5A PLAYOFFS – ROUND 1

Graves County (4-6) at Bowling Green (4-6)

The Eagles fly roughly 2.5 hours (by bus anyway) east to take on the Purples in Bowling Green.  This will be the 6^th meeting between these teams, and every single previous game has come in the playoffs.  Their first meeting was back in the Regional Semifinals in 1990 with BG winning 39-0.  They played in the Regional Quarterfinals in 91 (35-12 BG), which was BGs first Regional Championship Season.  They didn’t meet again until the 2013 Region Finals with BG prevailing 49-10.  BG also won in the Regional Semifinals in 2023 51-3.  But easily the most memorable game (and one of my most pain filled/hard to get over games all-time) has to be the EPIC 2014 Regional Finals at BG where Graves County found a way and defeated BG 7 to 0.  Graves would go on to the State Championship game and fall to a good Pulaski County squad 14-7.  Cody Crider was the star of that 2014 Graves team, and I will always say he was just as good a LB as he was a RB.  At the time, Crider was more known as a star RB, but he went on to have a fine college career at Southern Illinois at OLB.  But this 2025 Regional Quarterfinal game should be interesting from the standpoint that Graves County is by all accounts a really young team.  They have played a difficult schedule and should benefit from that here at the end of the season.  But by first glance this Eagles team is one that has lost to teams you’d expect them to lose to and defeated the teams you’d expect them to defeat.  Can they change that narrative here in BG the same way they did back in 2014?

For the Purples, they come into this game after another disappointing setback against a very good Franklin County team.  But the regular season is over, on to the playoffs!

Graves County Eagles Information (TP94 Rating: 43.87)

The Eagles come into this game flying pretty high, winners of the last 3 including a 41-27 home win vs 6A McCracken County.  

Coach Tyler Debernardi in his second season off Eagle Lane in Mayfield has done a fine job keeping his young squad focused on getting better in hopes of earning a playoff spot out of tough top to bottom 5A District 1.  They did that, but I’d assume they would have loved to have climbed higher in the seeding.  While the Eagles fell soundly to top seed Owensboro, they only lost to both Apollo (the 2 seed) and Madisonville (the 3 seed) by a total of 10 points.  That’s pretty close.  But alas, they draw the Purples here in Week 1. 

The Eagles are led by Mayfield transfer JR QB Jace Houston who has passed for over 900 yards on the year with 6 TDs vs 8 INTs.  JR Brady Rozzell leads the rushing department with 134 carries for nearly 500 yards and 4 TDs.  JR Ty Cavette is an undervalued QR who leads Graves with 43 catches on the year for nearly 450 yards and 3 TDs.  Defensively, SR Hunter Ditto leads the Eagles with 86 tackles with 11 tackles for loss and 6 sacks.  Well done! 

Bowling Green Purples Information (TP94 Rating: 70.63)

The Purples come into the playoffs on a down note having fallen 28-18 at a stout Franklin County squad last Friday. 

FR QB Anthony Davis (AD) has been very solid for BG with over 1,200 yards passing with 14 TDs and only 2 INTs (both during the Scott County game – his first varsity start ever - and one of those in desperation time at the end of the game).  Well done!  It is important that young Mr. Davis take his next step forward with his first ever playoff game on Friday Night!   

BG is led by the Graham Brothers Nick and Trey in rushing with roughly 700 yards on the year with 7 TDs.  SR WR Travey Barber is back from injury (this will be his 4^th game back).  SR Jaxen Smith leads BG with 29 catches for 371 yards and 5 TDs.    

Defensively, SR LB Montez Trussell continues to lead BG with 80 tackles on the year with 10 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks.  Also, SR Malik Coburn has had a super year for BG with 60 tackles, 4 tackles for loss and 3 sacks. 

Game Preview

If I'm Graves County, I think why can't we come in and repeat 2014.  They have nothing to lose.  I don't know much as their overall schemes, but they are on a 3-game win streak so they have to have a bunch of confidence.

For Bowling Green, they much come into this game and take it to the Eagles from the outset.  The longer the Eagles hang around the more confident their belief becomes.  It's the playoffs, let's get it Purples!  

Who wins this game and why?

Haven’t watched BG that much - saw the Franklin game (portion) and a couple pieces earlier in season.  I’m super impressed with #9 on the outside D-line…he’s a playmaker and everywhere.  Barber is one of the best in the state and the young QB looks fluid.  Graves DOES have a good rushing defense, they are tough to run on.  Their secondary is lacking and I look for Graham and Barber to eat them alive.  Graves offense is mostly non-existent by Graves standards.   I do not see anything but a solid BG win.  I see a 35-0 game.  Purples defense, if they can stuff the run will shut Graves down.  All about matchups and BG is a bad one, even a rebuilding and young, oft injured BG, a bad one for this Graves County team.

The article this week from Michael Compton from the BG Daily News (he does a great job at local sports in this area!) is from that 2014 Regional Final at BG's El Donaldson Stadium with the Eagles coming away with a memorable 7-0 win.

Graves Co 2014 First Page.pdf

Graves Co 2014 Back Page.pdf

I'm hoping history doesn't repeat itself on Friday night!

Cody Crider was a player.

NFHS Video:

https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/bowling-green-high-school-ky-bowling-green-ky/gam6fc78c333b

Purples roll, it’s been a rough season and I’m not sure a couple playoff wins at the El would right the wrongs but sometimes you just take what you can get and move on. 

Purples 34 Eagles 6

BG!!

This isn't the kind of game that BG should struggle in. I fully expect at least a 3 score lead by halftime.

I just want Graves to be competitive for 48 minutes, even if the score gets lopsided. Get something to build on for next year out of this game and I'll be satisfied.

Bump.

This game will be streamed on the Sporting Times here:

Watch Live! | Sporting Times ?

It will also be streamed on D93's Facebook page:

(6) Bowling Green vs. Graves County | Facebook

 

Hoping the weather moves through before the game!

 

I think I am the only one who thinks this game could be closer than the predictions.  I realize BG has been playing a completely different level of competition but it seems like Graves County has been playing better in the back half of the season and they are a well coached program.  Guess we will find out soon.

Just saw a couple of Graves County school buses at the Cheddar’s here in town. Decent establishment that’s a win in itself and if this weather lingers for a few more hours this one could get interesting.

Graves County warming up in all white uniforms with silver helmets. 
Purples in purple pants, gold jerseys and helmets. 
The rain is gone. 
24 minutes on the clock. 

BG to kick. 
Graves starts at the GC 15. 

Those purple pants hurt my eyes.