The (1-0) Greenwood Gators will be meeting the (1-0) Warren East Raiders this Friday night at Barren County HS to open the Don Franklin Auto Trojan Turf war bowl, well wasn't that's a mouthful. Kickoff is at 6pm CST and it will indeed be a hot one. This will be the first meeting of the two cross town teams since the 2019 football season where the Gators won 22-13. 

It is no secret who HC WIlliam Howard wants to get the ball too and that is ATH Tel Tel Long (SR) and can anyone blame him, the 5'11 180lb Long had 8 carries for 60 yards and a TD along with 2 receptions for 53 yards with a TD in the victory against Hopkinsville. The efficient play from first year QB Cam Smith (SR) had to of been very relieving for the staff and teammates after the team's previous starter QB Ryan Huff (JR) transferred to Pensacola Catholic HS after last season. Big and physical, it has been the epitome of the Gators football program for decades and this year's football team is no different. Defensively sound ball club with RB/LB Gray Price (SR) leading the charge as he hopes to capitalize off of a good 2022 season, started off well with a team leading 5 tackles week 0 of this year.

Warren East opened the year with Daviess County and got the 24-0 shutout victory over the Panthers. The Warren East defense dominated up front and DL Josh Collins (SR) seemed to be untouchable and set the tone early as he tallied 16 tackles. The Raiders Defense created 3 turnovers (2 interceptions, 1 fumble). Offensively for the Raiders it never seemed to get rolling until it finally did but it wasn't from the usual scorer. RB Michael Clark (SR) had 12 rushes for 92 yards and a TD while fellow RB/LB Maddox Tarrence (SR) put up 43 yards on his six carries for 3 TD's. WR/DB Tray Price (SR) had 8 receptions but only had 34 yards to go with that. The Raiders were unable to get the ball down the field through the air but will have to in order to be where they want to be as the season moves along.

Believe this will be a great defensive game and will come down to the 4th quarter and special teams. The Gators may have just a little too much for the Raiders on both sides of the ball and if they are able to limit QB/FS Dane Parsley (JR) the way the Panthers did last week, I don't see why they wouldn't get the victory. A tough task nonetheless for both coaching staffs and players as they prepare for a physical game Friday night, looking forward to this one!

Prediction: Greenwood 28 Warren East 22

Greenwood- 35

Warren East-21. 

This game will be streamed live thanks to the fine people at Sporting Times.

- Sporting Times (stfanclub.com)

I'll take Greenwood by a thin margin. That being said, it wouldn't surprise me a lick to see East pull this one out. They will very much have the best player on the field, but it will have to be a team collective to put away the Gators. This would be a fantastic pick em' game. 

1 minute ago, BillNye said:

I'll take Greenwood by a thin margin. That being said, it wouldn't surprise me a lick to see East pull this one out. They will very much have the best player on the field, but it will have to be a team collective to put away the Gators. This would be a fantastic pick em' game. 

This should be a great game, but I am thinking a 6pm start time with projected 93 degrees at kickoff is going to be a tough ask.  Wonder if there is a plan B for this game.

I'll go 

GW - 24

East - 21

But could see the letters switched as East is a very solid ball club.

This game will be streamed live on the Sporting Times Network:

- Sporting Times (stfanclub.com)

Good Luck to Both Teams!

3 hours ago, Purple88 said:

This should be a great game, but I am thinking a 6pm start time with projected 93 degrees at kickoff is going to be a tough ask.  Wonder if there is a plan B for this game.

I'll go 

GW - 24

East - 21

But could see the letters switched as East is a very solid ball club.

East is solid, but you have to think, if Greenwood has any kind of aspirations to compete at the top of the district then the Gators need to win this game. A loss to Warren East does not equate well for them when we go in to district play.

Greenwood impressed me with that beat down on Hopkinsville so think they win by a couple scores.

Kickoff has been pushed back to 7:30pm CST.

Bump.

Gators looking dominant thus far. 13-0 GW just barely inside of the second quarter. 

19-0 GW about 5 minutes til half. Raiders defense doing it all it can. Gators defense is stuffing everything East is throwing at them. 

25-0 GW. About a 60 yard bomb before half. With the way the Gators are playing D, safe to say you can turn off the lights  

Halftime
Greenwood 25 Warren East 0

Tough start for the Raiders, have to get QB Dane Parsley (JR) in space somehow, only 2 first downs the entire first half, completely shutdown. Gators are passing the ball efficiently and capitalizing when giving the opportunity on the ground. testing the Raiders secondary has been beneficial.