5A Playoffs – Second Round Game

Bowling Green (9-2) at Owensboro (8-3)

Old Rivals face off in Owensboro at Rash Stadium on the campus of Owensboro High School at 7 pm Central Time!

Streaming:  - Sporting Times (stfanclub.com)

This will be the 86^th meeting between these 2 old rivals.  For BG, Owensboro is its most played opponent all time with BG leading the razor thin all-time series 44-39-2.  These teams have produced some classic games over the years with most going BG’s way in the 2000’s (14 straight wins from September 18, 2009 to September 7, 2018) and most going Owensboro’s way in the late 50’s and 60’s (15 straight wins from October 26, 1956 to October 22, 1971). 

This will be the second meeting of the season between these teams.  Bowling Green won the first game way back in Week 2 in late August 35-14.  Both teams had about 100 yards rushing in the game.  Owensboro also had about 120 yards passing while BG had roughly 300 yards passing in the game.  Bowling Green probably played their second best game of the season in this one with Deuce Bailey passing 18 for 23 for about 300 yards and 5 TDs and no INTs.  Owensboro continued to battle and scored two TDs later in the game.  Before we get into the game; a quick shoutout to my late friend @PurpleHaze, who was a staunch Purples fan and so loved this rivalry game.

Owensboro Information

The Red Devils still have one of the best running backs in the State in Evan Hampton.  The JR has just over 1,400 yards on the year with 17 TDs on the year.  The 6’ 200 lbs speedster has multiple offers from multiple mid to power 5 D1 schools.  Impressive.  In August, the Bowling Green defense focused their attention on limiting the star RBs gains by what appeared to be 11 guys watching #22.  WRs Kinsgton Dillard and Cayden Ray have also had very good seasons for the Red Devils with each having 4 TDs on the year.  SR QB Trevor Delacey has also had a good year for Owensboro.  Delacey takes some heat from some Owensboro fans, but he is a battler in my book.  The SR has passed for nearly 1,700 yards on the year with 16 TDs vs 8 INTs.   

The Red Devils come into this game on the heels of BLASTING poor Ole Ohio County 58-0.  While a convincing win, not sure that helps much for this game.

Bowling Green Information

BG gave an uneven performance last night vs Madisonville after a great game at St Xavier the game before.  But I will say Madisonville played as hard as any team I’ve watched this season.  The Purples did find some traction late in the 2^nd Quarter when they scored 2 quick TDs to lead 21-0 at the half. 

The Purples defense did have a very good day and controlled a determined Maroon attack for most of the night, but it wasn’t easy.   The Bowling Green DLine are really coming on and played one of their better games last night.

Bowling Green offensively has been good all year (even though they didn’t find a good rhythm last night) for the most part which Deuce Bailey having another career year with 2,100 yards passing and 31 TDs vs 5 INTs.  He is now Bowling Green’s career leader for passing yards (over 10,000), career completions (705), career pass attempts (1,133) and career passing TDs (119).  Super impressive!  That has transpired due to the culmination of taking a chance on a young Freshman back in 2021 and letting him get some lumps in and game experience and he really started to take off his Sophomore year in 2022.  That along with very good OLines and talented WRs have resulted in a runner up campaign in 2022, a 5A State Title in 2023 and a chance to play out his Senior year here.  Going to be fun to watch!

If BG is to make a deep run, both offensive and defensive Purples squads need to combine to have a stellar playoff performance here at the always tough to play at Rash Stadium.

Game Information

This game will be played on the campus of Owensboro High School at historic Rash Stadium.  It is a GREAT place to watch a game and IMO Owensboro always plays at another level when they play there.  This Friday should be no different as the Purples come calling one more time.  And honestly, Owensboro should be playing with nothing to lose here.

Owensboro defeated Bowling Green at Rash Stadium 28-21 in the same round of the playoffs back in 2018.  It was Vito Tisdale’s last game vs the Red Devils and as I recall BG really melted down in that game with a plethora of unsportsmanlike conduct penalties that really turned the game.  Can the Red Devils frustrate the Purples again?

Game time is set for 7:00 pm central.  The current weather forecast for Friday night is 50 degrees at game time kickoff with low wind.  No excuses with that forecast.

Will Owensboro turn back the clock to 2018 or will BG march on?

Really, really looking forward to it!  Who you got and why!

BG by 21 Bailey has been killing it all season and will continue to do so. 

6 hours ago, Purple88 said:

Owensboro defeated Bowling Green at Rash Stadium 28-21 in the same round of the playoffs back in 2018.  It was Vito Tisdale’s last game vs the Red Devils and as I recall BG really melted down in that game with a plethora of unsportsmanlike conduct penalties that really turned the game.  Can the Red Devils frustrate the Purples again?

Highly doubt this will happen this time around. Although Tisdale was the more recruited player. IMO Monte Owsley was the best player on the field that night and it showed as BG had no answer for him on offense and on defense he basically shut Tisdale down and got him out of character which lead to the unsportsmanlike penalties … Bringing it to 2024 I feel like it’s reversed Evan Hampton is the highly recruited player but the best player on the field will be Barber. He breaks loose for a wild night at Rash and O will be looking forward to next season by halftime unfortunately. Hope I'm wrong. Let’s go Devils!

Also like to add the Devils have been wayyyy to predictable when playing the purples like we’re watching the same game on repeat when they meet. For the Devils to have any chance in this one. Hampton will have to line up at Receiver and DB. Your not going to run it consistently and have success against the Purples idc who’s playing them or running the ball.

42-14 BG

Bowling Green 28-17.

I think Owensboro does better then they did back in September. Really looking forward to this one. Going to be a lot closer. 28-21 either way

DID YOU KNOW?

The very first Owensboro HS vs BGHS football game was 92 years ago to the day. It was at BG and the Purples pulled out a 14-13 win to start the rivalry we have today!

As 88 mentioned we have Sporting Times video:

https://stfanclub.com/live/

We have NFHS Video:

https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/owensboro-high-school-owensboro-ky/gambcd9367dc9

And I assume we will have Facebook video from James Green:

https://www.facebook.com/james.green.12914216

2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 Owensboro teams I would take in this game at Rash.  The last 2 years BG is very solid and it’s 2 of Owensboro's worst teams in the past 6 years.  O has some phenomenal athletes on this team and maybe if Crowe and Winstead had stayed I might be singing a different tune.  I think BG beats O up here starting with controlling the LOS.  If O lines up 10 yards off Barber he will have field day.  I hope I’m wrong but BG will also game plan and adjust much better than O staff.  I would love to be wrong but it’s BG 42-7.

Trap game? Feel like Owensboro is a tough place to play. 

Rash helps us out a lot. The crowd is on top up next to the field. It’s been a huge advantage playing at Rash for over a 100 years. What do you think a Devil fans? I’m keeping my score the same 28-21 either way. Devils or Purples. 

3 hours ago, Brown said:

2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 Owensboro teams I would take in this game at Rash.  The last 2 years BG is very solid and it’s 2 of Owensboro's worst teams in the past 6 years.  O has some phenomenal athletes on this team and maybe if Crowe and Winstead had stayed I might be singing a different tune.  I think BG beats O up here starting with controlling the LOS.  If O lines up 10 yards off Barber he will have field day.  I hope I’m wrong but BG will also game plan and adjust much better than O staff.  I would love to be wrong but it’s BG 42-7.

Devils coaching staff needs to keep this game close. If it’s 42-7 at Rash that would be a total melt down by the Devils and would come with some player retention issues in the off season.

Rash stadium may affect some teams, but it doesn't bother the Purples often.  They've won 7 of their past 8 trips to Rash.  Unless Owensboro shows they can move the ball on offense this one will be ugly.  I'll say BG 42-14. 

58 minutes ago, Devils Fan said:

Devils coaching staff needs to keep this game close. If it’s 42-7 at Rash that would be a total melt down by the Devils and would come with some player retention issues in the off season.

Where are they gonna go?