5A Madisonville North Hopkins (7-3) at 5A Bowling Green (8-2)

It will be the Maroons vs the Purples to kick off the 5A playoffs this coming Friday night.  It will be Senior Night for Bowling Green as well.  BG will celebrate 20 seniors, who have had terrific careers for the purple and gold. 

Bowling Green leads the series 15-5-1 all time.  But they haven’t played since the 2010 Regional Quarterfinals (25-0 BG).  The bulk of the series was played “back in the day” beginning with the first game in 1930 (a 7-6 Purples win).  They would play 12 times between 1930 and 1953.  Madisonville’s last win in the series was a 2004 Regional Quarterfinal win 18-13. 

Madisonville North Hopkins Maroons Information

The Maroons are led by star SR QB Kanyon Johnson who has passed for over 800 yards on the year with 8 TDs vs 3 INTs, plus over 1,000 rushing yards with another 11 TDs on the year.  His backfield dynamic duo mate is star JR RB Markez Hightower who has rushed for over 1,400 yards on the year and an impressive 19 TDs.  The Maroon D is led by SR Skylar Minton who has 105 tackles on the year including an impressive 11 sacks. 

Bowling Green Information

The Purples are coming off IMO their best game of the year traveling up to Louisville and playing a focused and inspired game vs a very good St Xavier squad prevailing 26 to 9.  Proof of this begins with the Purple D who held St X to 129 yards offense and 9 rushing yards.  Wow! 

The Purples offense was led by SR QB Deuce Bailey, but IMO this was Deuce’s best game of the year.  Very focused, controlled and ran the ball when BG needed it. 

Game Preview

It will be Senior Night for BG.  I feel the St X Senior Night festivities hurt X get out of the gate well vs BG.  I hope the same doesn’t happen to BG this Friday night.  Madisonville is a dangerous team and if BG doesn’t come out focused the Maroons can certainly win this game.  But if BG intends to have a long playoff run this season, then another focused effort with a strong defensive effort will be needed.

What say you?  Hard to believe it is playoff time, but here we go!

Take it easy in my old high school. 

Purples just need to contain the Maroons QB’s feet. Stop him from using his legs and Purples get a running clock. 
 

Great write up, 88! 

This one will stir some intrigue right up until the Purples show their class, probably sooner rather than later. The win over St. X shows the level they can reach when they're on.

Johnson and Hightower bring a lot to the table. 

BG sits at a different table.

I think BG wins with a running clock.

Congratulations Deuce Bailey!  Super Impressive!

More to do though before you're through!  Let's Go Purples!

 

 

 

Other than the 24-10 win over Greenwood in 2021, the Purples haven't had a first round game decided by less than three touchdowns since losing to Hopkinsville in the first round in 2002. I don't think Madisonville wins, but can the Maroons keep the clock from running?

9 hours ago, gchs_uk9 said:

I don't think Madisonville wins, but can the Maroons keep the clock from running?

Madisonville's two man game needs to click enough to move the chains consistently and run clock, because I look for Bailey to have a field day and the Purples are gonna get theirs.

I'm going to have to make a point to check in on this one or at least play it back later. Johnson and Hightower are legit. Seeing how they attack BG's defense is probably the biggest draw to this game.

Interesting article from KSR on this game:

KSR Game of the Week: No. 15 Bowling Green hosts Madisonville-North Hopkins (on3.com)

 

My keys to the game:

Madisonville

1. You have to start the game well.  Get behind this BG team and it is going to be a tough assignment.

So on 4th and 1 at the 50, you need to go for it and be aggressive and do your best to limit BGs offensive possessions.

2.  Throw a few wrinkles in on the BG defense.  BG historically has been weakest on the opening drive for the other team prior to going over on the side line and making adjustments that typically work.  So make hay while the sun shines and score early.

3.  Defensively you have a tough job.  You need to: a. stop the run.  b.  pressure QB Deuce Bailey, and c. not let Deuce scramble for first downs.  That's a tough job!

Bowling Green

1. Senior Night - LOT of emotion for kids who have been putting on the Purple and Gold for now 6 years for many of them.  It can be hard to refocus on the task at hand.  But I noticed BG moved the ceremony up to 5:30-6:15.  While that won't draw as many fans as right before the game, it will allow the players to regroup and focus on the job at hand.  But it's something to take note of.

2. The BG defense played their best game of the season last Friday up in Louisville vs a good St X squad.  If they can repeat that performance focusing in on QB Kanyon Johnson and RB Markez Hightower, it could be a long night for the boys in Maroon.

3.  Offensively, BG continues to try to be balanced on offense.  They were only roughly 60 rushing yards behind the passing yards last Friday.  I look for BG to try to run the ball an equal amount tonight.  Will they have success?  Or will Deuce Bailey have to create the offense for BG?  We shall see.

 

Going to be a fun one!

Let's Go Purples!

5 hours ago, Purple88 said:

My keys to the game:

Madisonville

1. You have to start the game well.  Get behind this BG team and it is going to be a tough assignment.

So on 4th and 1 at the 50, you need to go for it and be aggressive and do your best to limit BGs offensive possessions.

2.  Throw a few wrinkles in on the BG defense.  BG historically has been weakest on the opening drive for the other team prior to going over on the side line and making adjustments that typically work.  So make hay while the sun shines and score early.

3.  Defensively you have a tough job.  You need to: a. stop the run.  b.  pressure QB Deuce Bailey, and c. not let Deuce scramble for first downs.  That's a tough job!

Bowling Green

1. Senior Night - LOT of emotion for kids who have been putting on the Purple and Gold for now 6 years for many of them.  It can be hard to refocus on the task at hand.  But I noticed BG moved the ceremony up to 5:30-6:15.  While that won't draw as many fans as right before the game, it will allow the players to regroup and focus on the job at hand.  But it's something to take note of.

2. The BG defense played their best game of the season last Friday up in Louisville vs a good St X squad.  If they can repeat that performance focusing in on QB Kanyon Johnson and RB Markez Hightower, it could be a long night for the boys in Maroon.

3.  Offensively, BG continues to try to be balanced on offense.  They were only roughly 60 rushing yards behind the passing yards last Friday.  I look for BG to try to run the ball an equal amount tonight.  Will they have success?  Or will Deuce Bailey have to create the offense for BG?  We shall see.

 

Going to be a fun one!

Let's Go Purples!

Good stuff, 88.

Regarding Madisonville's need for a good start... in addition to BG's ability to sprint away from teams quickly, the Maroons are not built to come back from a 2-3 score deficit against a team of BG's quality. They have to be in this thing from the very beginning.

I think that Madisonville's secondary is not that strong and Baily will pick them apart.  BG will have a field day throwing the ball tonight.

Madisonville has been one of the most up and down teams I've seen in recent memory.  If the very best version of them shows up tonight, I still think it would take a C game from the Purples for it to be competitive.  After how they performed vs St X last week, and seeing that Madisonville defense really struggle at times this season, I'll take BG in a running clock in the 3rd quarter.

On Senior Night 2024 at BG,

Purples come out in Purple jerseys and gold helmets and pants. 
Maroons come in with white jerseys with black pants, and grey helmets. 
6 minutes on the clock. 

Just now, Purple88 said:

On Senior Night 2024 at BG,

Purples come out in Purple jerseys and gold helmets and pants. 
Maroons come in with white jerseys with black pants, and grey helmets. 
6 minutes on the clock. 

Senior Night during the playoffs?

Purples kickoff. 
Maroons ball at M18.