The Defending 5A Runner-ups head into 2023 on an uptick.  Sure they (and I as a fan) would love to have won the last one, but from where they started on the heels of a poor showing in 2021, Bowling Green once again climbed the 5A Mountain and nearly summitted the whole field at Kroger Field.  But give Frederick Douglas their long awaited due, they showed poise in weathering BGs first half storm and pulled away in the second half.  Still a really, really good season to be a Purples Fan!  Just a great, great job compiled by Coach Mark Spader and staff!  Better than 2020?  You tell me!

The Purples graduate some key players, but none more so than 4 year (he got starts late in his Freshman year) OL (Liberty Commit) Austin Anderson.  He is joined by fellow OLine graduates Jack Ledogar and Isiah Martin.  They will be Big shoes to fill IMO and their successors will have alot to do with the type of success BG will have next year.  Why?  EVERYBODY else comes back on offense.  BG had a High Octane offense last season and the 2023 season looks to keep defensive coordinators up trying to scheme against it.  (Well we'll just blitz like Douglas did.  I hope you have 4 D1 DBs in your defensive backfield is my response to that).  This includes (soon to be) JR QB Duece Bailey (is there a better QB in the State?  honest question), all 3 RBs who contributed last season and in my biased opinion- the deepest WR group you are going to find (Barlow, Barber, Sweeney and Warder).  This group will be difficult to cover next season.

On defense, BG loses 7 starters highlighted by their stalwart LBs, Davis Fant and Jake Napier.  They will be tough to replace, no question.  But BGs 2-deep brings back 7 guys, so I expect them to be the proverbial "next man up".  Will it be that easy?  No, but I'd assume that's the plan.  I'd say there are also some younger kids that will get a look at one of the LB spots and one of the CB spots.

BG loses Cambellsville bound kicker/punter Colin Fratus, who was a real weapon for the Purples last season.  His backup is BGHS soccer coach Craig Widener's son Braden.  This is good and bad IMO.  While the young man obviously knows how to kick and BG needs that, he is also committed to the 2022 State Semi-Finalist Purples Soccer Team.  Kicking in football is a "little" different that kicking in soccer.  But it'll work!  Will they try other guys out at punter?  Likely.

The new Draft KHSAA 5A Realignment shows BG in their standard 5A District 2 with Grayson County, Greenwood, Ohio County and South Warren.  Grayson County and Ohio County are new to this district while GW and South remain with BG to no surprise.  Should be interesting with sister district 5A District 1 being much more competitive, but still likely the Red Devils of Owensboro on top there.  Also gone are 5A stalwarts CovCath (to 4A) and Freddie Douglas (to 6A).

It will be interesting to see what the new Purples schedule looks like.  This double whammy year of New Realignment and New Contract schedule has to be a nightmare for all coaching staffs.  I think BG needs maybe still 4 games.  But I don't think they are alone as most teams still have work to do in the scheduling department.

Going to be another great year to be a Purples Fan!  So what do the Purples need to do to be in the hunt this year in your opinion?  

Should be a fun '23 season for the Purples. I see them lighting up the scoreboard with the players they have returning. 

“Speed”

The 2023 Purples, I believe, will have as good of team speed as they’ve had in quite some time (which is saying a lot). 
 

As Purple88 mentions, if the offensive line can become a solid unit, the Purples should average 40+ points per contest. 
 

In all the years I have been an avid Purples fan, I cannot remember a season where EVERY SKILL PLAYER returns!
 

QB, Deuce Bailey seemed to improve every single week. I believe he is a national recruit with some major offers coming his junior year. 
 

Purples coaching staff perhaps had one of their strongest seasons this past Fall. 
 

Great write up, Purple88; is it August yet? 

My only comment is that I am very very excited to watch this team.

Purples need to have some linebackers step up as well as some linemen.  I’d they can do that BG should win a title 1 of the next 2 years if not 2.

They were able to only lose two games during the season and made it to the championship game last season with that young of a gun.  Last season was the beginning of the Purples upswing for the next few years.

 I'll be interested to see how Deuce continues to develop. The jump from year one to year two was very impressive and has some believing he will be a house hold name recruit. If that's the case, then it will make for a very fun couple of seasons with the skill positions surrounding him. I hope year two to three he continues to improve and trend in that direction.

I'm excited to see a schedule for the 23 year. I'm sure there will be stern tests as always, and I wouldn't mind a new face or two.

I haven't seen any other schedule details, but Bowling Green will be hosting a scrimmage against Scott County on August 4th and will be scrimmaging at Male on August 11th.

Last I heard, Bowling Green's schedule was nearly complete with the exception of the Rafferty's Bowl. South Warren pulled out of the bowl last Friday and according to the Listserv they have not found a replacement. 

On BG's website, they have Lexington Christian listed as their opponent this year.  Not sure if that changes with the aforementioned changes with South Warren.  Caught me off guard to see South Warren in another bowl game.  You have to go back to 2013 & 2014 to find the last time Bowling Green didn't have a partner within Warren County for their bowl.

I'm assuming St. X will still be on schedule since they have played each other the last several years.

You gotta wonder... what game is a bigger stage that would lead to South Warren dropping out?

Excited to hear who is the big-time Week 1 opponent for South that is taking the place of kicking off the season at WKU in a bowl where they have both played well and drawn big crowds. 

South Warren is playing North Hardin in the Forcht Bank Bowl @ Campbellsville High School. 

I heard they dropped out the day after Boyle County agreed to play in the Rafferty's Bowl. One can speculate they didn't want to start the season against Brandon Smith's alma mater. 

1 hour ago, bernies said:

South Warren is playing North Hardin in the Forcht Bank Bowl @ Campbellsville High School. 

I heard they dropped out the day after Boyle County agreed to play in the Rafferty's Bowl. One can speculate they didn't want to start the season with a loss to Brandon Smith's alma mater. 

Fixed that for you ?

20 hours ago, Tigerpride94 said:

I'm assuming St. X will still be on schedule since they have played each other the last several years.

Just looked at the BG calendar and they're playing at St. X on Oct. 27th. 

 

BGHS Athletics - Football (google.com)

21 hours ago, bernies said:

South Warren is playing North Hardin in the Forcht Bank Bowl @ Campbellsville High School. 

I heard they dropped out the day after Boyle County agreed to play in the Rafferty's Bowl. One can speculate they didn't want to start the season against Brandon Smith's alma mater. 

So South dropped out of one of the best paying bowl games in KY... in their backyard... against a top tier team... to go play at Campbellsville? Can someone explain that logic to me?