2A Lexington Christian Academy (0-0) vs 5A Bowling Green (0-0)

 

The Rafferty's Bowl has a really strong list of teams and games this year and the night cap should not disappoint!  Lexington Christian Academy (LCA) comes into this game with a lot of positive momentum and hype after going 9-5 last season ending the year in a very competitive game at Mayfield.  For those that know little about LCA, Coach Ethan Atchley turned the program around in 2014; taking a 1-10 team and turning them around to be regular playoff contenders each year during his tenure at LCA through the 2018 season.  Current Coach Doug Charles has continued to build on that foundation with a 43-10 record over the next 4 years.  Outstanding!

This year the billboards around Lexington will be spotlighting arguably the top prospect in the State SR QB Cutter Boley, who is committed to UK Football while having a plethora of other big time offers!  The Eagles return 2-way stalward OL/DL Garrison McKinney and leading tackler JR Major Brown with 136 tackles last year and leading WR Parker Chaney with 83 catches on the year.  The Eagles also boast a few nice transfers including SR RB Brady Hensley (I believe he recently received an EKU offer) who added nearly 1,500 yards and 16 TDs for Madison Central last season.  I think LCA still must fill some graduation hits on their lines, but this is a team that expects to make a deep run hopefully playing at Kroger Field in December.  And they have a big team heavy schedule the first of the season to help them get there with a who’s who pre-district lineup including BG, Boyle County, Pikeville, Christian Academy of Louisville and Lexington Catholic.  WOWZA!

Bowling Green comes into this game and this season much like LCA, in that after a strong 2022 season and a plethora of players back, the Purples are eyeing another deep run hopefully to Kroger Field.  BG had a great season in 2022 finishing runners up in 5A to a terrific Frederic Douglas team, now moved on to 6A.  Coach Mark Spader and staff did IMO one of their best jobs last season finishing 12 and 3.  While the billboards aren’t quite as big yet for BG QB Deuce Bailey, his ability continues to make strides forward.  After taking over as QB for BG midway through his Freshman year, he has really developed into a top dual threat QB.  He is surrounded by a stable of very talented WRs and SR RB Javon Huddleston.  Huddleston broke on the scene last season really having switched over from being a second string OLB to being a star RB with 1,200 yards and 16 TDs on the year.  The WR core is DEEP with 4 players easily capable of at least 40 catches a piece this season.  That’s A LOT!  SR Easton Barlow (Air Force Commit)(may be injured for this game), SO Travey Barber, JR Chris Sweeney and JR Ethan Warder form the nucleus to one of the strongest parts of this year's Purples squad.  The Oline returns 2 starters (Elliot and Fields).  So the cohesiveness of this unit will be a big part of the progression of this team.  But early signs were more positive than negative IMO.

The BG defense will have many new faces playing this season, but DL Mekhi Axson and Safeties Wick Dotson and Grayson Newman will not be new.  There are players who got time last year that this year will be their time to step up and then there will be some new faces to see what they can do.  What do I expect?  I expect the offense to be ahead of the defense, but as is typical with BG, once the cold weather breaks, the defense should be locked in by then.

So what do you expect from this high flying affair?

I'll take the team from Bowling Green, 31-17.

42-35 LCA wins. I don't think BG's ground game is strong enough to pull the secondary close to the LOS, and open up throwing lanes for Purples receivers. 

I believe both schools offenses will be ahead of the defenses. 

I’m going LCA 42-BG 41 is a shootout. 

Hoping this will be a high scoring shootout. Can LCA match the speed of BG. And can BG stop the running game of LCA if they choose to really feed Hensley who’s a violent runner. I’m taking BG in a 56-42 win 

This game will be streamed by Sporting Times via the link below.  Enjoy!

 

- Sporting Times (stfanclub.com)

Both of these teams should be great this season. I feel like BG is just a hair bigger and faster, however. 
 

I got the Purples winning this one and winning the 5A title this year!

On 8/12/2023 at 12:04 PM, Purple88 said:

 For those that know little about LCA, Coach Ethan Atchley turned the program around in 2014; taking a 1-10 team and turning them around to be regular playoff contenders each year during his tenure at LCA through the 2018 season.  

Your comment about LCA going 1-10 seemed unbelievable to me and I had no recollection of that season. I know you always do your homework but I had to double check that one and you are right of course. I don't know how that is even possible at LCA, but it happened and their schedule wasn't even that difficult when comparing it to who they play now.

This game may be the headline matchup of opening weekend. It should be a great game.

Hoping for a close game but I think Bowling Green has too many horses in this one. 

 

5 hours ago, Voice of Reason said:

Your comment about LCA going 1-10 seemed unbelievable to me and I had no recollection of that season. I know you always do your homework but I had to double check that one and you are right of course. I don't know how that is even possible at LCA, but it happened and their schedule wasn't even that difficult when comparing it to who they play now.

This game may be the headline matchup of opening weekend. It should be a great game.

I was there that year. The program was in turmoil. Atchley did an awesome job turning the program around. Charles has taken the program to the next level and has the iron sharpens iron philosophy when it comes to scheduling games. I believe it was the 2nd year of him being there that he was able to start scheduling games and the level of competition has increases each scheduling cycle.

This schedule is by far the toughest they have had in program history. It will be interesting to see where they stand after the first 5 games.

Some would say scheduling Bowling Green, the biggest school you play, the 1st game borderlines on insanity ?

What is LCA’s depth like?  Will BG have a big numbers advantage that could also add into wearing LCA down?

I no longer live in Lexington, so what I am about to say it second hand but from reliable sources. LCA has in the mid 60's on the roster. I'm being told there are only a couple of players going both ways for them this year and they have better depth then your typical 2a school. 

5a is a big jump though. Taking down the preseason 5a #1, in some polls, is a huge task. LCA has some recent big upsets under Coach Charles the last couple of years. The biggest being ending Boyles home field win streak. Can they do it again?

Here is some info on tickets for the Rafferty's Bowl.  Also love the poster with the players from three of the 4 teams.  Wish they had a Gibson Southern guy on there too, but likely had to go with what they knew.

 

On 8/12/2023 at 11:02 PM, Cobraxx said:

I believe both schools offenses will be ahead of the defenses. 

I’m going LCA 42-BG 41 is a shootout. 

I have little doubt this will be a showcase for both offenses and a fun game to watch. Boley and Bailey combined for 7,000 yards and 70 touchdown passes last year with weapons galore to distribute the ball to. Most of the supporting casts are back, plus a high profile addition at LCA. I think we'll see both teams score at least in the 30s.

Hearing Easton Barlow will miss the 2023 season due to the injury suffered against Scott County. He was the Purples' leading receiver from last season, so it certainly is a hefty blow. Wishing for the best and a speedy recovery for the young man as his is committed to Air Force to continue his career there.