South Oldham (8-4) at Bowling Green (10-2)

It’s the Dragons turn to drive down I-65 this week with a Regional Title on the line!  This is only the second meeting between these teams.  The only other meeting, again a Regional Final, back in 2019 but up in Crestwood was a very entertaining game which the Purples won 28-14.  That game seemed closer to me than the score and I also remember a potential punt fumble call that went BGs way that certainly helped.  It was also the game where Vito Tisdale broke his hand and probably broke any chance BG had the following week up at the great Michael Mayer CovCath team.

South Oldham has had a great season!  They have won 8 of their last 9 games!  So they are peaking at the right time of year.  Only a Week 10 setback to a deceptively good Central Hardin team (30-7) blemishes the Dragons record after 3 tough opponent losses out of the gate (CAL, Fairdale and Ballard).

South enters this game having absolutely blasted a Senaca team that had their best season since likely 2003 (so hats off to them), but last night was all about the men in green as they dominated the RedHawks.  The Courier Journal said South Oldham is in the 3^rd Round of the playoffs for the 7^th time in the last 8 years.  Coach Jamie Reed has done a phenomenal job with the Dragons. 

South runs twice as much as pass.  RB Jeff Burton leads the Dragons with 162 carries, 979 yard and 13 TDs on the year (not counting last night).  At QB, several have had reps there, but Nick Hamilton has the most attempts going 86 for 176 for 1,524 yards and 8 TDs vs 7 INTs.  His top targets are likely Sam Reagan and Rylan Varner who have 500 and 400 yards on the year, respectively and 4 TDs each.

For the Purples, beating your rival is sweet, but shutting them out for the first time ever in the playoffs, ending their season and prolonging yours has to be especially sweet.  BG played their most complete game Friday night and now look to extend their positive momentum into this Regional Final Round.

All 3 phases Friday night were clicking for BG.  SR K Collin Fratus, although I’m sure would have liked to have hit the 30 yd FG at the end of the half, had a very strong kicking game including deep kickoffs and great punts.

The BG offense did go 3 and out their first possession, but after that it just seemed their balanced play calling worked 80% of the time.  QB Deuce Bailey was spectacular throwing and then hitting the jets when the Purples needed to convert on 2^nd or 3^rd and long.  RB Javon Huddleston is a special back.  He had two TDs including an explosive 69-yard TD run on the night.  BG WRs were everywhere.  Barlow, Barber, Sweeney and Warder all caught balls and Barlows dash to the house from about 70 yards was just a taste of the versatility of this offense.  The Oline just simply did its job – WELL.

That leaves the BG D, who played their best game Friday night.  All 3 levels excelled, and it certainly appears the BG D is peaking at the right time.  Other than a 40-yard pass play in the second quarter, South Warren had no big plays last night.  Wow!  After the first meeting that’s saying something.

What about this game?  Well, these teams don’t really cross paths or common opponents really.  Based on the 2 to 1 run to pass ratio and the QB stats above, it would appear to me that South will need to effectively run the ball this Friday to take down BG.  Early in the year, that was a problem for BG, but they have been slowly improving each week since the Greenwood game and after last weeks focused effort, I clearly think BG is the favorite in this game.  Safe travels Dragons Fans!

I would love to hear from my friend @Hardin County Preps on his thoughts on the game along with @ColonelMike who always does such a great job covering all Oldham County Sports!

Go Purples!

Purples on cruise mode this round. A win here likely sets up a showdown in Georgetown with Scott Co!

Purples undoubtedly have to be the favorites heading into this game, especially playing at home - never underestimate the negative effect of a 2 hour school bus ride - but you never can tell when a bunch of high school athletes battle on a football field.     South has the coaches, players, and system - they are very capable of springing the upset.

I haven't seen BG yet this year, and I'm looking forward to coming down I-65 to see the Purples (the game will be broadcast live / archived on www.pegasussportsky.com - FREE, live, hi-def video coverage, beginning 30 minutes prior to kick).  As long as I've been covering high school sports in Oldham County (since 1979), BG has been a force in KY HS football.    I'm positive this 10-win squad will show me nothing different.

South is on the cusp of breaking through.... the Dragons have had another exceptional year under head coach Jamie Reed, winning 8 games and claiming their second consecutive district title.    The 8-4 record represents the Dragons' 13th consecutive winning record (Reed has never had a losing season at South).   As Purple88 notes above, three of South's losses came against an absolute murderers' row of opponents to start the season (CAL, Fairdale, Ballard) and the Dragons have largely taken care of business ever since.   So far, the Dragons have won the ones they were expected to win.....Reed will be challenging his charges to step up and grab a "W" when perhaps it isn't anticipated by the prognosticators.

South is relatively healthy coming into this one.    Notably, star two-way player Jack McCubbin, who missed the first half of the season with a broken collarbone, is back and looks 100% on the field. 

South has uncovered a reasonably potent passing game this year behind Nick Hamilton, who has multiple legitimate passing targets to throw to, including a couple of big-play threats in Sam Reagan and Rylan Varner.     But the Dragons' bread is, as always, buttered by a potent running game that averages around 200 yards a game, with a whole host of ballcarriers, including McCubbin, Luke Oliveros, Jeffrey Burton, and underclassman standout Julian Miles.    Hamilton is also a threat running the ball, and South will show multiple formations.

The key to the game may well be how well South's formidable O-line holds up.     Physically huge, this unit will have to have success if the Dragons are to dictate their style of play against the Purples.   For years, South's offensive line has been coached by former University of Louisville standout Carey Figg (played center on the 1991 U of L Fiesta Bowl team), and the results have been that this typically is one of the top units on the team.    They'll need to be at their very best Friday against BG.

The Dragons' defense has shutout five opponents this season, and hasn't allowed a point in the first two weeks of the playoffs (a 42-0 win over Western and a 46-0 victory last week over Seneca).    The defense contributed points against Seneca, scoring a safety and also returning an interception 91 yards for a TD.

Looking forward to seeing Purple88 this coming Friday!

If you can't make the game, tune in to www.pegasussportsky.com 30 minutes prior to kick!

 

Loss to Fairdale tells me all I need to know.  I’m sure it’s a good but not great dragons team.  That spells trouble.  Give me the purples big.

 

42-7 BG

1 hour ago, BillNye said:

Purples on cruise mode this round. A win here likely sets up a showdown in Georgetown with Scott Co!

Southwestern has something to say about that…

23 minutes ago, WishboneCity said:

Southwestern has something to say about that…

They just might! Good luck!

Central Hardin was able to control the line of scrimmage against a team with more size in South Oldham. While I can't speak to their pass defense as I believe CH only attempted 1 pass, CH rushed for 327 yards in this game. I would say that South Oldham has an average offensive and defensive line and I expect Bowling Green would be successful in their running game. South Oldham has a decent passing game with Reagan and Varner and had some success against the Central Hardin defense thru the air. 

Having seen both of these team play, I would take Bowling Green in this game by 2-3 TDs. 

BG! And I hope to see them and SC in the 4th round!

Let’s hope for no injuries..

BG: 40

South Oldham: 7

31-7 BG

This South Oldham team is not as good as the 2019 team but at the same time I don’t think BG is as good as they were in 2019 either. To me this game is pretty simple. If the Dragons do not score within the first two possessions it’s going to be a long game for them. They certainly have the pieces to make it a very competitive game but they have to establish early momentum. All in all I think BG probably wins by 2 or 3 scores.

Game Day!

Go Purples

Congratulations to the All-SKY Conference first and second team player from BG!

They include (Top Row from the left) QB Deuce Bailey, LB Davis Fant, LB Jake Napier, RB Javon Huddleston, OLB Bert Kibawa.  Seated Front Row from the left:  WR Easton Barlow, DE DAvyon Barber, OL Jack Ledegar, and OL/DL Austin Anderson.  Not pictured (Agustin Nyembo CB).

Congrats!

FREE live hi-def video broadcast goes on air at 6:30 pm CT on www.pegasussportsky.com

Got my defcon 2 winter gear ready to go for this one.  Going to be a cold one.

seems everyone thinks BG will roll in this one.  I hope that’s the case.  I honestly don’t know much about South Oldham.