With the season now off and running, both McCracken County and Bowling Green seem to be left in neutral at the starting gate.

First things, first.  BG leads the series between these two 4-0 with Bowling Green winning last season 28-12 at El Donaldson Stadium.  If memory serves me correctly, both teams had several injured players that didn’t play this game. FWIW. 

I have always liked Coach Marc Clark’s teams (at Hoptown and now McCracken), as he is a BG guy from way back.  He schedules tough games to challenge his teams and tries to continue to improve looking to make playoff runs.  Being a 6A team is a tough gig with the bottom line always being with the Big 3 in Louisville.  But I have always felt that McCracken County belonged in the conversation just below that tier.  In order to prove me right and get the naysayers yaps shut, winning a region championship seems like the right step to me.  In the 8 seasons after the merger to create McCracken County High School, McCracken County has reached the Regional Final Round (3^rd Round) of the Playoffs three times.  Losing at Central Hardin 10-7 in 2015; losing to North Hardin 38-2 in 2019 and losing at Male 40-13 in 2020.   So could this McCracken team win a regional playoff game this year?  After Week 1, I’m not sure they can get out of their district, which they have owned but maybe not this year.  BUT a long season is ahead of us and I think for the most part McCracken County tends to improve as the season goes along.  If they were fortunate to make it out of their district, I think how the RPI plays out and who they potentially draw is the biggest deal.  If you draw T, X or H or even Manual for example, that’s not going to work, but anyone else and you may have a chance.

 

For McCracken County, Week 1 didn’t go as planned in the annual “Rumble on the River” vs local rival Paducah Tilghman, as Tilghman won 35-27.  The stats I saw weren’t specific, as McCracken ended the night with 16 first downs and 67 yards rushing and 272 yards passing.  Tilghman countered with 17 first downs and 111 yards rushing and 308 yards passing.  JR QB Pryor Lamb played well and has his top WR Zander Mayes back and know they teamed up for at least one of McCracken’s TDs.  On defense for McCracken 4-year starter and SR DT LeAndre Bolan is the leader of that group, who will have to regroup before the Purples get to town.  Below is a link to the McCracken County vs Paducah Tilghman game if anyone is interested:

https://youtu.be/HY8UVORzBmM

 

For Bowling Green, not sure where to start, but the Purples sputtered out of the opening game Rafferty’s Bowl matchup against Ft Thomas Highlands in a wild game that ultimately saw BG defeated 21-18.  Bowling Green outgained Highlands 301 yards to 197 yards but turned the ball over 4 times and made many costly penalties that stalled drives and killed momentum.  While you tip your hat to the Bluebirds, who were clearly ready to play, where do you go from here from a BG perspective?  I suppose you focus on cleaning up the MANY mistakes.  Additionally, the BG defense only surrendered 14 points, so that is positive, but their secondary gave up several deep balls and they will have to clean that up quick as if given time, Pryor Lamb has a good arm. 

Many knew the BG offense would struggle some this season and its fair to say that they did struggle on Saturday night.  Will any personnel adjustments be made or simply settle down and carry on?  We will see.  The BG offense did have some bright spots as SR Tyler Moore ran with a vengeance with limited carries for 67 yards and a TD and another TD pass reception.  JR WR Bert Kibawa was a bright spot out wide catching 10 passes for 101 yards and being very shifty to bring down.  But is this enough to just carry on?  I think that’s a fair question.

 

Can Bowling Green regroup and improve enough to handle their first road game assignment?  What say you?

I feel like Bowling Green is the choice here, but think it could be a better game than you'd expect. 

McCracken's D line is a strength and will put some pressure on the qb. We were very fortunate at Tilghman last night to have a signal caller who gets rid of the ball extremely quick and who makes throws as he's being hit. 

Without that, who knows how it may have turned out. 

This is a pivotal game for both teams. The Purples may come in as a pretty big favorite, but I think McCracken can make it interesting. 

With Bowling Green having a great defense, they just need the offense to not turn the ball over. Turnovers are killer for offensively challenged team. I think Bowling Green gets the win unless they turn the ball over like they did against Highlands.

If MC is mainly a run heavy offense then they will have a hard time scoring. Unless MC defense is terrible BG will have a hard time scoring too.

And thing is as bad as BG looked Saturday against Highlands only three plays kept the Purples from winning.

BG and this coaching staff has earned the benefit of the doubt here even on the road.

I say 

BG 17

MC 7

 

 

Looks to be a good game.  Both teams may have underperformed 1st game out.  I think BG was hurt by Owensboro having to cancel their scrimmage.  Yes they got a scrimmage vs Scott, but very structured.  BG then scrimmaged Male who it’s hard to get going against.   Then they walk into a tough game against the birds.  That said BG had their chances. Kibawa and Moran looked to have shifted to offense and Kibawa has the wheels wow.  Lightfoot is still controlling the middle on D, and they pitched a shutout in the 2nd half.  Good signs for the purples IMHO.
 

 I watched pieces of McCracken and can’t believe they gave up 35, wow.  I think that’s a good sign for BG.  I look for BG to manage the game, get the lead and play come and get me. Back to the Mustangs- I didn’t see Bradley on offense at all although I only watched pieces.  Lamb is better and I love big number 7 at TE - what an athlete.  I look for it to be close but BG should hold them down while their O catches up to their D.

 

purples 24-14

I’m going with BG because I think they lost to a better team then McCracken did, but I do worry a little that BG has been so good for so long maybe they have a unexpected down year coming.

BG wins handily.

I’ll go with BG righting the ship in this one. Low scoring game: BG 17 McCracken Co. 10. 

BG 21

McCracken 14

I can see McCracken rallying here and keeping it close until late.

Bowling Green- 34

McCracken County - 17

I honestly have no idea what to expect, but here’s my prediction.

 

BG - 24

MC - 7

I think this is going to be a long night for the McCracken offense, the Mustangs could only manage 12 points last year, with a better team, I would expect similar output this Friday. 
 

BG-24 

MC-6

Does anyone know how McCracken County ticket sales are being handled? Can we just buy tickets at the gate as usual or do we have to buy them a head of time?  Any crowd limits?

The Mustangs are going to have a hard time moving the ball.  One of the best defenses in the state will be in town.

BG 28

McCracken 7

11 minutes ago, Killowatt59 said:

Does anyone know how McCracken County ticket sales are being handled? Can we just buy tickets at the gate as usual or do we have to buy them a head of time?  Any crowd limits?

Not sure if they will sell tickets at the gate.  Best bet is to get your tix through gofan.co 

Just look up McCracken County, it's on the schedule.