1. SW hasn't seen much speed in their lives.

and 2. JH is going to destroy SW.

 

As for Louisville Central, that was a very average Louisville Central team when measured against past Central teams. As much is evident in their scores.

 

You seemed to have "accidentally" left off Paducah Tilghman in this last statement.... Would you say they don't have much speed? Before you respond, just know that their men's Track team just won State and many of those runners play on their Football team.... South Warren beat them 36-0, thus your argument is not carrying much weight. One thing we can agree on though is that 4A will be much tougher, but it's not because they can't handle the "speed" of teams like JH.... It is simply because there is more depth of talent.

[hoss403]

I would have to agree with East Raider on the speed point. E-Town is not even in the same league as JH as far as speed. I saw PT only once two years ago in a scrimmage with JH and WC and they did not have as much speed as the Bulldogs.

[hoss403]

That's a bold statement from a school that has yet to get over the hump. In the early 2000's Paducah Tilghman had an unbelievable run of kids in Joe Casey, Hunter Cantwell, and a host of others. They were thought to be a lights-out almost sure-fire to win it all bet...a couple of times. They never even made it there. The 2011 JH team was a once-in-25-year'ish team and they stumbled against a BG team that was smaller and who had a superstar Soph. WR. My point being, until JH wins it, they are NEVER going to be who the title will go through. You gotta get over the hump. Until then, you're just another of many trying to see what it's like at the top.

 

Although this has nothing to do with this year, the 2017 JH team is a once-in-a-25-year team. While the 2011 team was loaded, we all know Jeremy Harness made them special. The Witherspoon kid has the potential to be a game changer just like Harness. Exception is Witherspoon was 6'2" last year as a Freshman and is probably still growing. Kid is a beast.

[fanofyours]

I don't know how many teams will be able to match the aggression and physicality of South Warren next season. Speed for Tilgman made no difference when they played due to the aggressive nature of South Warren. I will say this though - I don't think that was a very good Tilgman team last year compared to their history. That will change for sure over the next few years. Rogers will develop his style and improve on the physicality part imo.

[PurplePride92]

That's a bold statement from a school that has yet to get over the hump. In the early 2000's Paducah Tilghman had an unbelievable run of kids in Joe Casey, Hunter Cantwell, and a host of others. They were thought to be a lights-out almost sure-fire to win it all bet...a couple of times. They never even made it there. The 2011 JH team was a once-in-25-year'ish team and they stumbled against a BG team that was smaller and who had a superstar Soph. WR. My point being, until JH wins it, they are NEVER going to be who the title will go through. You gotta get over the hump. Until then, you're just another of many trying to see what it's like at the top.

 

While I don't disagree with your sentiment 4A is now loaded with teams who have been unable to get over the hump.