From the Bowling Green website....might just indicate that they travel better than you think.

 

· "Bowling Green is 17-0 when playing an away game over the past four years. The last loss on the road for BGHS came at Hopkinsville, in 2002. The BGHS Seniors played their last game at Donaldson Stadium/Beard Field last Friday. They ended their careers with a 24-2 record at home. The BGHS record over the past four years is now 47-5 (6-3 at neutral sites)"

The Purples travel just fine. They have played at hostile fields before. They had 2 sophomore QBs and a fairly one-dimensional offense last year. Even a great defense is going to struggle defending a short field all night. The Purples are more experienced, many options on offense, and defense is still strong. Excellent kicker as well. This group of kids won't go down without a fight. They hung on pretty tough against a very good St. X team without their QB, RB, and in second half, center and middle linebacker. This team has faced adversity, and so far have showed a lot of fortitude. I'm sure Central is very good, or they wouldn't be in the semis. I'm pulling for the Purples to win.

Per your previous posts, North Bullitt must have been all that plus a cup of tea, but somehow Central (also Valley and Doss I believe) miraculously beat the Eagles and their 400 yards of offense for the second time by a 9-point margin in the playoffs. The key element I think you are missing here is that Bowling Green will have to travel two hours to reach the "Hive", while Bullitt Central merely had to coast down the knobs and across the Jefferson County line. The Purples do have a much more talented team than the Eagles, but based on last year's trip to Louisville for the playoffs, they do not travel all that well. Central will give them a good battle, and has a real shot at pulling a monstrous upset.

 

Yes it is always harder to win on the road, that is a given. But you cannot even compare last year's trip to Louisville to this game. #1 It was the State Championship game against a very good Lex Cath team. #2 We had 2 sophomore QB's and none of these players had reached a state championship, so yes, I know nerves played a factor. Walking onto Papa John's field as a 15 year old high school athlete can be intimidating. #3 Last year we played at Hoptown--which is usually a hard place to win--and won 3-0. Sure the game was close, but we came away with a W. Making a generalized statement off of one game (the state championship, no less) is not fair at all. I do believe this will be a close game. Central appears to have a very good football team. I feel if we do lose, it will be because they were the better team, not because we don't travel well.

The Purples do have a much more talented team than the Eagles, but based on last year's trip to Louisville for the playoffs, they do not travel all that well.

One game, one turnover-filled fiasco, is the basis for that argument?

 

It's going to take more than that to make me a believer.

Let go Purples! 1983 Grad of B.G. Pulling for you!

Many have noted that Bowling Green does travel well and is 17-0 when playing away over the past 4 years. Wasn't the state final game last year an "AWAY GAME"? Have all the Purples losses, including playoffs, over the past 4 years been home games?

 

The point I was trying to make is that there is a BIG difference between playing an away game within your Region vs. playing a game after a two-hour road trip to the west end of Louisville. I for one think that this longer trip affected Bowling Green last year, which opens the possibility for it to happen again.

 

As I said before, I hope I am wrong!

Oxnard, you make a valid point, but, based upon the statistics given by Bear3, Bowling Green is pretty good on the road.

 

All in all, the winner of this game will come down to a combination of things (how the team travels, condition of the field, health and focus of the players, etc.)

 

As a former BG resident, I'm rooting for them, even though they're in the opposite region than my home team

Wow, the discussion on this game is really heating up. Which is kind of strage since I don't know of any Central fans on BGP. I really hope the Yellowjackets step up and defend the 'Ville. I'd be ther cheering, but I'll be busy down in Lexington.

IF ANYBODY FROM EITHER SCHOOL WOULD LIKE TO TRADE GAME UPDATES VIA PHONE, I WILL BE AT THE JOHNSON CENTRAL VS. COVINGTON CATHOLIC GAME. PM ME WITH ANY QUESTIONS.

I still have no takers on this. I know somebody will want to know the score of the Johnson Central vs. Covington Catholic game.

I think BG will win this pretty easy. 2 or 3 TD's. Central just gave up too many points last week for me to think they can compete any further.

You took the words out of my mouth.

Ox,

 

No one said it took a miracle for Central to beat North - Central was better. Just stating that if North can go on the road and put up big numbers at Central, a more talented, veteran playoff team like BG would have little trouble doing that and more.

 

BG 42 - Central 14

 

BTW - Next year's North team will be "all that and a cup of tea." They will be in this game in 4A next season. Write it down!

Many have noted that Bowling Green does travel well and is 17-0 when playing away over the past 4 years. Wasn't the state final game last year an "AWAY GAME"?

The long trip probably didn't affect the Purples as much as a poorly played game against a very talented Lex Cath team.

 

 

Have all the Purples losses, including playoffs, over the past 4 years been home games?

 

Yes, other than the state championship game.

Ox,

BTW - Next year's North team will be "all that and a cup of tea." They will be in this game in 4A next season. Write it down!

 

Your prediction is duly scribed for resurrection next season, and best of luck to the Eagles next year as the classes grow from 4 to 6. This should greatly improve your chances. By the way, who will be your chief competition in the new 4A in 2007? Hopefully North Bullitt won't have to face Central, Valley, or Doss again. They are fairly young teams, and if in your class should be troublesome again.

 

P.S.: You never did address my point about a North Bullitt away game in Jefferson County vs. a Bowling Green away game in Jefferson County...BIG DIFFERENCE! This should be very obvious to you since you managed to stay within the same point total (-9) of Central both home and away.

The change in classes does help the Eagles as well as the other TOP teams in each class. I like their chances either way since they return a 2,000 + yard rusher along with 8 other offensive starters and 8 on defense.

 

As for BG, as I said, I believe they are talented enough and have enough playoff experience that they will overcome the long trip and playing on the road. Central is talented but they will be outcoached and if they can't keep up early, they will totally fall apart.

 

Doss will be good again but move to 5A. Valley loses a couple of key players, Central will remain in 3A. Although a tough Larue County team joins North's district next year, they lose 22 seniors this year. The top threats on North's side of the state should come from Warren East's district. Look forward to defending my prediction next season.

Defense wins this one.

 

Bowling Green is tough on D. I do feel the great Oxnard has a point that the Purples do not travel to big games well and I would also add that the vaunted Purple defense has not shown up in a few of those games. However, this defense is seasoned, has two great linebackers, and I believe still stinging from last years loss in the title game. Bowling Green will stifle the Hornets offense and win by 14.

 

I believe this is the game I will attend this Friday. I will sit with the fans in Purple if they will let me.