5A Bowling Green (2-1) at 5A Apollo (2-1) 

Streaming:  Right now, no Sporting Times, but I'll try to provide updates later in the week.

The Purples head up the old Nather Parkway to take on the Eagles for the 19^th time in the series that dates back to 1975.  The Eagles defeated the Purples in back-to-back meetings in 1983 (20-14) and 1984 (12-11).  But the other 16 games, BG has come out on top.  Their most recent matchup was last season’s Regional Quarterfinals game where BG rolled after Apollo scored first, I think, 48-6.

Apollo Information

Eagles Coach John Edge is a good coach who has been around for some time (he coached OCath for many years too), but the going has been tough since coming to Apollo in the Covid Year of 2020.  But this year, I feel they have some traction off Tamarack Road.  They lost this season’s opening game vs the Green Buzz Saw that is Owensboro Catholic, but won a shootout at 6A McCracken County (40-36), which was a real must win game for team confidence and their upward trajectory this season.  They then hosted a pretty dang solid 6A Meade County team that has some solid players and found a way to come out on top of a back-and-forth slugfest.  The Eagles scored the go-ahead TD on a 17-yard pass from Johnson to Board with 2:43 to play.  Meade followed that with a 14-play drive getting to the Apollo 5-yard line.  But the Eagles forced an incomplete pass as time expired to hang on!  What a win and winning streak for Apollo!  Well Done!!!

The Eagles leader is likely SO QB Maxwell Johnson who continues to improve after his trial by fire as a Freshman season last year.  His numbers won’t win him the Mr. Football award this year, but he has toughness and is improving each game IMO.  SO RB John Milburn leads the Eagles on the ground rushing for 101 yards and a TD through 2 games on the year.  The Eagles top 2 WRs are JR Landen Bratcher and SR Niles Board who together have roughly 280 yards through 2 games and 2 TDs. 

Defensively, SR Jamison Brown leads the way with 17 tackles (2 tackles for loss) on the year with JR John Edge and SR Tavius Walker both having 12 tackles on the year. 

This is a good improving team that most in KY don't think much of, but they are improving.  I'm really looking forward to keeping up with them during their tough 5A District 1 play.

Bowling Green Information

The Purples have come through their opening gauntlet of games facing 3 difficult opponents (vs Frederick Douglass (at WKU Rafferty’s Bowl), vs Owensboro, and vs Bryan Station (at the LCA Bowl)) and improved by one game vs that stretch over last season.  BG now has a record of 2-1 and looking towards a stretch of games that on paper should not be as challenging as those 3 referenced above.  But that is the challenge is it not; to still get prepared, enter the game and execute to move on.  This will be valuable time leading into district play.  5A District 2 is NOT a weak district (side hug for our friends from Ohio County!)  This will also be a valuable time for the BG second string guys, who if given opportunities need to embrace that and work on getting better on the varsity field. 

Quick comments on the Bryan Station game:  BG had a pretty poor first half from an execution standpoint, especially after their first offensive possession.  I would love to know how many penalties were called on them.  Goodness.  But BGs defense played really well, except for 2 very poor tackling plays that led to very long Station TDs.  Clean that up and Station likely on gets one score on the night.  Just sluggish really, but the second have was markedly improved.  I do want to spotlight a few guys who IMO stood out.  On offense, SO RB Nick Reed is another kind of weapon for BG.  He gets tough yards between the tackles and BG really needed those last night.  On defense, SRs Ryan Watt and Anthony Point caused Station a lot of problems in the middle last night and I don't think Station had a lot of success running except one play.  But it's better to get the win and that was a change in script after last season vs Station.  Onward!

Game Preview

Let’s get the most important information out there.  If going to this game, plan on meeting me at Old Hickory Barbeque for a pre-game meal, which is always a treat worth looking forward to!

BG won the 2 combined games from last season by a total of 105-13.  BG didn’t lose a tremendous amount off last season's team and should be well-sharpened with the competition they have already faced.  As long as BG comes out somewhat focused, this game should never be in question.  But I do like this Apollo squad and hope Apollo has a positive, up-trending season, which I think they can have in their very challenging district.  They actually already are.  This time last season Apollo was 0-3 getting ready to travel to BG.  This year they are 2-1 and hosting, so the Eagle confidence level should be very high!  Good luck to them!

BG 55

Apollo 9

BG by a lot. 62-6

Pain

Bump.

30 minute delay due to storms rolling through. 
BG with Purple pants, white jerseys and gold helmets. 
Apollo in all blue with white helmets. 

@Purple88 you are going to have to be as quick as an auctioneer in keeping us up to date with the BG scoring tonight!

 

Apollo ball at the 20. 
Nice pass by Maxwell. 
Poor snaps. 
Facemask on BG. 
Another nice slant play to WR Williams. 
Screen to Board and he takes it to the house. 
Wow!

Apollo 7

BG 0

BG at their 31. 
Big run negated by penalty. 
45 yard pass to Barber. Amazing catch. Decent coverage by Apollo. 
TO Apollo. 
BG at the 23. 
TD Jaxon Smith. 
7-7 8:06 1Q

Apollo at their 20. False start. 
very nice pass to Board. First down. 
4th and 2. First down Apollo. 
Terrible coverage by BG corner. Wow 

QB run. Nice decision. 
Another first down. 
Nice screen to Board. First down. At BG 13. 
Fumble by Johnson. BG ball. 
But excellent drive by Apollo. 
7-7 2:59 1Q
 

Bailey pass INT. Just a miscommunication. 
Apollo ball on BG 44. 
Apollo with momentum. 

Nice pass to Board 

3rd and 3  

Richey with INT for BG. 
It’s turnover night here at Apollo. 

Nick Graham with some terrific runs for BG. In Apollo territory. 
Emd of 1Q

Great Quarter for Apollo. Impressed with them more than I already was. 
7-7. BG ball at the Apollo 40. 

Amazing scramble by Bailey. Complete with to Kirkwood. First down. 
Barber to the 3. 
Holding BG. 
4th and goal at the 6. 
Incomplete. Poor job by BG. 
7-7 9:16 in the half. 

First down Apollo. 
Apollo to punt. 
Nice D BG. 
BG ball at the Apollo 35

Barber first down. 
Tre Graham. Nice catch and run. TD BG

BG 14

Apollo 7

5:57 in 2Q