Purple88

2024 South Warren Spartans 2023 RECAP: Outcome: Record: 9-3 – Lost to Owensboro 53-22 in Round 2 of the Playoffs The Spartans have to be thinking “What Might Have Been” as they look back at their solid 2023 campaign. They came out of the gate sputtering to an unusually poor North Hardin (1-10) squad. But then found traction in 3 very good wins vs Henderson County, at Southwestern and vs Gibson Southern, IN. This led to an uncharacteristic matchup with stout DuPont Manual in Louisville. The Spartans fought the 6A team tooth and nail and never quit falling by a 38-35 margin. After 2 easier wins, they hosted arch-rival Bowling Green with the virtual district title and preferential playoff seeding on the line. South used a dedicated, disciplined, clock-chewing gameplan they had not used much of the regular season vs BG. And even though South never led for the majority of the game, they were on the verge of doing so for the whole game. So, when BG took a 28-21 lead with roughly 4 minutes to play in the game, the Spartans didn’t panic. They continued with their patient, consistent, clock-controlling gameplan and methodically marched down the field. And with 32 seconds to go in the game, star QB Bryce Button found a clutch Isiah Rigsby for a resounding TD. South would elect to go for 2 and Button would find the endzone with his legs and a crushing 29-28 South lead. I’d say 99 times out of 100 that lead usually stands up. However, when you play football, strange things happen. BG took the ball at their 30; in one play got to the South 40 with 16 seconds to play; and in an unlikely turn of events executed a perfect hook-n-ladder play for a TD and BG ended up prevailing 36-29 in one of the most riveting games these 2 have played. I went through that because the results of that game sent South Warren on the road Week 2 to face a very good Owensboro squad at Rash Stadium. Had South won this game; they were the #2 5A RPI team in the state and would have hosted games until Kroger Field had they continued on. But unfortunately for Spartan fans, Owensboro was ready for a battle and completely ran (literally rushing for over 300 yards on the night – unheard of from a South defensive unit) over South to end their 2023 campaign. What might have been, but still a very good season ending at 9-3. 2024 Graduates: Offense: WR Bailey Shoemaker; WR/DB DeShawn Bridges; RB/DB Jimmy Sales; C Layton Hughes; T Jake Neeper; WR/DB Isiah Rigsby. Defense: DE Greyson Jernigan; DT Noah Galben; S Kairan Hanes and K Eli McIntosh. 2024 Returning: Offense: QB Bryce Button; T Ethan Patterson; G Cameron Bell; G Landon Burkes; RB/LB Ethan Reynolds; RB/LB Jace Catrona Defense: DE Brody Enslow; DT Parker Smith; LB Drayson Moore; LB Colton Veltcamp. 2024 Schedule Highlights: (Not sure if they will be in the Forcht Bank Bowl again in Campbellsville or not)(also assuming their schedule will be a repeat of last year swapping home fields) At Henderson County Vs Southwestern At Gibson Southern, IN Vs DuPont Manual At Bowling Green 2024 Outlook: It should be another solid/very good year for the Spartans! Any time you start your team with the top returning passer in 5A you’re feeling pretty good. This will be Senior QB Bryce Button’s team for sure. They return 5/6 on offense and 6 on defense (although they lose their entire secondary from last season). Another key contributor is Senior RB/LB Ethan Reynolds who IMO is the heart and soul of the defensive unit and will play a key role of locking down opponent’s offensive game plans. And their schedule is favorable to have very few losses by the time they head to Bowling Green for another Huge District Showdown! Is it August yet? This would appear to be the last full season South Warren remains in 5A, as their trending enrollment numbers suggest they will be moved to 6A when realignment comes around. So, this is a big year for Sparty!

Was Manual at full strength?

I still think this is a good job, especially after consolidation as long as you can get guys in the hallways onto the field. County has had some good teams over the years. Best of luck Coach Atchley!

I looked at BG's schedule from last year and besides the teams mentioned above: Apollo had a Freshmore Team. Owensboro and Daviess County both have a Freshman Team.

Wow, didn't see this one coming. But that's why they play. Congrats to Christian County! That's a huge win for them; confidence alone. For Central, I too feel if Useld played the Dragons would have won and likely easily. That's a difficult stretch of games. If Useld can't go, it will be very challenging for WC IMO.

BG has a freshman team. I believe South Warren and Greenwood do as well.

Man, hate to hear of this. I respect Coach Nelson alot. He had the Dragons playing with some zip and trending up IMO. The edict to make it mandatory that no teams play up or down classification-wise really kills Warren Central. They just are not ready to be back in 5A District 2 yet. But I foresee that playing out sooner than later. Just a really tough spot when speaking about football. Best of luck to whomever the next Coach might be. Really feel WC got the short end of the stick in many things athletic in Warren County. But just hope the best for them in their selection of a new coach.

Awesome Job! interested in that Warren Central vs Etown game. Should be interesting.

I anticipated this type contest. A tough, hard-nosed, emotionally charged battle. And the other 3 games will be the same way. As @DragonFire said they are likely to be different with the variabilities he pointed out effecting those outcomes. I expect Warren Central to improve, probably significantly, as Unseld's health improves. But I also expect BG to improve from this performance. They basically played as if Wardlow and Ritter had the same health restrictions as Unseld did except was fouls instead of health. So, I don't look for that to stay the same. Also, Deuce Bailey didn't have his best game. He is a big game player and will be better in the future games. But this season is roughly the inverse for me with these 2 teams where Warren Central was clearly the stronger team last season, but you knew BG was capable in a one game scenario to get a win. Same is true this year in reverse. Some key stats in this game: For BG: Braylen Banks (a SUPER game) 19 points; Ridder had 12 but went over 1,000 points for his Purples career. Also, this was DG Sherrill's 400th win. For WC: Unseld had 14, Starks had a double-double going for 12 and 13 rebounds and Devin Bratton had 12. I may try to make it down for the game at BG on the 9th. Going to be a good one!

Coach Hawk is one of the best around. I’m sure this will be a very solid Defender squad. My question is who will be the new QB?

Huge Game! Purples vs the Dragons! Always a great game! Looking forward to hearing how it goes. Russell County interests me at #3 just curious as to how good they are.

Even though I don't think they should have fired the last guy, I think this is a good hire. Wish him well. What do they have coming back?

Great job as always! BG vs Warren Central is always a big game. Don't see that changing. I'm also interested in the Greenwood vs South game. Should be interesting.

Interesting. As I was going to say Winstead could just be a key cog in the defense as he did towards the end of last season, but perhaps not. I agree with you on Crowe. He's a tremendous player. I recall in the BG game he blocked a field goal and ran it back. Very impressive. He also had great coverage on BG TE Klein, who was a very solid player for BG last year. The Aces certainly came up Aces with this. Who is the Maddox guy you spoke of?

I really don't know. But from an outsider looking in for just the Winstead kid, he was the main ball carrier at the beginning of the year, but by mid-season he was replaced by the Hampton kid and Winstead got a lot less carries. Not giving him a pass to transfer but an idea on why he might have.

So are Daviess County kids transferring?

Go Crimsons!

Nice job CWB! Love the Bullpen Section! Going to be another strong year from the Colonels!

Congratulations on this honor and this win Coach Hawk! One of the best coaches around!

Interesting question. If you look back at the RPI for last season, it read this way: RPI Ranking: 1. Highlands, 2. South Warren, 3. Scott County, 4. Bowling Green If that had held, then BG would have had to travel to Highlands and Scott County would have had to travel to South Warren in the 5A State Semi-Finals, which is quite a bit different than played out. Owensboro (#8 RPI) roughed up South Warren and Cooper (#9 RPI) overwhelmed Scott County and Southwestern (both on the road). So, it's possible the semi-final round can be different from last season and probably likely it will be different. But we just won't know exactly until next season obviously.

Very good team. I’m interested to see their 2024 Schedule. Will it most likely mirror their 2023 schedule?

2023 RECAP: Outcome: Record: 12-3 – 5A State Champions The Purples came out of the gate like a wet sparkler; there was some pazazz but just couldn’t overcome some early overall defensive fizzle. A classic shootout loss vs a memorable LCA squad 56-52 at the Rafferty’s Bowl and a punishing 38-35 wilting, back and forth loss at the LCA Bowl desert (it was sweltering that day) vs a strong Bryan Station squad had BG starring at a 1-2 record after the first 3 games of the year. But the schedule softened and BG won the next 4 by a combined score of 214-13. Fall Break came. Then the much-anticipated battle at rival South Warren. AND this game did NOT disappoint. A back-and-forth battle saw South use a clock-controlling strategy to limit BG’s offensive possessions and it worked really well with South scoring the tying TD with 32 seconds to play; choosing to go for 2 and getting it to lead 29-28 for their first lead in the game. BG would get the ball at their 30. One pass play to Travey Barber gets the Purples to the South 40 with 16 seconds to play. Then BG called a well-designed hook and ladder play with Sophomore RB Tre Graham taking the pitch to the house with 6 seconds to play and the Purples pull off one of the best rivalry wins they have had 36-29. But BG was physically handled by St. Xavier two weeks later falling 27-12. But through that game the BG defense continued to improve. And when the playoffs rolled around, BG was very focused winning their first 4 playoff games with running clocks while only allowing 29 points in those 4 games. They would meet a very good, young Cooper squad at Kroger Field and though the offense was effective; it was the defense that only allowed 14 points including minus 27 yards rushing that really sealed the 8th State Title for Bowling Green! A GREAT Year! Fantastic job by Coach Spader and the entire coaching staff. 2024 Graduates: Offense: RB Javen Huddleston (was injured most of last year); RG DeMarcus Elliott; LG Corbin Willis; TE – Matthew Klein; and WR Evan Tuck. Defense: DE Max Buchanon; DE Jordan Green; and OLB Wick Dotson 2024 Returning: Everybody else! (6 on offense and 8 on defense) QB Deuce Bailey; WR Travey Barber; WR CJ Sweeney; 2 standout rising JR RBs and 3 Oline. On defense, 8 return from a rejuvenated Purples Jungle D! 2024 Schedule Highlights: Scrimmages (At Scott County and Vs CAL) August 24 – Rafferty’s Bowl vs Fredrick Douglas August 30 – vs Owensboro September 7 – vs Bryan Station (at LCA Bowl) October 18 – vs South Warren November 1 – At St Xavier 2024 Outlook: It should be another banner year for the Purples! With so many known players coming back, most will look for BG to make another deep run for a team that has been in the title game 3 of the last 4 years; winning two of those.

Great Game! Agree with @LouHSJunkiethe Szabo being out likely hurt Trinity's chances especially at the end. But I personally don't feel this is an upset as most felt BG had a very good team. They are a little behind schedule simply from Deuce Bailey not joining the team until about a week ago due to football duties. They had a couple injuries they were dealing with too but mended now. Just a great high school game! Go Purples!

Best of luck to Coach Smith! Always liked Springfield.

Yes, 90% would like to say it, but don't. BIG Difference! I think it all stems to losing to Southwestern.