5A Barren County (2-2) at 5A Bowling Green (0-4)

This will be the 23^rd meeting between these two “recycled” district mates.  Bowling Green leads the series 20 to 2.  They started playing each other on August 22^nd, 1980 (48-22 BG) and played 7 straight years through 1986.  These were good years for the Trojans as they beat BG in back-to-back years in 1984 (28-21) in Bowling Green and in 1985 (22-0) in Barren County.  They also had several other close games with the Purples over this timespan (14-7 BG in 1982 and 19-15 BG in 1986).  They would renew the series playing 4 straight years from 1995 to 1998 (all BG wins).  Barren County would move up to Class 4A after the 1998 season (there were only 4 Classes in KY at that time).  They didn’t play again until the 2007 season when Kentucky would move to the present 6 Class system and Barren and BG would again find themselves as district mates in Class 5A District 2.  They then played 11 straight years (through the 2017 season).  I feel for Barren County during those particular years as those were some of BGs best teams EVER with Barren scoring no more than 7 points in any of those games and their high-water mark for season wins was 5 in 2007 and 2011.

In 2018 (at the point of classification realignment), Barren County asked to play up into 6A District 2.  And if memory serves me correctly, opted out of the Bowling Green game in 2018 and played as an independent, prior to coming into 6A District 2 in 2019.  For Barren County, this made A LOT of sense as they got away from BG’s district and into more manageable competition.  And this newfound 6A stability allowed the Trojans to grow into what blossomed last season with their remarkable 10 and 3 - 2024 Campaign riding a wave of momentum all the way to the Regional Finals where they finally ran out of gas to a very solid Great Crossings squad.  But a tremendous effort from then first year Head Coach John Myers and the entire Trojan team!  Did anyone do more than Myers last season from where he started to where the Trojans ended up?  Fair question.

For Bowling Green, it meant finding a replacement opponent late in the game for the 2018 season.  And then first year Head Coach Mark Spader opted to shoot for the fences and signed a one-year contract to play at Warren Central, Indiana, a perennial 6A Indiana power who ended up winning the IN 6A Championship in 2018, for their homecoming game.  It was a downpour all game and the biggest beat-down I can ever remember BG taking falling 62-14.  Is that Barren’s fault?  Absolutely not, but I do equate those two events together!

Barren County Trojans Information – (TP94 Ranking – 42.18)

Coach John Myers rolls into Bowling Green still riding high on their very successful 2024 season.  They have started fairly well in 2025 with a home win vs Southwestern and beating Metcalfe County.  They did suffer a setback in week 2 vs Rival Glasgow 22-8.  But I think the Scotties are a really good team so that is not the worst loss in my eyes, but it could be at the IGA in Glasgow – Ha!  And then last night they went to Tompkinsville and fell in a close game to better than you think Monroe County 21-14.

Losing a talented QB to graduation like Tate Spillman is tough, but simply a part of high school sports.  On comes JR QB Briggs Harris, who did play last year running the ball a little and catching a few passes and making a few tackles, but he didn’t throw one pass for the Trojans last year.  However, he has played pretty well to open his 1^st year as varsity QB (12 for 22 for 157 yards and 1 TD vs O INTs - stats don’t include Monroe County).  He also has the second most carries on the team with 15 for 51 yards.  Barren is led in rushing by JR Corbin Wells with 16 carries for 91 yards.  But SR TE Jaxson Byrd has 2 carries for 2 TDs on the year and 29 yards.  JR Jordan Harris, perhaps the QBs brother (?), is in a 3-way tie for top pass catcher for the Trojans with 3 and Harris has 1 TD and 64 yards. 

Defensively, the Trojans are led by their LB unit with SR Braxton Carnes and JR Corbin Wells who have 22 tackles each and a total of 3 tackles for loss and 1 sack.  The Trojans also have 3 INTs through 3 games.

Bowling Green Purples Information – (TP94 Ranking: 66.03)

The Purples limp home after a very difficult dominating defeat at South Warren last week.  But after thinking on it more, I’m not terribly disappointed believe it or not.  South has a very good team this season.  And Bowling Green is as banged up and using more younger players than I can ever recall.  When that is the case and you are playing the type of schedule BG is playing, these results will happen.  It’s as simple as that.  With more players going down last night, I guess the biggest question is who will be available next week and on-going and can BG actually get healthy this season?  I think that’s a fair question and one I don’t know the answer to. 

The Purples are led by FR QB Anthony Davis, who realistically entered the season third on the depth charts, but has been asked to grow up (football wise) in a hurry against a very difficult schedule.  And the young QB has done very well and I would say better than the following stats would indicate based upon the defensive units he has already faced.  Davis, through 1.5 games, is 23 for 35 for 242 yards and 2 TDs vs 2 INTs (no South Warren stats included).  But playing South Warren's defense is no picnic and the Spartans knew they were going to throw the farm at Davis, and they did and in a lot of ways made the FR play like a FR last night.  That’s simply part of the maturation for the young man that you’d expect him to have to take.  I do think it will pay off for him through film study and the like and be better next week.  That's part of the "if you're going to take some lumps, you might as well get something for it", and I think BG is getting a long-term QB who's learning on the job this year.

BG’s rushing leader is JR Nick Graham who had a breakout game vs Scott County and has 199 yards on the year with 2 TDs through 3 games.  He played well vs South also.  The injury riddled BG WR Corp is currently led by former RB Trey Graham with 7 catches for 94 yards and 1 TD.

Defensively, Bowling Green is led again this season by SR Montez Trussell who has 37 tackles and 3 tackles for loss on the year.  He has played very well to start this season, as has JR DE Christian Malone, JR SS Embree Dotson and SR DE Malik Coburn who are all tied for second in tackles with 18 each.

Game Preview

I look for BG to come out of the gate pressing in this game.  Trying to get up early and by a comfortable margin.  Why?

Well, the following applies I think:

-          BG has had a very tough start to the season;

-          last week was an emotional game and rough loss vs rival South Warren;

-          kids tend to have a tendency to listen to the wrong things which may include “you’re going to kill Barren County – no problem”;

-          and lastly, it’s Homecoming – players have a lot to fill up their minds that isn’t football. 

BUT this is a District game and the first between these two since 2017 and I fully expect Barren County to be locked in and ready to go as most Coach Meyers teams are.  BG’s defense will have to be ready for misdirection plays similar to Scott County, but playing the Cardinals already makes me feel better about playing the Trojans offense.  And for BG’s offense, it is another opportunity for FR QB Anthony Davis to grow and get more comfortable in the offense.  I would imagine when he stepped on the field vs St X to start the second half of that Week 2 game that he likely didn’t even know the full varsity playbook yet but would think he adds to that knowledge every week now.

For Barren County, you got nothing to lose in this game.  Come in with a chip on your shoulder and play your best game Friday night!  Good Luck! 

And I expect Barren County to challenge Greenwood for a minimum of the #2 spot in the District.  That BC vs GW game is in two weeks on a Thursday night and should be a great game.  I’m hoping Sporting Times picks that one up (if its NFHS - goodness not sure I can take another game like the Madisonville vs Tilghman fiasco)!

Who wins this game and why?

That game between Barren Co and Greenwood will probably be streamed on WCLU burgundy. In this game Barren actually has a pretty solid defense so I think everyone expects BG to put a running clock on them and they may very well do it but I could see Barren holding the score down a little too. The problem for Barren is they really struggle on offense so I expect the final score to be 28-0 maybe 35-7 so I’m not expecting a running clock but I am expecting a comfortable BG win. Good luck to both teams.

Bowling Green is a in must win here. I can’t imagine losing this game and feeling any level of confidence if I’m on this Purples team. 

they'll win by 21+ and get back on their feet.

I think BG wins by 28 or more.

I think BC hangs around for a quarter but the scoring levy will break loose for BG. 

 

42-7 BG

Barren County has spent 8 years avoiding letting the Purples get them in their crosshairs, and they've built themselves into a respectable program.  But time has run out, and the Purples need this game in the worst way.  They win BIG.

The Trojans may be able to get a stop or two but their offense is a mess and will get shut down. Coming off a running clock against South the Purples have to put some points on the board and gain some confidence. A trip to CAL around the corner, just a brutal run of competition. Have to admire the gumption from Spader and company but there’s a good possibility they go under .500 this season.

The first article for these two teams is from the first time they ever played, which was the opening game of the 1980 season in Bowling Green with the Purples winning 48-22. 

Couple of interesting points:

- This Purples team was led by Head Coach Wilson Sears in his next to last season on the sidelines at BGHS.  Coach Sears coached 9 seasons (73-81) for BG with a 73 and 25 record.  His teams were Southern Kentucky Conference Champions in 1974; District Co-Champs in 1981; and they were District Champs, Region Runner-ups and Western Kentucky Conference Champs in 1976 & 1979.  Sears probably doesn't get the credit he deserves as one of BGs better coaches.

- This Barren County team was led by Jerry Eubanks, who in 1979 took the Trojans to a 10-1 record and were in the Top 5 in Class 3A.

1980 First Barren County Game.pdf

 

I’ve got to be honest I’m shocked two people picked Barren Co.

28 minutes ago, Tkinslow said:

I’ve got to be honest I’m shocked two people picked Barren Co.

There's alot of people that don't like BG.

To be fair to the Trojans, I offer this article of the 22-0 blanking the Trojans gave the Purples in 1985.  It was their second win vs Bowling Green.  They beat the Purples for the first time ever the year before in 1984.  Interesting that Barren beat BG in Coach Dan Haley's first two seasons at the helm.

1985 Barren County win.pdf

On 9/13/2025 at 2:45 PM, Scottcountyred said:

Bowling Green is a in must win here. I can’t imagine losing this game and feeling any level of confidence if I’m on this Purples team. 

they'll win by 21+ and get back on their feet.

If they lose this game all the confidence in the world ain’t going to help them I think it would be time to start looking to basketball season. However that’s not going to happen if it did I think it would be the upset of the season.

2 hours ago, Purple88 said:

To be fair to the Trojans, I offer this article of the 22-0 blanking the Trojans gave the Purples in 1985.  It was their second win vs Bowling Green.  They beat the Purples for the first time ever the year before in 1984.  Interesting that Barren beat BG in Coach Dan Haley's first two seasons at the helm.

1985 Barren County win.pdf 814.77 kB · 2 downloads

Barren County had a solid program from establishment up through the late 80s. They were even passable in the 90s. I’m not really sure what happened to them back then. I consider their progression in the last 8-9 years to be laudable. Slow, methodical, and last year getting to the region finals was huge. I don’t give them much hope in this game, but I’m interested to see how competitive they can be. 

NFHS Video:

https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/bowling-green-high-school-ky-bowling-green-ky/gam37b2d0f434

If it’s a Barren County game, it’s almost always on BCHS Live on YouTube. They consistently run circles around every other offering. I highly recommend you tune in using their stream.