Unfortunately, I believe what BillNye reports is very likely true.  Really hate it for a young man who has worked very hard to get to this point.  Certainly hope his recovery goes well and he has a great career at AirForce.  For the Purples, it's not ideal obviously, but part of the game.  Fortunately, it is a blow to one of their deepest areas on the roster.

 

GAME DAY is here for some and 1 Day away for others!  Finally!

So to get us going, here are my top 4 keys to the game:

Top 4 Keys to the Game – LCA vs Bowling Green

1.        Which team can establish a running game?

LCA brings in a talented senior RB transfer from Madison Central in Brady Hensley, who is a punishing runner if he’s able to run downhill.  Will the LCA front allow Hensley to get going?  BG has some new guys on that defensive front, but Mekhi Axson and SR Jordan Green are seasoned and should lead BGs defensive front with some new big guys up front for the Purples.

For BG, will Javen Huddleston play?  He is the SR leading RB for BG who was so instrumental in the Purples run game last season.  But he has not played this season (7v7 or scrimmages).  Will he suit up on Saturday?  If not, BG has 2 really nice young (sophomores) RBs (Graham and Smith) who have a lot of promise, but no experience on Friday or in this instance Saturday Night Lights.  Add that to 3 new Oline guys the Purples will be introducing on Saturday.  Makes this my #1 item for the winning team.  I say the winning team will have more rushing yards than the losing team.

2.       Which QB plays better?  99% will answer without question in standout SR QB Cutter Boley with LCA, who is headed to UK Football next season, but BG has a QB of their own in JR Deuce Bailey, who may be the top dual-threat QB in the state.  I’m sure he has had this game circled for a while.  Thing is Bailey could be equally effective with his legs as he is with his arm, which could be a factor in this game.

3.       Kicking Game – I’ll admit I know zero about LCA’s kicking game, but for the Purples JR Braden Widener has looked really good kicking the ball for BG.  He hasn’t kicked kickoffs in the endzone yet, but he hit 2 35 yard-ish FGs in the CAL scrimmage with a lot left on those kicks.  Add that to some nice punting by WR Ethan Warder and the Purples seem to have this area covered at the moment.  But this will be an important area I think.

4.       Turnovers and Penalties – ALWAYS key areas to any game, but none more so than to open your season.  Which team wins the turnover battle and which team is more tactically disciplined out of the gate here to open the season? 

Should be a great game to open the season for both teams!!!

Bump.

Hoping for a good competitive game. Not been too many of those today.

Just now, Cobraxx said:

Hoping for a good competitive game. Not been too many of those today.

Same.

Go Purples!

At least 45 minutes to kickoff 

1 minute ago, Purple88 said:

At least 45 minutes to kickoff 

I am going to hit the shower then.

This game is being streamed free of charge on Sporting Times website. Link is in this thread above. 

Just now, Purple88 said:

This game is being streamed free of charge on Sporting Times website. Link is in this thread above. 

https://stfanclub.com/live/

Pre game show has started

BG will receive the ball first. 

Travey Barber to the house!

TD Purples 

Hello 2023!

Always a great way to start the new season. 

WR Trevy Barber (SO) putting his stamp on this game early and often, opening kickoff return TD, off to the races early. 
 

BG up 7-0