Bowling Green (2-0) travels to Louisville after defeating Pleasure Ridge Park 44-7. St. Xavier (0-1) comes off a bye week. St. Xavier defeated Bowling Green 30-19 last year. This game will have special significance as St. Xavier's Coach, Kevin Wallace, was Bowling Green's coach last year. Does Bowling Green deliver their old coach a loss or does St. Xavier make it a win two years in a row?

This should be an interesting matchup. I do not expect BG to leave without the win.

 

BG- 35

X- 28

St. X should be fired up for this game, especially after an early season loss to a very good 2A DeSales.

The Tigers coach is facing his former squad and staff for the first time since leaping to greener grass, but BG wants to prove he wasnt the only reason for their winning ways. Barn burner of a game, but..

BG- 38

ST. X- 34

I gotta believe St. X has the edge here. Coach Wallace knows his old team inside and out. Plus he knows the coaching staff and their tendencies. I know Bowling Green has made some changes offensively, but still.

 

I also believe St. X offense and defensive line will really cause Bowling Green problems. The Purples OL really struggled against a big Central Hardin front in the Rafferty's Bowl. Now Bowling Green's OL played great against PRP on Friday. But I believe Central Hardin's line was much better than PRP.

 

If Bowling Green's OL can't protect Beau Buchanan or give Vito and the other RBs space they will be in trouble.

 

Bowling Green played very well Friday so I feel better about their chances versus the opening game.

I have to take my Tigers in what I think will be a competitive game. X 21-17.

The Tigers OL did not deliver at DeSales twice inside the 5 yard line 1st and goal.

 

Nevertheless the St. X D actually dominated the game. DeSales' winning scoring drive of 62 yards was 18 plays if you count the pass interference call that took them from midfield to inside the St. X 10. Other than that the Colts had 64 yards on 35 plays from scrimmage. The Colts QB Aaron Pfaadt who is clearly a gamer completed three or four passes one of which was tge Hail Mary at the end of the 1st Half for their second score.

 

DeSales was similarly outgained at Butler though, with a similar result.

Saint X needs this one... I think they get it done.

True or False: Bowling Green is 7-3 against St. X the last ten years and St. X would actually be going for their third, not second win in a row? I'm going to check but I think this is right.

 

If Keegan Sullivan the St. X senior 1st stringer QB plays instead of the junior Doug Bodhaine St. X could be a different animal altogether. Bodhaine was a running QB as a freshman and led a talented class to an 11-0 year and then was injured last year. He was predictably wobbly in his first varsity action against DeSales. He made some plays but also turned the ball over four times at least including a really awful interception at the end of the 1st half and a really awful botched option fumble to end the game. He could be fine in the future but had to have that game under the circumstances.

 

Wallace has St. X's offense focused on passing the football because Keegan throws as well as any St. X QB I can recall (maybe not saying he is D1 but there have been some good ones) and St. X has two big, fast and athletic receivers in Harker and Coleman.

 

I have the feeling Bowling Green is very good and will play well. I like St. X at home after a perfect storm at DeSales if their senior QB can play though. Bowling Green 20-17 without him St. X 31-20 with him.

I’m going with St. X in this one. Couple of things...Coach Wallace is going for win 300; football gods are funny sometimes. He earned victory 200 against Warren East, who was coached by a former player and coach of his at BG.

 

BG is good, but what BG has had in the past that has given X difficulty is not just one, but multiple threats offensively that the X defense had trouble accounting for. Kind of like last years game, I don’t think Vito will be able to do it by himself and I don’t know how the BG OL will be able to hold up if they become one dimensional. Offensively for X, if Sullivan returns I would expect to see a much more efficient offense. It appears turnovers have been an issue for this X team in their scrimmage against SK and first game against DeSales; if they don’t turn the ball over I think they’ll have a very good showing.

 

Coach Wallace gets his 300th win in front of a number of alumni in attendance as well!

 

BG - 15

X - 31

In order for the Purples to pull it off Beau Bucannon, BG’s QB,needs to be the player of the game.

 

St X defense will attempt to smuther Vito Tisdale. Coach Wallace knows what a special talent this kid is. Vito will get his yards but will be difficult.

 

Purples will use their Tight Ends in a variety of ways. Again, this Friday night Bucannon needs to be the man. If he has what is considered a good game, I think Purples can do it. Lots of speed on both sides of the ball for BG

 

So ironic that Wallace is going for 300 against the Purples.

 

BGHS 31

St X 21

Obviously it can happen, but I find it hard to believe BG scoring in the 30s on X’s defense.

True or False: Bowling Green is 7-3 against St. X the last ten years and St. X would actually be going for their third, not second win in a row? I'm going to check but I think this is right.

 

If Keegan Sullivan the St. X senior 1st stringer QB plays instead of the junior Doug Bodhaine St. X could be a different animal altogether. Bodhaine was a running QB as a freshman and led a talented class to an 11-0 year and then was injured last year. He was predictably wobbly in his first varsity action against DeSales. He made some plays but also turned the ball over four times at least including a really awful interception at the end of the 1st half and a really awful botched option fumble to end the game. He could be fine in the future but had to have that game under the circumstances.

 

Wallace has St. X's offense focused on passing the football because Keegan throws as well as any St. X QB I can recall (maybe not saying he is D1 but there have been some good ones) and St. X has two big, fast and athletic receivers in Harker and Coleman.

 

I have the feeling Bowling Green is very good and will play well. I like St. X at home after a perfect storm at DeSales if their senior QB can play though. Bowling Green 20-17 without him St. X 31-20 with him.

 

False. Bowling Green has won five of the past seven against St. X. They had lost all eight meetings prior to that.

False. Bowling Green has won five of the past seven against St. X. They had lost all eight meetings prior to that.

 

I knew you would chime in Dragonfire. Hope you are well. I know your not much for predictions, but what is your take on the St X BG game?

I'll be at this one on Friday night, for sure.

I knew you would chime in Dragonfire. Hope you are well. I know your not much for predictions, but what is your take on the St X BG game?

 

Mostly well! Exhausted after pulling double duty these first two weeks. But happy to be in the midst of football season!

 

I think my read is similar to others, in that if Sullivan plays I would give the edge to X. They’re at home. Wallace knows Bowling Green better than anyone, and as well prepared as I’m sure Bowling Green will be, they don’t know X’s ins and outs as well. I think Wallace and everyone else at X are going to be incredibly motivated not to drop to 0-2. I also feel for all of X’s struggles on offense (which really, they gained a lot of yards, much like Bowling Green week 1, just didn’t cash in), their defense was quite solid against a potent Desales attack. I just feel like they win Week 1 if they have their QB, and I have a similar feeling here. Without him, it’s a coin flip.