5A South Warren (0-0) vs 6A Ballard (0-0)

Opening Game of the Forcht Bank Bowl on the campus of Campbellsville High School in Campbellsville, Kentucky!

Streaming:  - Sporting Times (stfanclub.com)  (This is a South Warren Stream; not sure if Ballard will have an additional one or not)

The opening game of the Forcht Bank Bowl in Campbellsville will showcase 2 teams trying to take another step after a good year for 5A South Warren and a very good year for 6A Ballard.  South Warren ended the 2023 campaign going 9-3 and falling at always tough Owensboro to end the year.  South ended the regular season with the 2^nd highest RPI rating in 5A.  Ballard ended the memorable 2023 campaign going 10-4 overall and reaching the 6A State Semi-finals before falling at home to a very good Bryan Station team by a score of 24-21.

Ballard Bruins

Ballard (according to our friend @LouHSJunkie) returns their QB Larry Irvin (1,746 yards – 15 TD vs 11 INTs/ 218 yards rushing and 5 more TDs), 3 strong WRs and 3^rd string RB Lamar Hockersmith. 

The Bruins also have a new coach in Matt Keuhn, who was an assistant at Ballard and is stepping up into the Head Coach role.  Keuhn was previously head man at Bullitt Central.  Ballard is always tough, but with a new coach will it take more time to get everything worked out? 

South Warren

South Warren (updated info here) returns 3 on offense and 5 on defense from a very good and efficient 2023 squad.  The Spartans are led by Star SR QB Bryce Button who recently committed to playing on Saturdays at Eastern Michigan.  Congratulations Mr. Button BIG Accomplishment!  South returns 2 good Olinemen and several new transfers who really look the part who will need to anchor a retooled unit South typically depends on.  BUT they lose nearly all their skill players from last season who also went both ways.  So those departed players played RB, WR, CB and S.  South needs to replace them all.  Who steps up? 

I watched a few of South’s 7v7 games at the Greenwood Tournament in July and those new skill guys looked ok.  But this ain’t 7v7 anymore.  So, I got a chance to go to a half of the Central Hardin (shout out to my man @Hardin County Preps) and South scrimmage.  South looked pretty good in this event, but Central Hardin's triple option offense plays into Souths strengths of run defense.  Ballard will have more options.  So, it remains to be seen how that will play out.      

Defensively, the Spartan DLine looked good, but Star SR LB Ethan Reynolds and strong SR LB Jace Catrona didn't play in that scrimmage so not sure about that.  BUT the back 4 are inexperienced players on the varsity level.  Going to be interesting.  South will also be breaking in a new kicker with SR Eli McIntosh graduating.

BREAKING:  Star LB/TE Ethan Reynolds and OLineman Landon Burks and SR LB Jace Catrona are NOT on South's KHSAA roster.  I have heard that Reynolds will not be playing this year due to his WKU Baseball scholarship.  So that’s a loss of an alpha star player in Reynolds and a very experienced lineman in Burks and a super versatile player in Catrona who also took RB snaps last season.

We will see who can step up for South.

Game Setup

This sets up for a fascinating game!  I look for Ballard to pass and South to blitz.  I don’t think South wants a solid Ballard QB with a lot of time to pick apart a new secondary.  I don’t know much at all about the Ballard defense and/or how aggressive the South offense will be with no experienced skill guys?  Going to be fun to keep up with.

Should be a great game.  I may travel down to watch it.

So, what do you expect out of this game?

I like SW in a close one having to come from behind. Ballard gets off to hot starts but seems to fizzle by the 4th quarter.

SW- 27

B- 24

I can't believe so many are on South Warren here and as of now I'm the lone wolf on Ballard. 

S. Warren     31

Ballard          14

If South Warren is as good as many have said they should take care of business pretty easily. 
 

Ballard was very solid last season, but unfortunately for the Bruins there are too many new faces. 

Fall means I get to praise @Purple88 for some great work, again thank you. 

Not too familiar with the Bruins personally, but I do know the absence of Ethan Reynolds for the Spartans can’t be a positive. I won’t say the young man is right or wrong for making a “business decision” but stepping away from a program of that caliber while being one of the top guys is very strange to me. 
 

This one has the potential to be a shootout if Ballard can throw the football, contradicting my pre season prediction of good defense for the Spartans but after the news of losing assumed retention of talent is critical, especially early in the season. Still believe it won’t be until the middle of the year to see the best version of these Spartans but I’m bullish on this offense led by Button after seeing he has some serviceable talent around him. 
 

South - 38

Ballard- 35

 

 

 

Campbellsville High School.

Score Predictor: Ballard 31-24

1 hour ago, TheBallCoach said:

Fall means I get to praise @Purple88 for some great work, again thank you. 

Not too familiar with the Bruins personally, but I do know the absence of Ethan Reynolds for the Spartans can’t be a positive. I won’t say the young man is right or wrong for making a “business decision” but stepping away from a program of that caliber while being one of the top guys is very strange to me. 
 

This one has the potential to be a shootout if Ballard can throw the football, contradicting my pre season prediction of good defense for the Spartans but after the news of losing assumed retention of talent is critical, especially early in the season. Still believe it won’t be until the middle of the year to see the best version of these Spartans but I’m bullish on this offense led by Button after seeing he has some serviceable talent around him. 
 

South - 38

Ballard- 35

 

 

 

Ballard scored 5 points in 3 quarters in their scrimmage with Bullitt East.  Their defense wasn't bad, and scrimmages rarely show a ton of offense but I really can't see them scoring anywhere close to 35 points on SW. 

@BEChargers I’m not sure how well  the Bruins can throw it or not, if they solely rely on the run I agree, no they won’t score 35. I do know that’s an inexperienced group in the Spartan secondary though and if they can get it going in the air I don’t know why it wouldn’t lead to some numbers on the board. 

Not sure how much experience Ballard returns from last season? After watching South Warren on Thursday night vs Central Hardin, QB Bryce Button is the real deal and is definitely the key to this offense. Defense, as always is solid. 

I think this game could come down to who makes the least turnovers and mistakes. 

My Prediction:

Ballard 24

South Warren 21

I think SW wins by at least 2 td's.  

SW 28

Ballard 14

I expect this to be a close game and I am happy to see these two teams playing each other because I think it is a good game for both teams.  I also know this game can help you win a prize:

 

I'm gonna say Ballard wins this by one score...might just be a field goal that makes the difference, could be a touchdown. Irvin was a VERY good sophomore starter for the Bruins last year, and will only be better this year. Plus he has both of his top receivers back in Stephens and Thompson.

Ballard graduated both of their top rushers from last year, but then they also had like a baker's dozen guys to run the ball last year, so running back by committee with a team as deep as Ballard will wear down what South Warren has to stop them.

Bump.

My first trip to Dave Fryrear Field on the campus of Campbellsville High School. Really nice and unique carpus. 
Sun is out and about. Warm. 
But going to be a good one here.