Bowling Green

Record: 7-3

RPI: .55368

 

South Warren

Record: 10-1

RPI: .61059

 

Bowling great beat unranked Christian County in round one. The Purples delivered South Warrens lone loss to them in week six of the regular season. Can the Purples duplicate that performance? Or has South Warren improved enough to move to round three?

 

The Spartans defeated unranked Greenwood in round one and probably been looking for this rematch for a while now. Will South Warren be able to overcome the 14-3 loss to the Purples from the regular season?

The first game these two played earlier this season was a lot closer than it needed it. BG really held itself back. If the QB change doesn't happen I don't think BG wins the game.

 

BG has continued to grow and get better. The Purples should control this game and win by at least 14.

 

One thing that makes me nervous is the other QB for BG is back and played some last night against Christian County. If BG doesn't stick with Conner all game I believe it will be a huge mistake.

 

Purples should win, but if they mess with the QB situation or tighten up the offensive play calling than anything can happen.

Everything @Killowatt59 said is spot on and I won’t rehash that. Bowling Greens defense must make South beat them down the field which they were not able to do in the first game and they were able to bottle up the South offense. I like BG in this game but think South will throw the kitchen sink at the Purples in this one and if BG isn’t focused in game plan or personnel, South will be right there.

Does anyone know if Veltkamp will be back for SW on Friday? Seems to be a hot topic for this game! Not sure there’s

A lot of difference between those 2 QB’s other then the height and amount of reps the Willingham kid didn’t get over the summer.

Should be an exciting, emotional game to watch! Anyone one have “Keys to winning” this game for both SW and BG?!?!

Anyone one have “Keys to winning” this game for both SW and BG?!?!

First, I have no idea if Veltcamp can go or not on Friday. I think its pushing the envelope if he's back, as that is a significant injury for any QB. It will be cold and hand stregnth would seem important to me. But who knows.

 

Concerning "Keys to the Game" throwing out turnovers and assuming Veltcamp can't go for South, I offer the following:

 

Rule #1 for this Series is : Whoever wins the rushing yards battle wins the game. Only the very first meeting did this not ring true, as Beau Buchanon was up over 300 yards quickly and the Purples didn't need to run, but they will Friday Night.

 

From there and team specific:

 

For South Warren,

1. Can they get the ball more than 10 yards down the field at a time? BG did and will load the box to try to stop talented RB Kobe Martin and the talented South OLine from dominating the game.

2. Jantzen Dunn is a game changer! He is South's answer to Vito Tisdale. He plays in Special Teams, offense and defense and is sound in all 3! But BG did a good job keeping him bottled up for no real explosive plays. Can South get Dunn the ball where he can make more plays?

3. Trick plays! I just don't think South can beat BG straight up without Veltcamp. So, will Coach Smith pull out all the stops and use some hooks and laterals and flea flickers and fake punts, fake kicks etc. I think we'll see more than we did back in the regular season for sure!

4. QB Mason Willingham - The young man was thrown in a very difficult spot and I think he's done admirably to get South to this spot! But he has to cut down on turnovers in order for South to win IMO. Willingham was 11 for 19 and 99 yards with 0 TDs and 3 INTs in the BG regular season game. One of those INTs was basically a punt as BG got the ball at their own 2 yard line, another was in hail mary time and you get what you get. The 3rd was in the first half and it stopped a South drive at a point I felt South was clearly gaining momentum. He has to cut that one out of this playoff game. IMO Willingham just needs to play mistake free. He doesn't have to win the game for South. Their defense can do that, if he doesn't give BG short fields.

 

For The Purples:

1. Come out strong. How many games this year has BG started like a flat tire on a Matt Truck? Father Ryan, McCracken County, St X and Trinity too! You can't afford to think you can come back in this one where every possession should be critical to both teams!

2. QB Conner Cooper. The young Purples signal caller has played really well (outside of the Trinity game, but Trinity will do that to alot of people). When he got in the game vs South in the regular season, the game changed IMO and in favor of BG. Cooper made very good decisions and used his legs to extend plays and pickup key yardage against a stout Spartan D. He will need to do the same Friday and again with few to no mistakes.

3. Vito Tisdale - BG beat South without Vito really doing alot. He touched the ball 1 time on offense for no gain and had 1 nice punt return that flipped the field for BG, but that was it. Is that still the plan? I hope not. He, at a minimum, should be taking all kicks (kickoff and punts). I would have him on offense some too, but it appears that's a dead issue. Advantage South.

4. Purples D - The Purples defense needs to limit South's attempts down the field. The Purples D played arguably their best game of the year in the regular season meeting with these 2. I look for another big performance from them and if they can turn South over a time or 2 it will be really difficult IMO for South to overcome that. With that said, I look for South to test the Purples CBs, who were both shaken up against Trinity, much more than last time.

If BG comes out ready to play I think they’ll be able to knock of South Warren. BG seems to have either been too conservative or just play poorly in the early part of their big games. If they can get their offense and defense on the same page they should be able to pick up a win.

Does anyone know if Veltkamp will be back for SW on Friday? Seems to be a hot topic for this game! Not sure there’s

A lot of difference between those 2 QB’s other then the height and amount of reps the Willingham kid didn’t get over the summer.

Should be an exciting, emotional game to watch! Anyone one have “Keys to winning” this game for both SW and BG?!?!

You really think there is no difference?Then you haven't seen him play Smart,Leader with a great arm next level big time arm.I believe 12 tds to zero int believe me a big difference!

You really think there is no difference?Then you haven't seen him play Smart,Leader with a great arm next level big time arm.I believe 12 tds to zero int believe me a big difference!

 

I think it's a HUGE difference! BG would have to play a completely different style of defense if Veltcamp is in the game. He is significantly more polished and will be Big Time Player before he leaves South (he's only a Sophomore), if he can stay healthy. Spin, what is the status of Veltcamp?

I said I didn’t see a LOT of difference. I’m not taking anything away from either QB’s. I believe Veltkamp played those entire games even in the blowouts. That definitely helps the stat book, which I like. Unfortunately, I see BG pulling their kids sometimes during the 3rd quarter. I know you have to be safe, but it definitely helps player’s stats for sure. Plus, more reps in game-like situations. What’s your thoughts on that? Should coaches let these kids play or pull them so soon?

South Warren pulls all starters once it’s a running clock. So for 4 of Veltkamp’s 6 games he played, he probably didn’t play in the 2nd half. He didn’t play the 2nd half of the Central game, because he got hurt the last play of the first half.

He actually only played 5 games. So 3 of his 5 games he would’ve gotten pulled.

Gotcha.. I heard someone say that Willingham had only thrown 5-6 passes total before he had to play that Glasgow game. Not sure if that’s accurate..

It will have been 8 weeks since the injury when South Warren meets Bowling Green. That's pretty much right on the healing timeline. Call it a hunch, but I think Veltkamp plays. Now, how effective he would be after the layoff, that would be tough to say.

I am not in the know anymore sorry I have nothing on his status.If I had to guess he doesnt play .He has a bright future ahead of him.

If Veltkamp plays then SW wins. If not then BG wins.

 

 

I will be shocked if he doesn’t play.