After some reflecting on the score and reading up on how the game played, I think I’m prepared to give a hot take:

Bowling Green is the number one team in class 5A. 
 

I was wrong in a big way about this game. Physically dominating Saint X just does not happen. You don’t see it. There is so much season left but I am thoroughly impressed.

This is what doesn’t make sense to me. St.X last year scores 28 on BG and returns 7 starters on offense and BG just returns two on defense but St.X doesn’t score. Maybe losing Logan Davis at RB is the difference but couldn’t imagine that being it, and I think Pooler is better than Doug Bodhaine but Bodhaine was better runner so maybe that’s it. They better get it fixed because staring at  a 2-4 season.

Obviously not a great start for the Tigers. Sounds like the defense played well enough but the offense struggled mightily. As @Tigerpride94 mentioned, if things aren’t figured out two wins is a real possibility. 

Great win for the Purples. IMO, regardless of mistakes, the Purples stayed poised and never panicked. Those snaps would’ve had most QB’s overly frustrated but Cooper being the athlete he is.. he worked through it! The offense stayed in sync and figured out ways! The defense surprised most. I think BG has kids this year with A lot of heart and athleticism that can flat out play anywhere on that field! Both sides stayed involved with each other. You just didn’t feel the same way with X. I think the Purples opened a lot of eyes last night that weren’t prepared for this type of team, including Wallace and X. Yes, mistakes from both teams; however, BG shrugged those off and kept stompin.
I think the South vs BG game should be interesting!! I know South won last night too but the competition level is no where close to X. 
Again, great to be playing!! 
what players were the difference makers on the field last night for you guys?? 

14 minutes ago, Purplepride said:

Great win for the Purples. IMO, regardless of mistakes, the Purples stayed poised and never panicked. Those snaps would’ve had most QB’s overly frustrated but Cooper being the athlete he is.. he worked through it! The offense stayed in sync and figured out ways! The defense surprised most. I think BG has kids this year with A lot of heart and athleticism that can flat out play anywhere on that field! Both sides stayed involved with each other. You just didn’t feel the same way with X. I think the Purples opened a lot of eyes last night that weren’t prepared for this type of team, including Wallace and X. Yes, mistakes from both teams; however, BG shrugged those off and kept stompin.
I think the South vs BG game should be interesting!! I know South won last night too but the competition level is no where close to X. 
Again, great to be playing!! 
what players were the difference makers on the field last night for you guys?? 

Difference makers?  I’m probably gonna name offf most of the team, there are bright spots everywhere.  You could make a case for just about all the guys
 

Offense: 

O-Line did great for not having much practice and being up against X (minus bad snaps)

 

Jordan Dingle - He’s as good as advertised, and his blocks sprung a lot of screen passes to Dez Wilson, another great reciever

 

Cooper - Stayed poised and his athleticism helped spread the field and allow for amazing play calling

 

Defense:

 

Corners - They did phenomenal and surprised everyone, especially that one handed interception

 

D-Line - They controlled the ground game and were in the back field a LOT

 

Rece Jones - We knew he was good but wow did he come up big with those sacks at the end of the game

42 minutes ago, Volxtile said:

Difference makers?  I’m probably gonna name offf most of the team, there are bright spots everywhere.  You could make a case for just about all the guys
 

Offense: 

O-Line did great for not having much practice and being up against X (minus bad snaps)

 

Jordan Dingle - He’s as good as advertised, and his blocks sprung a lot of screen passes to Dez Wilson, another great reciever

 

Cooper - Stayed poised and his athleticism helped spread the field and allow for amazing play calling

 

Defense:

 

Corners - They did phenomenal and surprised everyone, especially that one handed interception

 

D-Line - They controlled the ground game and were in the back field a LOT

 

Rece Jones - We knew he was good but wow did he come up big with those sacks at the end of the game

Wilson, Dingle, Cooper, and Jones stuck out to me. With that quartet going to win a lot of games.

I feel like the first drive some what summed up the game for both teams. St. X had multiple chances to get off the field on defense that first drive and were unable to capitalize on them. Then on offense St. X did was good things and moved it pretty well, but then the sack on 2nd down hurt and I believe the play before that Pooler missed on quick slant across the middle. Missed chances, and then add the missed field goal just hurts the momentum early on. Like Coach Wallace stated it's possible the way practice was structured may have played a roll in the chemestry of his team, and he's too good not to find a way to adjust to make sure he's getting the best out of his team. It doesn't get any easier, hopefully they can start to gel before Trinity comes calling, because if they don't it will get ugly quick. 

10 hours ago, LongTimeReader said:

Obviously not a great start for the Tigers. Sounds like the defense played well enough but the offense struggled mightily. As @Tigerpride94 mentioned, if things aren’t figured out two wins is a real possibility. 

Actually, the defense played terrible. The Bowling Green turnovers and bobbled center snaps were the only thing that really kept the game close. Bowling Green drove the ball at will.

7 hours ago, LongTimeReader said:

I feel like the first drive some what summed up the game for both teams. St. X had multiple chances to get off the field on defense that first drive and were unable to capitalize on them. Then on offense St. X did was good things and moved it pretty well, but then the sack on 2nd down hurt and I believe the play before that Pooler missed on quick slant across the middle. Missed chances, and then add the missed field goal just hurts the momentum early on. Like Coach Wallace stated it's possible the way practice was structured may have played a roll in the chemestry of his team, and he's too good not to find a way to adjust to make sure he's getting the best out of his team. It doesn't get any easier, hopefully they can start to gel before Trinity comes calling, because if they don't it will get ugly quick. 

Ending the game with zero rushing yards is totally unacceptable. I’m not sure the running game is truly important to the head coach. It seems like an afterthought to me.

8 minutes ago, bruin66 said:

Ending the game with zero rushing yards is totally unacceptable. I’m not sure the running game is truly important to the head coach. It seems like an afterthought to me.

It is important, but he's a passing guy so he's going to use the pass to set up the run. There just isn't a lot to their running game, it's pretty simple; I would assume that a philosophical decision. Yes 0 rushing yards are terrible, but when you take a couple of big sacks and don't have the ball very often it's hard generate many yards. Last thing about the running game, there just doesn't seem to be a lot of options at that position. Pooler will get better, and Mekhi Smith with get more touches in a variety of ways, because when he has the ball there is the chance it can take it the distance at any point. 

After watching the game, St. X looked like a team playing their first game in a very long time. Bowling Green, while making mistakes, look like they were ready to go. It's the first game and changes will be made to ensure the players are in a position to be successful. I think they'll be ok. 

20 hours ago, Tigerpride94 said:

I would say concerned mode. 

I want to ask again, now that the program went 0-3 on the weekend. Is it panic mode? After last year, X seemed poised to be the new big dogs, err Cats, in 6A after 2020. Trinity was supposed be in a down tick, but went 3-0 against two Cincinnati programs. What's happening on Poplar Level?

13 minutes ago, NLTanker1 said:

I want to ask again, now that the program went 0-3 on the weekend. Is it panic mode? After last year, X seemed poised to be the new big dogs, err Cats, in 6A after 2020. Trinity was supposed be in a down tick, but went 3-0 against two Cincinnati programs. What's happening on Poplar Level?

Moeller been very good with last class and now this one so not worried since beat them twice last year and JV this year was very close game and best sophomores from last year are on varsity so JV weren’t going to be as good. Knew would be a year away from realistic chance at Championship. Too early to say if this freshman class going to be bad or not. Good measuring stick will be Trinity game coming up.

51 minutes ago, NLTanker1 said:

I want to ask again, now that the program went 0-3 on the weekend. Is it panic mode? After last year, X seemed poised to be the new big dogs, err Cats, in 6A after 2020. Trinity was supposed be in a down tick, but went 3-0 against two Cincinnati programs. What's happening on Poplar Level?

Not concerned about the program overall. It’s the first weekend of a very unusual year. As @Tigerpride94 mentioned, St. X fans knew they were a year away. The St. X offense is breaking in a new QB who has been “on campus” for what two months...? I think they’ll be fine, it’s the defense that’s becoming concerning. They have to be better. But as a whole, not concerned overall with the program’s direction. 

I see where STX missed a FG early in the game. I thought STX had a Soph PK who is considered the #1 kicker in the class of 2023. Was that him who missed the FG?

14 minutes ago, Roundsteak said:

I see where STX missed a FG early in the game. I thought STX had a Soph PK who is considered the #1 kicker in the class of 2023. Was that him who missed the FG?

Cameron Tegge who is Senior missed the FG. He is good kicker but missed this one. I don’t know of any kickers that are 100% on the year so not worried about. Probably the least of their worries after this game.