Well 2020 will definitely be a year to remember (and likely not fondly) from all the hurdles and constraints we have had to jump through to even get this far!  With that said, there has been some pretty darn good football played to date and I'm hoping it can continue on through the end of the year.  Below you will find my 2020 Mid-Season list of teams from Western Kentucky arranged based on their work to date regardless of classification.  

1. South Warren Spartans (3-0) 5A - The Spartans outlasted Bowling Green 10-7 last Friday night to earn the top spot here.  A big test remains at likely #2 in the State - North Hardin.  And they haven't even had their best player, SR S/WR Jantzen Dunn, on the field yet!

2.  Bowling Green (2-1) 5A - The Purples didn't hit the offense switch until it was too late and could not overcome a talented South Warren Defense.  Still a terrific win at 6A St Xavier.  This week vs a good McCracken County team will tell us alot about the banged up Purples.  The game at Trinity later likely is out of reach except to see if they can keep it below a running clock (this says more about Trinity than BG).  All signs point back to the Week 2 Playoff game at South Warren for the one that really counts in this rivalry.

3.  Owensboro (4-0) 5A - The Red Devils have significant talent all over the field.  Their coaching staff has come a long way and everything is peachy on Frederica Street, except their schedule, which IMO will not prepare them for the State Semifinal game where they will finally face a team that has a chance to beat them - just like last season.  But Hey, it you make it to the Semi-Final game every year - it's not all bad!

4.  McCracken County (4-0) 6A - The Mustangs have smashed their competition the first 4 weeks of the season and now turn the bus to Bowling Green for their chance to make the State take notice!  A great RB (Mr. Football Candidate - Hunter Bradley) and a very good OL will test the best DLine and team speed they have faced this year.

5.  Hopkinsville (2-1) 4A - I am going on a limb a bit on this one.  Hopkinsville had a BAD loss to Calloway County, no other way to put it, but prior to that had significant wins vs Henderson County and Caldwell County both of whom I think are good teams.  Hoptown turned the ball over every time they touched it in the second half vs Calloway.  It was a bad game.  But I like their talent level, coaching and if they can get out of quarantine - to win their tough district.

6.  Mayfield (3-1) 2A - This is not the best Mayfield team you have ever seen, but they are tough and gritty and still a team to be taken seriously.  And Kylan Galbreath is a really good RB.

7.  Henderson County (1-1) 6A - Decent team here and likely the top competition for McCracken County in 6A District 1.

8.  Graves County (3-1) 5A - Solid team that has beaten Paducah Tilghman and a decent Ohio County squad and fell to Mayfield by 10.

9. Glasgow (3-1) 3A - Solid team that beat Allen County Scottsville and Logan County before losing at South Warren.

10.  Paducah Tilghman (3-1) - I could be out on a limb here too, but I'm convinced there is good talent and coaching here, as evidenced by a 10 point win at always tough Murray.

11.  Apollo (1-2) and Daviess County (2-2) 6A - These teams are the same to me.  Clearly behind McCracken County and likely Hendo too.  Still some very good players on these teams and during the Covid year you never know if there might be an upset or positive test to get you over the hump!

12.  Greenwood (4-0) 5A - A bit of pyrite (aka - fools gold) here!  Although this team has some good players and good coaches, they haven't played the competition that their district is about to unfold.  Still, good solid team, but playing for 3rd in the District is likely the ceiling again this year.

13.  Caldwell County (2-2) 2A - The 1-point loss at Mayfield help float the Tigers to this line.  They should get another shot at Mayfield next month!

14.  Owensboro Catholic (4-0) 2A - Could flip-flop with Caldwell, but feel a 1-point loss at Mayfield is worth more than a 37 point home win vs McLean.  JR WR/DB Braden Munday is a player!!!

15.  Crittenden County (3-1) 1A - The Rockets are a very good team and can make some noise in 1A, except for probably the Top 2 1A teams.  Would have loved to have seen the Paintsville game from a logistics standpoint alone!  Great for even getting it on the schedule!

16.  Logan County (1-2) 4A - The Cougars were bitten by the injury bug again with their star SR QB Braxton Baptiste breaking his leg in the Greenwood game.  Tremendous adversity to deal with.  Now they head into unknown and challenging district waters.

17.  Allen County Scottsville (2-1) 4A - The Patriots lost a barn-burner at Glasgow on week one, but head into District play (perhaps as the favorite now) already with a win at Franklin Simpson!

18.  McLean County (3-1) 2A - The Cougars have a strong group this year, but fell hard to an old district foe Owensboro Catholic, who had revenge from last season on their mind.  But they should still get back for another game in Owensboro in the playoffs for a much better game.

19.  Murray (2-2) 2A - The Tigers have beaten the teams they were supposed to beat and lost to the teams they were supposed to lose to.  I look for that to continue.

20.  Tie - I'm going to reward some teams that don't get much love on this board with a 3-way tie for this last spot:

Hopkins County Central (1-3) 4A - Yes, the Storm are 1-3, but that 1 was HUGE!  A 40-35 road win at Rival Madisonville North Hopkins!   First win vs their rival since 2003!  Congratulations!

Russellville (1-2) 1A - Yes, the Panthers are 1-2, but just like above the 1 was HUGE!  A 14-12 home win vs old foe 4A Franklin-Simpson!  

Calloway County (2-1) 4A - The Lakers pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the year upending District Foe Hopkinsville 14-7!  Congratulations and you now share a lead for always tough 4A District 1 with Hopkins County Central - Yes it the year of Covid-19!

 

Likes/Dislikes - What would you change?

 

Great write-up Purple88!  Well done and hard to argue.

Going to the #3 spot, looking at the schedules (which both are pretty weak) who would you say has the better win out of #3 Owensboro and #4 McCracken County?

17 minutes ago, Killowatt59 said:

Great write-up Purple88!  Well done and hard to argue.

Going to the #3 spot, looking at the schedules (which both are pretty weak) who would you say has the better win out of #3 Owensboro and #4 McCracken County?

Apollo played McCracken the closest, so either them or Daviess.  Mayfield has rebounded but put up no challenge to McCracken.  I’ve seen both first hand (Owensboro and McCracken).  Owensboro has a more diverse offense but McCracken has Bradley.  Owensboro more weapons and team speed, although McCracken has plenty.  I would give McCracken a slight edge on defense.  Overall I would roll with Owensboro to win a heads up match.

Nice story @Purple88.  Hard to argue due to the St X win for BG.  Tremendous defense by SW and BG.  I think the purples handle McCracken by 10-20 points.  Some games are bad matchups and I think it is for McCracken.  They will have to use the pass to set up the run and I’m not sure they can do that against a BG Defense.  I guess we will see.

Well done, 88. South Warren and Bowling Green are more like 1 and 1A right now, but the Spartans came out on the winning end of that scoreboard, so to the top they go. The west is very strong at the top this year, and I think there's a line of separation under McCracken. Looking forward to BG/McCracken this week.

Great post Purple 88! Your comment about the Murray Tigers could apply most every year. The win and lose when you expect them to.

13 hours ago, Killowatt59 said:

Great write-up Purple88!  Well done and hard to argue.

Going to the #3 spot, looking at the schedules (which both are pretty weak) who would you say has the better win out of #3 Owensboro and #4 McCracken County?

 

13 hours ago, Brown said:

Apollo played McCracken the closest, so either them or Daviess.  Mayfield has rebounded but put up no challenge to McCracken.  I’ve seen both first hand (Owensboro and McCracken).  Owensboro has a more diverse offense but McCracken has Bradley.  Owensboro more weapons and team speed, although McCracken has plenty.  I would give McCracken a slight edge on defense.  Overall I would roll with Owensboro to win a heads up match.

Watt,

I think our man @Brown did a good job looking over both teams schedules.  I will say that the McCracken Defense scored 3 times on Mayfield to make that one look very tilted and most years any win over Mayfield regardless of classification would be the gem in this group, but hard to say in this Covid year.

But if these 2 met up, I would likely take Owensboro due to their QB and team speed.  McCracken would likely be the game (and does have good players themselves), but I would expect the Red Devils to make more big plays to ultimately win the game.

13 hours ago, Brown said:

Nice story @Purple88.  Hard to argue due to the St X win for BG.  Tremendous defense by SW and BG.  I think the purples handle McCracken by 10-20 points.  Some games are bad matchups and I think it is for McCracken.  They will have to use the pass to set up the run and I’m not sure they can do that against a BG Defense.  I guess we will see.

Brown,

I'm looking forward to the McCracken game.  I don't think BG allows Bradley to beat them, as he will be Option #1 to stop.

So that would put the game in QB Pryor's hands.  Alot to ask of a sophomore!  But I don't count him out.  But the unspoken aspect of this game is in my mind is how the McCracken defense tries to short-circuit BGs run game and short passing game.  They just need to look at the South Warren tape another 50 times for that, but can they replicate that?  And how many passes of over say 15 yards does BG throw tonight?  Will be interesting!

12 hours ago, DevilMayCare said:

Well done, 88. South Warren and Bowling Green are more like 1 and 1A right now, but the Spartans came out on the winning end of that scoreboard, so to the top they go. The west is very strong at the top this year, and I think there's a line of separation under McCracken. Looking forward to BG/McCracken this week.

DMC,

I agree with you!  This McCracken/BG game should continue for both schools IMO.

It will really be interesting tonight.  In your opinion, is this a top 5 game in the State tonight?

19 minutes ago, Purple88 said:

DMC,

I agree with you!  This McCracken/BG game should continue for both schools IMO.

It will really be interesting tonight.  In your opinion, is this a top 5 game in the State tonight?

Definitely a top five game, along with FD/LCA, Belfry/NH, St. X/DeSales, and Mayfield/PT. It might end up being the game of the night.

I know Mayfield and Tilghman aren't at their best right now, but that one should be very competitive. Plus, it's an ancient rivalry that comes with a lot of bragging rights out on the Jackson Purchase.