38 minutes ago, Scottcountyred said:

Surprised Ocath isn’t getting a few more votes. 

Right now it is BG 40, OC 1.

On 8/16/2025 at 3:54 PM, Purple88 said:

2025 Rafferty’s Bowl – Nightcap!

2A Owensboro Catholic Aces (0-0) vs 5A Bowling Green Purples (0-0)

Located at Bowling Green High School at 7:30 pm Central                              

Streaming:         Home | Sporting Times                 

GOOD MATCHUP TO END THE OPENING WEEKEND OF THE 2025 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SEASON!!!!

Rafferty’s Bowl Intro

The Rafferty’s Bowl has another year of strong teams continuing its trend as one of the better opening weekend bowl events around.  This night cap features 2 State Championship contending hopefuls in the Owensboro Catholic Aces (2A) and the Bowling Green Purples (5A).  That being said, both teams will have to form new identities as both will now be operating without the services of generational four-year stars at QBs (Brady Atwell for OCath and Deuce Bailey for Bowling Green).  

All Time Series:  Bowling Green leads 20-8.  I thought that was a lot of games for these 2.  They started playing on September 28, 1951 (BG 7-0) and played annually in September through the September 17, 1964 game at OCath (BG 25-6).  That’s half the games right there and the series record at that time was a 7-7 tie.  They restarted the series on September 29, 1978 and played annually 13 more years to September 22, 1990 (BG 31-10).  The most recent matchup was a lone game at Kentucky Wesleyan College (in Owensboro and typically the Aces home field) the second game of the 2009 season on August 28, 2009 (BG 45-6).  The last OCath win in the series was October 1, 1982 in Bowling Green (Final Score OCath 34 – BG 14).

Owensboro Catholic Aces – 2023 & 2024 Class 2A State Runner-Ups

Brady Atwell Sendoff – Brady Atwell (2 time – 2A Player of the Year) began his Aces career backing up then Senior QB Lincoln Clancy in the 2021 Season.  But that didn’t stop him from getting on the field as he started at LB and was 4^th on the team his freshman year with 70 tackles.   Atwell finished at OCath with 11,631 passing yards, 153 TDs vs only 27 INTs.  He also ran for just over 2,000 yards and another 48 TDs (and more; see below).  He led the Aces to back-to-back 2A Finals appearances.  One of one player:

(21) Owensboro Catholic Football (@OCath_Football) / X

He is now playing baseball on the Hill for WKU and I’d say will likely be in attendance for this game! 

2025 Owensboro Catholic Aces Information

The Aces are led by the 2024 2A Coach of the Year (KY Football Coaches Association) Jason Morris starting his 8^th Season as the Aces head man with a 68 and 23 record.  With the face of the Aces program now moved on, it is nice to start anew with a younger QB who learned under Atwell.  JR QB Dre’mail Carothers comes on the scene with a live arm and great athleticism after a solid summer scoring offers from at least EKU, UK and UofL.  While he lacks meaningful game experience, he is certainly capable to pick up the reigns and lead this Aces team.  And it appears he is doing just that:  (21) Ayden Crowley on X: "There is a new dealer for the Aces. Dre'mail Carothers takes over as QB1 for an Owensboro Catholic team that hasn't lost a regular season game since September of 2022. He says he's ready for the challenge. @hometeamfriday @OCath_Football @DremailC2027 https://t.co/bDWhVKX4Nt" / X

Carothers will have the Aces leading returning rusher back in SR Miles Edge (764 yards and 4 TD last season) along with upstart JR Shaiden Mitchell.  The Aces return their third, fourth and fifth leading WRs from last season including Sr Cameron Woodward (48 catches for 636 yards and 4 TDs) and Owensboro transfer Xavier Maddox (29 catches for 381 yards and 5 TDs).  I’m not as familiar with the Ace’s Oline, but players like FR John Paul Carrico (EKU and UofL offers) and Tristin French (KWU offer) should form a nucleus from which the Aces can develop. 

On defense, it looks like 7 starters return.  But 3 of the top 4 Aces tacklers graduated last year.  Miles Edge, the RB, was also the second leading tackler from last season at LB for OCath.  That is going to be a lot to ask of Mr. Edge against a team like Bowling Green IMO.  But OCath has other solid defensive players returning like SR DLine Caden Conkright, LB Jude Evans and DB Jude Cecil. 

Bowling Green Purples – 2023 & 2024 5A State Champions

Deuce Bailey Sendoff – Deuce Bailey (2 time 5A State Finals MVP) moves on to Missouri State this fall.  Go Bears!!!  And they got a steal in my opinion!  In doing so, he leaves behind ultra-impressive career stats including:

Football – (2X State Champion – 2X MVP)

-          10,936 passing yards  -  130 passing TDs  -  1,164 rushing yards  -  19 rushing TDs

Basketball – (2025 State Runner-ups)

-          1,283 total points  -  104 total made 3PT  -  353 total rebounds

SO many plays made for the Purple and Gold, but none more important than on 4^th and 8 from the South Warren 20 yard line in the 2024 5A State Semi-Final on the Road midway through the 4^th Quarter leading 24-21 vs arch-rival South Warren and Bailey scrambles for THE critical first down, of which BG would go on to punch it in and also punch in their 3^rd straight 5A Final Game appearance ticket, which would turn out to be Back-to-Back 5A State Championships! 

(21) BGHS Football (@PurplesFootball) / X            Thank You and Good Luck – Deuce!!!

2025 Bowling Green Purples Information -

1,450 – What does that number mean to you sports fans?  That number is how many days it’s been since Deuce Bailey didn’t start a Bowling Green High School football game at Quarterback for the Purples!  Bowling Green comes into this game entering a New Era – the Post-Deuce Bailey Era.  Bailey set every major passing record at Bowling Green over his 4 seasons in Purple and Gold.  Those are TOUGH shoes to step into, but someone gets that opportunity.  And that someone will be Senior Transfer (from Lexington Frederick Douglas HS) Jaxon Strautman.  The 6’1” 195 lbs. signal caller comes to Bowling Green and steps into a pretty nice slot.  He has a roster loaded with known producing WRs and RBs and an Oline that I’m hoping will be pretty dang solid.  Strautman started at Frederick Douglas his SO and JR years where the Broncos played a really tough schedule going 17 and 10 the last 2 years falling in the State Semi-Finals at Trinity both years in competitive games.  This is a young man with big game experience.  The term I’ve heard most often is “serviceable” for the Senior, but I think he has a great opportunity to prove more than that this season at BG.  We shall see. 

Six offensive starters return from the 2024 State Championship Team.  Leading the way is WR1 SR Travey Barber (2024 First Team ALL-State Selection) and leading RBs SRs Jaxen Smith and Trey Graham return giving the Purples a VERY talented skill position core to work from.  The offensive line returns the left guard and left tackle.  The formation of the 2025 Purples Oline will go a long way in how far this team can go IMO.  I really like the new guys coming in, but you still have to gel as a unit.  That remains to be seen.  

This will also be BG’s first game with new “CO”- Offensive Coordinators.  Long Time Associate Head Coach/OC/Oline Coach Chris Seabolt has moved on to a district post.  Coach Seabolt was a stalwart who guided BG teams through many storms and was a critical member of BGs staff prior to this season. So, insert Coaches Jordan Leach (also QB Coach) and Bryon Lowe (also RB Coach), who will now form BGs offense and call the plays outright.  Will be interesting to see differences in this category for sure.

Defensively, 7 seniors depart from last year’s stellar defensive squad.  But the players who return are super solid, led by SR LB and leading returning tackler Montez Trussell, SR DE Malik Coburn, two-way star SR OLB Jaxen Smith and SR DB Dru Jones.  Defensive Coordinator Alex Strode has several holes to fill with players that will be relatively new to the varsity stage.  But this coaching staff has continually put the pieces together year after year and I expect this to be another great year for the Purples Jungle D.  And I’m high on a SO named Kyle Sledge, who will start at Free Safety and has a great deal of talent to add to this year’s secondary.

Next in line after Deuce Bailey from last season’s BG team to be missed may be now graduated kicker/punter Braden Widner (who will be kicking for Georgetown this fall – Go Tigers!!!) who gave BG a real weapon in that position.  In the 2024 State Championship game, Widner hit 3 clutch field goals, 4 touchbacks and 4 for 4 Xtra points.  BG will be breaking in a new kicker/punter so there will likely be some growing pains as some critical game experience is needed to be gained for sure.  Early on it looks like Travey Barber will punt and SR Oliver Gonzales (also on the BG Soccer Team) will likely boot kickoffs and extra points.

2025 Rafferty’s Bowl Preview

With so many new faces on the field for this the opening game of the 2025 Season for both teams, I expect a lot of nerves and uncharacteristic plays to occur before the game settles down into one with more strategy-laiden structure. 

For OCath on offense, I look for Carothers to use his legs to make plays for OCath.  And I think he is capable of doing so, but I don’t know how consistent that will be against what I expect to be a good Bowling Green defense, even though you will have new defensive faces on the field this year.  How effective Carothers can be throwing the ball will also be important for OCath to keep the chains moving and their defense off the field.  And as I’ve said, Carothers is capable.

Defensively, I look for OCath to try and put as much pressure on Strautman as possible and see if they can get some early turnovers.

For the Purples, they will need to rely on an unproven Oline to give Strautman time and an opportunity to gel with his WRs during live action.  If BG asks their new QB to win the game by himself, I just don’t think that is what BG wants in this early matchup.  And frankly, Strautman shouldn’t have to when you have weapons like Barber and company on your side.  I look for BG to try to utilize their skill guys with easy passes and let them use their athleticism to make plays.  The ability or inability of BG to run the ball will also be something to keep tabs on, as the team with the most rushing yards in a game should have a great chance at victory.

Who wins the kicking game?  I don’t have a clue there, but will be another interesting facet to keep an eye on for this game! 

Who do you have in this great opening weekend game?

Excellent!  Thank you for doing all my pregame prep for me, HA!  Great work as always!

The debut episode of the Jason Morris Coaches Show is tonight if anyone wants to tune in.  We will be live from Old Hickory in Owensboro at 6:30 central time.

https://owensbororadio.com/player/?playerID=2265

TERRIFIC interview @ApolloFan98 with Coach Morris!

I loved several things about the interview:

1. It's at Old Hickory!  Man, I might come to one of those!!!

2. Coach Morris was humble and respectful.

3.  But Coach Morris was also very confident and exuded positivity in all he spoke about and am sure he does that with his team.

4.  He spoke about coming to win the game and providing his team an opportunity.

I have a lot of respect for Owensboro Catholic to play in the Rafferty's Bowl.

Looking for a great game on Saturday!

Since I provided an article that is more pro-BG, I thought I'd also provide an article that is pro-OCath too to balance things up.  Attached are two pdfs which provide a copy of the Park City Daily News article from Sunday October 3, 1982, which was the last time OCath defeated the Purples.  Tom Wallace wrote the article for the paper.  Then BG Coach Vince Hancock said "Turnovers and missed opportunities really hurt us tonight".  Choyce Byrd a SR RB played well for BG in the loss.  While OCath QB Steve Hayden played a great game leading the Aces to a 34-14 win at Donaldson Stadium.  OCath Coach Jim Wilson was also really pleased with SR RB Pat McKenzie. 

Love the detail in the article and the way things were from a reporting standpoint back in those times.  Two days from the game and counting...

1982-1.pdf

1982-2.pdf

 

Here is the ticket link too!

https://t.co/yoqLVvsClW

 

 

12 hours ago, Purple88 said:

Here is the ticket link too!

https://t.co/yoqLVvsClW

 

 

1 tickets gets you both games?

2 minutes ago, Subway5024 said:

1 tickets gets you both games?

Subway,

I’m 99% sure that is exactly correct. 
I couldn’t see “emptying” the stadium and then re-enter. 

5 minutes ago, Subway5024 said:

1 tickets gets you both games?

Subway, what are your thoughts on this game?

1 hour ago, Subway5024 said:

1 tickets gets you both games?

Yes. 

2 hours ago, Purple88 said:

Subway, what are your thoughts on this game?

@Purple88, tbh with me I think it can be a good game. Do I think we can win, yes but it has to be a mistake free game. Basing this on last weeks scrimmage against PT. NOW, we do have some key players out, so that will hurt. This isn’t the same OC team as the past two years. They have speed and athleticism, just different built.  Carothers does not need to try to do it all either.  He has to relax and try not to force it!!  Carothers will be playing against family, barber and he are 1st cousins.  Personal battle there.

BG is a different level though. They rebuild every year and have the players.  It’s one of the best, if not the best in the state.  I have not watched any film, but heard BG struggled a bit on offense with the new QB.  That’s expected because you gotta know your receivers.  Same as us with a new QB.  Defense is very strong and a force to be reckoned with.  I think bowling green should win but who knows.  I just want it to be a clean, injury free game for both teams.  Can I see BG blowing us out, yes if we make dumb mistakes and turn the ball over.  Gotta give the defense a rest.  

 

If Strautman settles in early and finds his rhythm running BG's offense, I think the Purples can win this comfortably. He's stared down Trinity (×4), Boyle County (×2), Male, Manual, and Archbishop Hoban from Ohio, so I expect his head to be level. Attacking OCath's undersized front seven with the run game will also serve BG well.

I'm not calling for a blowout, because the Aces have some players and no one is immune to a busted coverage or two on opening weekend.

I'll take the Purples by three scores with OCath having its moments.

On 8/18/2025 at 2:35 PM, Scottcountyred said:

Surprised Ocath isn’t getting a few more votes. BG will be a step slower than the last few years with their star QB gone. Has Ocath improved from last year?

Where? They looked pretty fast to me on film. Actually really fast. Fastest they’ve been since 2022. 
 

On 8/20/2025 at 7:16 PM, Purple88 said:

TERRIFIC interview @ApolloFan98 with Coach Morris!

I loved several things about the interview:

1. It's at Old Hickory!  Man, I might come to one of those!!!

2. Coach Morris was humble and respectful.

3.  But Coach Morris was also very confident and exuded positivity in all he spoke about and am sure he does that with his team.

4.  He spoke about coming to win the game and providing his team an opportunity.

I have a lot of respect for Owensboro Catholic to play in the Rafferty's Bowl.

Looking for a great game on Saturday!

Appreciate you @Purple88!  We will be there every Wednesday, so come on up!  We plan to come up for some of the first game on Saturday.  If you see us, come by and say hello!

I loved the respectful, yet confident tone from Coach Morris.  If you don't believe you can compete at the Bowling Green level, you have already lost.  While it will be an extremely tall task, I expect the Aces to be prepared.

Here is some up to date information regarding parking and teams locker rooms.

Pretty cool each team has a dedicated locker room!

Parking and ticket info provided: