6A South Warren (2-1) at 5A Bowling Green (1-2)

Second game of this series with South now moved up to 6A.  South overwhelmed BG last season 45-14 in a game at South Warren that wasn't really in question if I'm honest.  But it was just 17-7 South at the half.  So, you could say BG was still in striking distance and that was true.  But three straight BG turnovers produce 21 quick South Points and that's all she wrote. 

This game will continue to be one of the most anticipated games in South-Central Kentucky.  But historically, there has usually been a second game in the playoffs (has been all but 3 of the 9 seasons they have played) and in those games one of these teams sends the other one home for the season and that is a bitter pill to swallow.  But this is a different era now!

This is a great game for the community and KY High School Football in general, not to mention the best gate game either will have all season long by a long shot! 

The thing about these games with these two teams is that you have no clue how they will play out and that's what really makes them "must see' entertainment.  Case in point are the games from the 2024 season.  The regular season game at Bowling Green saw the Purples run out to a 24-14 lead with about 8 minutes to play in the 4^th Quarter.  If you've watched many BG games, they don't usually lose when this scenario arises, but give South credit, they never quit and Bryce Button orchestrated 2 late 4^th Quarter TD strikes to stun BG at home and win 28-24.  I truly thought Bowling Green was the better team that night. 

Then onto the Black Friday Semi-Final rematch at South Warren.  Just unpredictable.  BG ran the first two kickoffs to the house and never took 1 offensive snap from center in the entire first quarter and still led the game 14-7 after 1Q.  But South was really strong this game, outgaining BG roughly 450 yards to 175 yards (not including the special team's yards).  With BG up 24-21 in the 4^th quarter, Deuce Bailey converted a 4^th and 8 from the South 30 (selling the pass and then tucking and running) with about 8 minutes to play.  BG would punch that drive in and ultimately outlast the Spartans on a very cold night.  I truly though South Warren was the better team that night.  But as you can tell, fate and not logic typically rules the day in these games. 

STREAMING VIA: 

D93 Radio Station in Bowling Green does a great job with their facebook live feed.  Link is here:  Facebook

Sporting Times also does a great job and their feed link here:

Home | Sporting Times

 South Warren Spartans Information:

When you speak about the South Warren team, the first player that comes to mind is SR QB Camden Page who is playing very well with a roughly 70% pass completion rate with nearly 500 yards and 6 TDs through the first two games.  He is a very solid leader for South.  JR RB Jamir Boards and SR WR/RB Isiah Bridges are good players for South Warren and dangerous in their offensive system.  South Warren has a good Oline.

Defensively, South will pressure you every play.  But they are missing SR DL Jaquise Smith and likely a big reason they struggled against Manual in Week 2. 

Bowling Green Purples Information:

Bowling Green comes into this game after a Tecmo Bowl players dream game against Scott County where the offenses scored on every possession but one and see the Purples having to regroup here after a 51-44 setback.  Offensively, it was Bowling Green's best game of the year.  But defensively, it was their worst game of the year.  Scott County plays an offense unlike really any other team.  So, it will be interesting to see how BG will perform in this rivalry game.     

Against Scott County, SO QB Anthony Davis continued to make progress and played very well as BG had to keep scoring to stay in that game and they did that overall.  Defensively, the Purples will need to regroup quickly. 

 Game Information:

Currently, South Warren is on a 1-game win streak in this rivalry series.  This game will be played at Bowling Green, which is an advantage (even if it's just to get away from the South game announcer). 

I look for South Warren to try to run the ball and sprinkle in quick easy passes.  Isiah Bridges is a threat to the outside and BG will need to be aware of where he is.

For the Spartans defense, I look for them to pressure BG early and often.  South won't want the SO QB Davis to get comfortable passing.  So, I feel like they will blitz/run-blitz most plays to try to stop BGs run and rattle the QB at the same time.  They are a tough group and very well coached.  I do think they will continue to miss DL Jaquise Smith though and will be interesting to see if BG can gain any traction due to this.

For the Purples, value each possession and don't turn the ball over.  BG has lost the turnover battle 2 games in a row and lost both games.  Need to reverse that trend.

It's going to be a super-charged atmosphere Friday night at Bowling Green High School!

Can the Purples hold serve at home or do the Spartans extend to 2 rivalry game wins in a row?   

Who wins this rivalry matchup and why?

South Warren probably wins in a close one. I'm not sold on Bowling Green's defense.

Bowling Green's defense is youthful and schematically flawed IMO. They'll put some points up but it's all very concerning. You can only hope for adjustments but the ability to stop the run has escaped BGHS for a while now. Hoping for the best.

10 minutes ago, BillNye said:

Bowling Green's defense is youthful and schematically flawed IMO. They'll put some points up but it's all very concerning. You can only hope for adjustments but the ability to stop the run has escaped BGHS for a while now. Hoping for the best.

Wasn't BG up with about 3 or 4minutes left in game? If they can get 50% better on the defensive side they are a tough matchup with the nice QB.

South Warren might score 80, and CAL is going to score 200 unless BG can figure out how to play defense.

Just now, Brown said:

Wasn't BG up with about 3 or 4minutes left in game? If they can get 50% better on that side they are a tough matchup with the nice QB.

Indeed they were. Granted it was around 6-7 min left, the bigger issue is they didn't get off the field at all (literally). Just not a set up for success. Going in to the game asking your offense to score every time they touch it is asking for misery.

South Warren will make it harder to score for BG, but they will have a much easier time trying to get stops.

BG 28

SW 27

Blocked PAT is the difference.

7 hours ago, Scottcountyred said:

South Warren will make it harder to score for BG, but they will have a much easier time trying to get stops.

BG 28

SW 27

Blocked PAT is the difference.

You really think so, you think the Purples will beat South Warren?

21 minutes ago, theguru said:

You really think so, you think the Purples will beat South Warren?

To make myself feel better about our defense. Yes.

Closer than last year, but not pretty.

SW- 35

BG-7

9 hours ago, Scottcountyred said:

South Warren will make it harder to score for BG, but they will have a much easier time trying to get stops.

BG 28

SW 27

Blocked PAT is the difference.

@Scottcountyred predicted Great Crossing 42 GRC 14....

1 hour ago, Quiet_Storm11 said:

@Scottcountyred predicted Great Crossing 42 GRC 14....

Ehhhh not Necessarily true! I responded that a prediction of GRC beating GC 42-14 may be flipped. At the time, I underestimated truly how bad GC was.

Bowling Green 35-33.

I think it will be close but SW probably pulls it out it seems like another tough year for BG if they don't get something turned around with their defense.

On 9/5/2026 at 9:53 AM, Purple88 said:

The thing about these games with these two teams is that you have no clue how they will play out and that's what really makes them "must see' entertainment. 

I say this every year, but this is the best rivalry in the state at the moment. They're like two prize fighters trading knockdowns.

These two typify the old "throw out the records" cliché more than any other I can think of. They zig when you're expecting a zag.

The stakes aren't quite what they used to be, but this is a game of great consequence.

I hold this tug of war in such high regard that one of its chapters made my "Game of the Century" list. A lot has changed in two years, but they'll get back to those heights, hopefully sooner rather than later.

On 5/28/2026 at 4:16 PM, DevilMayCare said:

The Not-So Civil War

Bowling Green 👾 - 31
South Warren ⚔️ - 28

(2024 5A State Semifinal at Spartan Stadium)

🗞️ | A more spirited conflict does not exist within our border than the one shared between the Purples and Spartans.

The eponymous flagship school in Warren County had been largely unchallenged for many years before the South rose. 

The young rivalry has seen many twists and turns, but the stakes were never higher than on that late November night.

South took down top ranked BG with a fourth quarter comeback in the regular season meeting, and as they so often do, found their way back to each other in the playoffs.

The first two times BG touched the football resulted in kickoff return touchdowns before the offense ever took the field.

It was tight throughout, before the Purples found some breathing room late. South had one last possession to tie or win the game, but couldn't capitalize on the opportunity.

Bowling Green had exacted its revenge, a prelude to the program's ninth championship. 

There may be another "Game of the Century' or two still to come in the state's greatest contemporary rivalry.