Bowling Green (1-1) will travel to Louisville for the only time this season after making 3 visits during the 2020 Covid Season and take on the 6A Pleasure Ridge Park (PRP) (1-0) Panthers.  Bowling Green leads the all-time series between these two 3 games to 2.  Bowling Green won last year also at PRP 24-6, but it was a shallow victory with the numerous injuries BG sustained in that game, most notably talented SR WR Dez Wilson was lost for the year with an ACL tear.  HATED to see that.  Three other significant injuries were also sustained in this game for BG, so not repeating the injury train would be one of my top goals for this coming week for BG.  QB Conner Cooper and the BG OLine and defense played well in this game, but it was SR RB Javey Bunton who delivered for BG on this night with 18 carries for 119 yards and all 3 BG TDs.  Well done!  Let’s talk about this season!

PRP comes into this game riding high off a 42-18 win over struggling 5A Doss (0-1).  I don’t have any stats for that game but know JR QB Kaden Anderson is a really good player.  He comes into this season bolstered from having a full varsity season under his belt as one of the Panther’s leaders and he will need to be.  PRP graduated 3 of their 4 top playmakers from last season including Derek Gant’s 12 TDs alone (PRP only had 21 TDs last year due to a Covid shortened season).  But second leading rusher Chase Harris is back and looks to be a difference maker for PRP.  On defense for PRP, they lose several there as well (best I can make out) especially a couple fine LBs but do return standout LB Dominique Mack and DB Deshawn Barkley to lead the secondary.  PRP has plenty of athletes.

PRP had a Covid cancellation on Week 1 and then went to Doss last week.  With BG coming to town, that will be a clear step up in competition for the Panthers.  How will they respond out on the RIDGE?

 

Last Friday Night, Bowling Green traveled to Paducah and defeated 6A McCracken County (0-2) 14-10.  It was another close game for Bowling Green thanks to an offense that produced 77 total yards in the first half (that’s all the stats I could find – Thanks to Eric Chumbler, who does a great job for McCracken County’s broadcast team!) with the halftime score 10-7.  One item for McCracken County is they set a school record for longest field goal in school history with the 40 yarder that hit the cross bar and bounced in!  The BG defense only gave up those 10 points and threw another second half shutout.  But it is razor thin right now the margin of error to give the current BG offense with their scoring hardships.

Personnel changes are still needed on offense, although a change was made that will help, but was only implemented for 2 non-consecutive plays on 2 different drives.  Most see what area(s) is struggling and I hope BG can address it going forward.  A bright spot for the BG offense is it looks like the RB position is starting to settle down.  My man, SR Matrix Halcolm played his best game as a Purple IMO that saw a rejuvenated player and outstanding effort, especially during that second half when BG needed it.  And it was Halcomb’s 10-yard TD run that finally put BG ahead in the 4^th quarter.  Add Halcomb with a physical Tyler Moore running the ball behind an ever-improving OLine and the Purples may be putting the pieces together with the run game.  Very positive.    

But a lot to clean up with penalties among the most glaring of those.  Can BG go on the road again this week and top a 6A squad that has good athletes?  What are the keys to the game?

I think BG wins but maybe closer than some may think due to BG offense not being great. I think maybe similar score as last year.

Even if the BG offense struggles their defense will be good enough to win against PRP. 

I watched some of PRP's scrimmage with Fern Creek and was pretty even. PRP also has WR Jakob Dixon who was at St.X but transferred to PRP in middle of last year. He's around 6' 6" and good high jumper.

From what I've seen from BG the last two weeks, they could very well lose any game they play. Unless PRP is just bad, which maybe they are, BG is just going to have to fight and claw for anything they get.

Everyone who has followed BG in the off-season were scared of some of the directions they were going. It's clear changes need to be made, but it looks like that unlikely to happen. Judging by past years it just a hill they are willing to die on.

Hopefully BGs defense can continue to hold and give them chances to win. 

PRP hasn't been a factor in Louisville for 3 years... I don't know what changed coach Williams fortunes out there, but man the Panthers fortunes took a DIVE! Such a sudden fall off, I wonder if there was a redistricting, or something of that sort...

 

I see a rout by B.G. maybe even a 3rd qtr RC!

11 hours ago, Killowatt59 said:

From what I've seen from BG the last two weeks, they could very well lose any game they play. Unless PRP is just bad, which maybe they are, BG is just going to have to fight and claw for anything they get.

Everyone who has followed BG in the off-season were scared of some of the directions they were going. It's clear changes need to be made, but it looks like that unlikely to happen. Judging by past years it just a hill they are willing to die on.

Hopefully BGs defense can continue to hold and give them chances to win. 

I chuckle at how "everyone who has followed BG" knows more than the coaching staff. Do you get your knowledge from attending practice, watching film, staff meetings, or just high school message boards? I'm not saying a change in personnel would or wouldn't make a difference, but I know you have a long history with BG. So my question is, when was the last time BG started a freshman quarterback? Previous posts from BG faithful always talk about their strength of schedule, so do you throw him to the wolves and see how he pans out with an O-line that has returned one starter and an inexperienced group at that (due to last year's strength of schedule, plus Covid guidelines on the number of players on the sideline)? 

I figure the kinks will get worked out eventually, they usually do. But for a fan of a team that has won 6 state titles in the last 10 years, you have been the most critical and negative poster I've seen on this site. 

10 hours ago, Hungover_in_Andover said:

PRP hasn't been a factor in Louisville for 3 years... I don't know what changed coach Williams fortunes out there, but man the Panthers fortunes took a DIVE! Such a sudden fall off, I wonder if there was a redistricting, or something of that sort...

 

I see a rout by B.G. maybe even a 3rd qtr RC!

I don't see a rout because score was 24-6 last year and BG was better last year. 

1 hour ago, Tigerpride94 said:

I don't see a rout because score was 24-6 last year and BG was better last year. 

Does anyone know what PRP has this season?

How many returning starters?  Key players? Depth? What are their strengths?

I haven't been able to find very much in my brief searches. Just curious to see what to watch for.  

I'm planning on making the trip unless some major comes up.

Doss HS Football Video "Matchup: Doss vs. Pleasure Ridge Park 2016" | MaxPreps

This is a link to some video from the Doss folks (THANK YOU DOSS!)

I know this says 2016, but when you click on the link you have the option below the main screen for the 2021 Recap version.  Select that.  It at least gives you an idea of how PRP is lining up, which looks like a lot of 5 wide WR sets.  Interesting to note is #5 QB Kaden Anderson last years QB is not out there for PRP.  #14 Anthony Woods a JR WR (as listed on the KHSAA website) is in at QB for PRP.  They look very athletic and I'm sure it will be a very good game.  A lot of moving parts in this game.

 

Also according to the Doss Stats for the PRP vs Doss game, Doss rushed for 157 yards and had 1 pass play for 20 yards.

PRP rushed for 134 yards and passed for 266 yards.  PRP was 1 for 8 on 3rd down with 3 turnovers in the game.

3 minutes ago, Purple88 said:

Doss HS Football Video "Matchup: Doss vs. Pleasure Ridge Park 2016" | MaxPreps

This is a link to some video from the Doss folks (THANK YOU DOSS!)

I know this says 2016, but when you click on the link you have the option below the main screen for the 2021 Recap version.  Select that.  It at least gives you an idea of how PRP is lining up, which looks like a lot of 5 wide WR sets.  Interesting to note is #5 QB Kaden Anderson last years QB is not out there for PRP.  #14 Anthony Woods a JR WR (as listed on the KHSAA website) is in at QB for PRP.  They look very athletic and I'm sure it will be a very good game.  A lot of moving parts in this game.

 

Also according to the Doss Stats for the PRP vs Doss game, Doss rushed for 157 yards and had 1 pass play for 20 yards.

PRP rushed for 134 yards and passed for 266 yards.  PRP was 1 for 8 on 3rd down with 3 turnovers in the game.

If they are good at passing that could definitely cause BG some problems.  

Does anyone have any insight into how PRP would handle tickets on Friday?

At gate?  Ticket Link?

19 minutes ago, Purple88 said:

Does anyone have any insight into how PRP would handle tickets on Friday?

At gate?  Ticket Link?

I'm wanting to know too.

PRP DB has offer from Kentucky!

35 minutes ago, Purple88 said:

Does anyone have any insight into how PRP would handle tickets on Friday?

At gate?  Ticket Link?

I'm pretty sure it's at gate. I don't know of any electronic ticketing.