5A PLAYOFFS – ROUND 2

Apollo (6-5) at Bowling Green (5-6)

The Eagles fly down the Old Green River Parkway southeast to Bowling Green to take on the Purples in the Second Round of the 5A 2025 Playoffs.  This will be the 20^th game all time between these two teams with BG leading 17 to 2.  They started playing in 1975 at Apollo with the Purples coming away with a 26-7 win.  The Eagles would win in back-to-back years in 1983 (20-14) and 1984 (12-11).  Their most recent game was last year during the regular season that BG won 49-14, but Apollo came out of the gates great in this game and led BG thanks to the effort of then SR Niles Board.  BG would overtake the Eagles in the second quarter, but it was tight early. 

Apollo Eagles Information (TP94 Rating:  52.68)

Head Coach John Edge is a fine football coach now in his 6^th year off Tamarack Road.  The Eagles have already matched their high win mark during Coach Edge’s administration when they finished 6 and 5 in 2021.  A win here in BG would allow the Eagles to take the next step forward.  The question is, can they? 

The Eagles are led by undervalued JR QB Max Johnson who has thrown for over 2,100 yards on the year with 23 TDs vs 9 INTs.  JR John Milburn leads the team with just under 500 yards on the year with 112 carries and 7 TDs.  The top Eagles WRs include SRs Landen Bratcher and Ehmadjai Badger who have roughly 100 catches on the year with about 1,500 receiving yards and 17 TDs combined.

Defensively, the Eagles are led by SRs John Edge and Roderick Dillard who have roughly 180 tackles between the two.  

Bowling Green Purples Information (TP94 Rating: 66.77)

The Purples needed last week.  Getting back to when things clicked; when the defense was swarming; heck just to get back in the win column; to finish off senior night on a high note and to start feeling better about themselves again.  BG did just that against a solid young Graves County team.  

FR QB Anthony Davis (AD) has been very solid for BG since taking over at halftime during the St X game back in late August.  AD has over 1,400 yards passing with 16 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 continue to take steps forward during this his first varsity playoff run!   

BG is led by the Graham Brothers Nick and Trey in rushing with roughly 750 yards on the year with 7 TDs.  SR WR Travey Barber is back from injury (this will be his 4th game back).  SR Jaxen Smith leads BG with 32 catches for over 400 yards and 5 TDs.    

Defensively, SR LB Montez Trussell continues to lead BG with 96 tackles on the year with 10 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks.  Another name I wanted to mention is SR Dru Jones who has played so well at CB for BG but had a great hustle play last night coming down the field and overtaking Travey Barber to make the last block needed on the beginning of the second half kickoff TD run by Barber.  Just feel BG Seniors are really locked in now.  

Game Preview

This will be the 7^th playoff meeting between these teams and the very first game outside of the first round of the playoffs with this game in the Regional Semifinals.  Just to get right to it:  What is it going to take for the Eagles to have a chance on the road?  These are my top 4 factors to consider in determining this:

1.       How healthy is Apollo?  It appears QB Max Johnson went out in the 2nd Quarter of last night's game and some of their better WRs have been out the last few games.  Can they play at a top level this Friday?  I think that is a big deal.

2.       If not Max Johnson, Apollo will need a Herculean effort out of SR John Edge to fill in in that spot!   He would need the game of his life IMO to pull this off for the Eagles.  From there:

3.       Win the turnover battle.

4.       Have less penalties than BG.

My top factor for BG is simple.  Win the first quarter with at least a TD lead, which would mean starting the game well.  I think this kind of start would put the Eagles behind the 8 Ball and be tough to come back from.

What say you?  Who wins this game and why? 

I would definitely not count out the Eagles. I was listening to 102.7 last night and he was asked how many reps in practice did he take last week and he said "honestly I didn't throw one ball." 

I saw a replay of their Catholic game this year and he nearly beat them himself. The kid ever since ODCYFL has had heart and will hit you. Will Apollo need a huge effort? Absolutely, but don't count them out. It's not your usual Apollo team and it's not your usual Bowling Green team playing either. 

 

 

Great job, 88! This has been a Soap Opera season for the Purples but maybe just maybe are beginning to play with some confidence and could be peaking at the right time. 
 

I gotta feeling, a playoff run is about to get some traction! 
 

Go Purples!

 

Purples 48

Eagles 13 

8 minutes ago, TimeWillTell said:

I would definitely not count out the Eagles. I was listening to 102.7 last night and he was asked how many reps in practice did he take last week and he said "honestly I didn't throw one ball." 

I saw a replay of their Catholic game this year and he nearly beat them himself. The kid ever since ODCYFL has had heart and will hit you. Will Apollo need a huge effort? Absolutely, but don't count them out. It's not your usual Apollo team and it's not your usual Bowling Green team playing either. 

 

 

Johnson out?  Milburn?  Badger?  If so Apollo is in trouble.  Edge played great but that’s some real weapons gone if so. Hope not!

Congrats to Apollo for making it to the 2nd round. They should come out with a lot of confidence to start, but it will be short lived. After next Friday only 2 teams will remain in the playoffs from Owensboro and Apollo won’t be one of them.. BG is just too much for the Eagles especially in the post season. The Eagles should try to keep it as close as possible and build on this momentum going into next season. 
 

BG 42

Apollo 17

On 11/8/2025 at 11:46 AM, Brown said:

Johnson out?  Milburn?  Badger?  If so Apollo is in trouble.  Edge played great but that’s some real weapons gone if so. Hope not!

Badger played Friday. 50+ yards with limited reps and helping out on D when needed. He appears to healthy. 
 

Eli Williams has surprised me the most lately. He has made some spectacular explosive plays the past few weeks. 
 

The weapons are there. If Apollo plays like they know how, a lot of people are going to be shocked across the state. 

BG’s game to lose.  If no Max Johnson, the Eagles are in trouble.  I would love to see Apollo get this win though!  BG should win the game.  High water mark for the purples a 42-7 blowout - no Johnson/Badger and game never in doubt.  Low water mark - BG turns it over a few times, Johnson/Badger play and Apollo wins 42-33.  I’d say the probability is somewhere along @Tigerpride94rankings mark — 14 point win BG.  I’ll say 17 point win.

BG 31-14.

14 hours ago, Brown said:

BG’s game to lose.  If no Max Johnson, the Eagles are in trouble.  I would love to see Apollo get this win though!  BG should win the game.  High water mark for the purples a 42-7 blowout - no Johnson/Badger and game never in doubt.  Low water mark - BG turns it over a few times, Johnson/Badger play and Apollo wins 42-33.  I’d say the probability is somewhere along @Tigerpride94rankings mark — 14 point win BG.  I’ll say 17 point win.

BG 31-14.

No Max Johnson didn't get the Eagles in trouble (tough loss) against OC this year. JT Edge might be one of the best backup QB in the state, IMO. If Apollo has all of their weapons, which they should, then I suspect a much closer game than what everyone else may think. The state of KY may be shocked by the outcome of this game!

PURPLES!!

If the Purples have aspirations of making a heroic run in the playoffs they cannot be in a competitive game with Apollo. They handled business against Graves, and I expect to see the same thing at the El this Friday against the Eagles. This BG defense is going to keep turning up the pressure on teams, maybe even a defensive TD this week for good measure. Offensively they have to continue to find success in the run game to lighten the load for Davis. He’ll be a special player these next few years and shows those flashes at times now, but the Purples will find themselves in some trouble if they are going to be heavily reliant on his abilities as the match to Lexington continues to unfold. Need the supporting cast to be playing at their highest level.

Purple 42 Eagles 7

How many Apollo players play both ways?

For Bowling Green, Jaxen Smith starts at HB and DE.  

Zyrek Burton starts at OLB and he could get a snap or two at RB maybe.

WRs Travey Barber and Hudson Nottmeier and OL Caleb Ray might come in for a few downs on D if needed but its not that common.

If the same Apollo team that played Daviess shows up, I like the Purples by a wide margin. 

If it's the one that played OCath tough and dropped 40 on MNH in a win, then I see a competitive game. I'll still lean Purples, but it's hard for me to wrap my head around some of Apollo's results.

So whatever happened to the QB that transferred in and started in the scrimmages.  I would think with him earning the starting job with all of his receivers healthy, then maybe bring him back in to see how he meshes with them.  Is that even a possibility?

Just now, Subway5024 said:

So whatever happened to the QB that transferred in and started in the scrimmages.  I would think with him earning the starting job with all of his receivers healthy, then maybe bring him back in to see how he meshes with them.  Is that even a possibility?

Barring injury, zero chance.

Apollo plays quite a few kids both ways.