Search the Community

Inside South-Central Kentucky Football During each week of the year, Inside South-Central Kentucky Football will look at some of the teams from the greater Bowling Green area, and will include the following teams: Allen County-Scottsville, Barren County, Bowling Green, Franklin-Simpson, Glasgow, Greenwood, South Warren, Warren Central, and Warren East. The area will provide a healthy mix of teams with high expectations following successful years last year and teams looking to rebound from down seasons. And in one lonely case, a team that continues to struggle to gain a handle on winning. The belle of the ball is obviously Bowling Green. The Purples return 15 starters, all of them one-way players in the two platoon system. They have the longest current win streak in the state at 30, with an eye on taking down the state record of 50 wins next season. They are the dominant favorite in 5A, and may well cause the top spot in the South-Central Kentucky rankings I will release each week to be a mere formality. The loss of five coaches from an always great staff is the only possible concern. Warren Central does not have nearly the amount of returning starters that Bowling Green has, but what they do return should keep them in the mix at the top of 5A. They will have to deal with an all-new offensive line and having to move their best wide receiver into a quarterback, but still return several weapons that will give them the leg up on almost every team they play. The Dragons will more closely resemble their 2009 team which featured more quarterback runs to take advantage of senior QB Chris Porter-Bunton’s athleticism. After those two we find two teams that will immediately tell us which one is better, as they will line up against each other in the opening game. Warren East will be fairly hard to recognize from the team that was a game away from the state title game in 2012. They replace 22 seniors, their head coach, and their previous QB to a transfer. Veteran coach Steve Long will take the reins of the Raiders, and he’ll have arguably the premier player in the area as his ace on the field, junior Vanderbilt commit RB/LB Eli Brown. They’ll visit South Warren to open the 2013 campaign. Last year the Spartans gave Warren East all they could handle in a close 14-10 decision in that season’s opener, and this year’s edition will be the first chance for our rankings to get shaken up. The Spartans have been building to this year since the inception of the program, and like Warren East, they have an ace on the field in every game. That’s large and in charge senior DL Adrian Middleton, a monster on the field and Kentucky commit. The Spartans are a sleeper to make some significant noise on a statewide scale in 3A. Glasgow is two years removed from a state runner-up finish, and they return the type of team that will threaten to go back. With 31 upperclassmen, 17 seniors, and 15 returning starters, the Scotties are locked and loaded as the favorites in their district and region. At this point, Scottie fans are forgiven for peeking westward at what may be their greater challenge in the larger scheme of things, 2A favorite Caldwell County, a potential state semifinal opponent. Following those five, we have a potentially unknown quantity at this point. Greenwood has a new coach, one of the departed Bowling Green staff Chris Seabolt. Seabolt will have the services of senior QB Josh Dyer, a 2300 yard passer a year ago. But with some new wrinkles in the offense and a new defensive scheme, we may not have a read on the Gators until they get a few games under their belt. They do enter the season off of a 2012 campaign that featured their most regular season wins ever. Two teams that are looking to regain the glory of just a few years ago are Franklin-Simpson and Allen County-Scottsville. Franklin-Simpson played for the 4A state championship in 2011, but struggled in 2012 following the loss of most of their weapons from the 2011 edition and their head coach. New HC Doug Preston’s Wildcats limped to a 3-8 record that saw them win only two games against Kentucky competition. That year’s pain was this year’s gain as they return 17 starters in their attempt to climb back into competition. Allen County-Scottsville has experienced similar hardship, rolling to the 2010 4A state finals where they dropped a close 21-14 decision to Boyle County, but turning in only 4 and 3 wins in the last two years en route to a pair of first round losses. The Patriots will look to 13 seniors and 10 returning starters to take them back to the promised land. Which brings us to Barren County. The Trojans began the 2012 season with a 28-0 shutout win against Metcalfe County, but would drop their next 9 games by an average of nearly 30 points per game, only coming within a TD a single time – a 21-20 loss to Logan County that ended their playoff hopes. That ended a run of five straight playoff appearances for the Trojans. They will have a shot at returning to the playoffs, but they will be hard pressed to add their first playoff win since 1992, or their first winning record since 2000. South-Central Kentucky Rankings 1) Bowling Green 2) Warren Central 3) Warren East 4) South Warren 5) Glasgow 6) Greenwood 7) Franklin-Simpson 8) Allen County-Scottsville 9) Barren County

If you thought Glasgow would not come close in 2012 to duplicating the success they had in 2011, you were not alone. The Scotties went a sparkling 14-1 in 2011 en route to a state runner-up finish, but lost almost all of their top players and production from that year. On top of that, they only rostered five seniors for the 2012 campaign. But Coach Rick Wood and Glasgow proved their mettle by capturing their district again on the way to an 8-2 regular season, and raised hopes so high that it came as a disappointment when they fell 10-2 to DeSales in the 2A Region 2 finals. Ultimately, Glasgow's only three losses came to teams that reached the state semifinals. And so the yo-yo of expectations swings up again and Glasgow is thinking state finals once again. And this time they'll aim to finish the job they fell short of in 2011. The Scotties will field a veteran and experienced team for the 2013 season. Their roster boasts 31 upperclassmen, 17 of them seniors. They return 15 starters including their starting QB, top four rushers, most of their receiving corps, and six of their seven leading tacklers. In short, these guys have seen plenty of action. Senior QB Ryan Hinkley did not pass often last year, compiling only 782 yards and nine TDs, but will provide a steady hand leading the offense. he'll be greatly aided by a pair of 1,200 yard backs, junior Marquez Trigg and senior Quentel Bradley. Trigg saw 178 carries and Bradley toted it 179 times, by far the most on the team. They are a pair of dangerous runners and give great balance to Glasgow. Protecting Hinkley's dropbacks and opening up the lanes for Trigg and Bradley will be four returning offensive linemen from 2012 that are large and in charge. The Scotties will average at least 260 lbs on the line. Leading the defensive corps will be senior LB Connor Glass, the second leading tackler in 2012 for Glasgow with 51 solos. Three of the front four on the defensive line return, led by senior DT Aaron Witty (44 solo tackles) and senior DE Ben Furlong (41 solo tackles). In all, the defense returns seven starters to a unit that allowed 12 points and less than 200 yards per game in 2012. The 2013 Glasgow schedule is very similar to the edition from the previous two years, featuring 7 games against 2012 opponents. They open the season by hosting Hart County in the TJ Samson Bowl, a bowl game co-hosted with Barren County and played at Glasgow this year. The Scotties also step way up in class, visiting 6A Seneca on October 4th. But 4 games stand out on the schedule the same way they did the past two years. Glasgow will visit long-time rival Allen County-Scottsville on September 13th, always an entertaining game. They'll get another crack at powers 2A Somerset and 3A Monroe County, two of their losses from a year ago, the following two weeks. That all leads to their toughest district game, at Green County on October 18th. Last season the Scotties surprised some by knocking off the Dragons 25-16 in Glasgow. This year the Scotties will not have the advantage of home field, but to them that just means they'll get to crush Green County's district hopes in front of the Dragon crowd this time around. 2013 has very much the same feel as 2011 in Glasgow. A large senior class, tons of returning starters, a better than expected showing the previous year. They'll likely even have the same skepticism they faced in 2011, living in the shadow of a more heralded team to the west, with Caldwell County likely to be the pick of most to reach the state finals. The Scotties may just have a surprise for them come Black Friday. Nothing that comes before should be a surprise to anyone. Players To Watch Marquez Trigg - RB/DB - 5'11", 190 lbs - Junior - Trigg is the co-star of the Scotties for now, and will take full ownership off the star role in 2014 when he's a senior. Trigg amassed a staggering 21 touchdowns in 2012 to add to his 1,212 yards, averaging just shy of 7 yards per carry. Quentel Bradley - RB/DB - 5'10", 165 lbs - Senior - He may be slight in size, but that doesn't mean he's easy to bring down. It's not uncommon to see Bradley drag a defender or two for some extra yards, or simply run them over and continue on his way. Oh, and he's more than fast enough to simply run around them too. Milas Norris - WR/LB - 6'2", 185 lbs - Senior - Norris is the leading returning receiver for the Scotties, leading the team in receptions last year while coming in at #2 in terms of receiving yards. He'll have a large impact on defense too where he notched 34 tackles from his linebacker position, sometimes also lining up as more of a defensive end. Matt Boston - C - 6'2", 270 lbs - Senior - Boston was selected as a 2nd team AP All-State lineman in 2012, and will anchor the veteran Scottie offensive line.

The last two years for Allen County-Scottsville have been challenging to say the least. From 2008-2010 the Patriots made three straight region title games, compiled a 33-6 record, all culminating in a run to the 2010 4A state championship game. The past two years have brought no playoff wins and lost more games in each individual year than they did combined in 2008-2010. The 2012 season was not without positives. The Patriots had a strong win against surging 3A South Warren. They battled 2A power Glasgow to the wire and gave another 2A power Monroe County all they wanted in a loss on the road. Most importantly, the Patriots knocked off district rival Franklin-Simpson to gain a home playoff game and moving back up the ladder towards the top spot in the district that they consider their rightful home. Coach Brad Hood will enter his eighth season at the helm, and he will look to 13 seniors that have been in the program for four years to lead the team back to the promised land. The Patriots return five starters on each side of the ball, possibly none more important than senior RB Charlie Trapp. Trapp averaged 5.4 YPC in his junior campaign, gaining 664 yards and 6 TDs along with adding 226 yards and a TD receiving out of the backfield. He’ll be the bell cow, as no other Patriot runner returns that carried the ball more than 22 times. Those 22 rushes came from junior QB Colton Oakes, who will take the helm of the offense from departed seniors Kasey Johnson and Connor Ross. Those two combined for 86% of all passing yards for the Patriots last year, but Oakes did start a pair of crucial district games against Franklin-Simpson and Warren East last year, and threw for 164 yards and a TD on the year. His development will be crucial to Allen County-Scottsville’s success on the year. Protecting Oakes and blocking for Trapp will be a veteran offensive line, the deepest at Allen County-Scottsville since the seminal 2010 season. The Patriots return three starters, RG Michael Burton, RT Gabe Whitney, and LT Elijah Perea. The line was almost even more experienced, but two year starter at LG Jordan Keen was lost to an ACL tear during spring ball. The Patriot aerial attack will be aided by the return of leading receiver senior Jacob Howard. Howard accounted for a little over 25% of all receiving yards for the Patriots a year ago, and nearly half of their receiving TDs with 4. Howard is also the primary playmaker on kickoff and punt returns. Defensively, the Patriots will have the tough task of replacing all-purpose player Austin York, who led the team in tackles in addition to handling punting duties. The Patriots additionally lost their #2 and #3 leaders in tackles from a year ago and return no starters on the defensive line. The Patriots return a pair of linebackers in seniors Tanner Mutter and Wes Cornwell that combined for 101 tackles in 2012. The linebacking corps should also be bolstered by two way player junior OLB/WR Jordan Moss, who is anticipated to have a big impact on the defense. Allen County-Scottsville also returns almost their entire secondary with junior CB Cainan Cox, senior CB Caleb Vernon, and senior S Gage Link. Cainan Cox was co-leader on the team for interceptions in 2012 alongside Tanner Mutter. The Patriot 2013 schedule is a half and half mix of new and old faces. To open the year, Allen County-Scottsville will play Mercer County, a rematch from a year ago in Boyle County’s bowl game. This time, it will take place on the field that every team in Kentucky hopes to be playing on in December, at WKU’s LT Smith Stadium as part of Bowling Green’s Rafferty’s Bowl. They will then meet Greenwood, which returns to the schedule after a two year hiatus that followed a four year stretch where the teams split 2-2 in their matchups. In mid-September comes the customary rivalry game against Glasgow. Outside of a 4 year span from 1999-2002, the two teams have played every year since 1997. Glasgow has won two straight, including last year’s heartbreaker 7-6. The season closes with the same 4 game stretch as 2012, when the Patriots go through the crucial games against their three district foes. The schedule does them no favors there as they will have to travel to the two teams that are their biggest competition in striving for the district title, Franklin-Simpson and district favorite Warren East. Their regular season closes with another staple of the schedule when they host Monroe County. 2001-2004 were the only years in Monroe County’s history that the two schools did not meet, with the Patriots trailing the series 16-8. Players To Watch Charlie Trapp – RB – 5’7”, 200 lbs – Senior - Trapp will be heavily leaned on to carry the offense, especially as the new quarterback develops. He’s a compact but explosive player. Tanner Mutter – OLB – 5’10”, 190 lbs – Senior - Mutter is the leading returning tackler for the Patriots, with 32 solos and 7.5 tackles for loss in 2012. He was also a team leader in INTs with a pair. He’ll be counted on even more this year to marshal the defense. Wes Cornwell – MLB – 6’1”, 225 lbs – Senior - Cornwell looks the part more than some of the other Patriots with a little more typical height and weight for the linebacker position. Last year he did a little bit of everything, forcing two fumbles, blocking a kick, and hauling in one INT to go with 18 solo tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss.

Entering their third year as a varsity program, South Warren has thus far met or exceeded every goal they have set for themselves. In 2011, their goal was to make the playoffs in their first season. Check. In 2012, their goal was to host a home playoff game. Not only did they meet that goal, they won that game for their first postseason victory and won a second to advance to the region finals, far exceeding expectations. And so they find themselves entering 2013 with loftier goals than ever. Their senior class began the South Warren football program, which fielded only JV/Freshman teams in 2010. They are the forerunners of the Spartan program and they will seek to leave a lasting legacy at South Warren, a legacy that includes a regional title. Head Coach Mark Nelson will enjoy a team that will boast the most experience and talent yet in the short Spartan history. He'll have the services of senior QB Jay Eblen, a dual-threat who will be in his third year starting under center. Also returning are the two primary ball carriers from 2012, seniors Drew Wilken and Joel Iyiegbuniwe. Wilken is the leading returning rusher in terms of per carry average and Iyiegbuniwe has generated interest from several colleges this offseason, including an offer from hometown team WKU. Protecting Eblen and opening the running the lanes are three returning interior linemen, all seniors. Defensively South Warren will have the services of the recruiting jewel of the team, recent UK commit Adrian Middleton. Middleton checks in at a healthy 6'4", 275 lbs. Middleton is one of the few Spartans that does not play on both sides of the ball, so he remains fresh to blow up the interior of the offensive line. If he is not double teamed, good luck keeping him out of the backfield. Another defensive standout returning is ILB Cody Chaffin, the team leader in tackles in 2012 with 78 solos and 47 assists. Wilken will also return to shore up the linebacking corps, while Eblen and Iyiegbuniwe will see time in the secondary. South Warren's 2013 schedule sees a few slight tweaks from a year ago, with one very significant rival added. The Spartans will continue their rivalry with Warren East in the season opener, moving it from Bowling Green's bowl game at WKU to a home and home matchup, this year playing at South Warren. They'll also continue their series against close neighbors Logan County and Russellville. But the most significant pickups on the schedule are Daviess County and Greenwood. 6A Daviess County represents the largest school the Spartans have ever met on the field. Greenwood is the highlight of the schedule. South Warren was formed from a large portion of Greenwood, and many of these players played on the same middle school team, so the faces will be familiar. South Warren has enjoyed many successes that Greenwood did not attain for many years, and the Spartans will look to rub more salt in that wound with a victory in the first meeting between the schools. The schedule has a much greater balance between small schools and large schools than the first two years. This should help prepare the Spartans for their inevitable bump up as high as 5A following the 2015 realignment. In district play, the keystone game is their October 18th meeting with Monroe County. The Falcons are the one team the Spartans have been unable to solve, losing by an average of more than 27 PPG in their three meetings so far. That included an embarassing 41-0 loss at home last year in the de facto district championship game. With a pair of D1 recruits leading them, South Warren will be ready to ground the Falcons in 2013. Above all, 2013 is a window of opportunity for South Warren. They enjoy a significant enrollment advantage over the other 3A teams, with an enrollment that would actually place them among the largest 4A teams in the state. They will reap the benefits of one of the more experienced rosters in the state, with several three year starters on both sides of the ball. There will be added pressure to achieve even greater success before the window closes and they find themselves on a playing field with schools more their size. Players To Watch Adrian Middleton - DT - 6'4", 275 lbs - Senior - Kentucky commit Middleton is the monster of the team, the best player in the very short South Warren history. He only compiled 40 solo tackles last year, but every one of them was a highlight. It was not uncommon to find him charging through the line, reaching out with one arm, and flinging the quarterback to the ground with ease. Jay Eblen - QB/SS - 5'11", 180 lbs - Senior - Eblen is the general on the field for the Spartan offense, and their leading producer on the ground and through the air. Last year Eblen threw for 1,433 yards and 15 TDs in addition to racking up 700 yards and 12 TDs on the ground. Eblen is a scrambling quarterback, which can at times lead to trouble, but just as often keeps plays alive for much longer than they otherwise would, leading to open receivers downfield. In either case, he's entertaining as hell to watch. Joel Iyiegbuniwe - RB/FS - 6'2", 205 lbs - Senior - Iyiegbuniwe doesn't have a name that exactly rolls off the tongue (most call him by his nickname "Iggy") but you'll hear it often during a South Warren game. Iyiegbuniwe is the big play threat for the Spartans, be it on a kickoff, run around the end, or even when jumping a route on defense to take an interception back to the house. Look for the Spartans to get the ball in his hands often, preferably in the open field where he will blow by opposing defenses or just simply make them miss. Cody Chaffin - OLB - 6'1", 195 lbs - Senior - Cody is officially listed as a TE along with his linebacker duties, but sees very little time outside of his linebacker position. Which suits him just fine. Chaffin has a nose for the ball and there are very few defensive snaps you won't find him near the outcome or making the play.

Series History: Series Tied 1-1 Series at South Warren: First Meeting Playoff Meetings: 11/4/2011: at Fort Campbell 41 South Warren 0 11/9/2012: South Warren 24 at Fort Campbell 7 After meeting at Fort Campbell in the first two meetings of the series, South Warren will get to host the Falcons for their annual playoff tilt. In all three years of the Spartan program they have squared off with Fort Campbell. Last year they stunned everyone in a 24-7 upset on the road, contrasting with the 41 shellacking they took the year prior. Fort Campbell enters after rebounding from a midseason swoon by winning 3 of 4, while the Spartans have their first 10 win season in program history. The Spartans haven't allowed more than one score all year while only Paducah Tilghman held the Falcons below 17 - and Mayfield and McCracken are the only others who held them to under 35. Who ya got?

Series History: Monroe County leads 3-0 Series at Monroe County: Monroe County leads 2-0 To say that South Warren has been looking forward to the opportunity is a bit of an understatement. The losses last year, especially the big one, stung and left pride wounded. A game that about three weeks ago even ardent Falcon supporters were somewhat down on has become much more in doubt. The Daviess County game renewed hope from the opposition that there was a chink in the Spartan armor, that maybe Monroe could overcome the loss of all those seniors and keep South Warren in the place that Falcon fans believe they belong - second place. That's certainly how it played out last regular season, when it appeared the Spartans were ready to challenge. Following the 41-0 pasting in Bowling Green, the message was "Same Old South Warren". The tune changed slightly after a far better showing in the playoffs, a 20-10 Monroe County win in the region finals, but now we will see just how different things are.

Series History: Warren East leads 19-14 Series at Warren East: Warren East leads 9-7 In the last decade in this series, homefield has been crucial for the Raiders. They have won 4 of 5 at Warren East, the lone loss a 42-6 beatdown in 2009. The Raiders have won two straight overall following a three year stint of domination by Allen County-Scottsville. The series has a lot of back and forth, and exempting the first six games of the series, the Patriots lead the series 14-13. But it's only close in wins and losses of late, as no game has been a single score affair since 2004. This game will have significant postseason implications. Their last time out, the Raiders were smashed 37-7 by Franklin-Simpson, putting them behind the eight ball in the standings. A loss here would realistically lock them into the 3 seed for the playoffs. A win, and they stay alive in the district title hunt (with a little help needed from the Patriots). The Raiders have a losing record at this point in the year for the first time since 2010. On the other side of the coin, the Patriots enter winners of three straight and four of five, an a win would set up an outright district title game at Franklin-Simpson next week. The Patriots have surged behind RB Charlie Trapp, already a 1,000 yard rusher on the year, and the emergence of QB Jessie Bow.

Series History: Apollo leads 5-3 Series at Greenwood: Apollo leads 3-1 This is the third straight year these teams have met, and second straight year at Greenwood. Greenwood won both of the last two meetings by an average of 35 points, and last year's win was their first in the series at The Swamp. Apollo's last win at Greenwood came in 2001, a 19-14 victory. Both teams enter in dire need of a win and a shot in the arm. Apollo is just 1-6 on the year, and took it on the chin in district play to the tune of three straight losses by nearly 40 points per game. Their lone win came over winless Hopkins County Central. Meanwhile Greenwood has lost two straight and four of five, none worse than their 14-10 loss at Barren County on October 4th. That decision means they will almost certainly be in 4th place in the district come playoff time. Scoring has been the largest trouble for Greenwood, as they have only 39 points combined in their six games outside of a 62-0 destruction of winless Logan County. Apollo would seem to be the perfect prescription for that problem, entering with an average of 36.7 points allowed to opponents.

Series History: Bowling Green leads 33-12 Series at Bowling Green: Bowling Green leads 20-6 The time that Warren Central was closing in on Bowling Green in the series is long gone. It was just 14-8 in favor of BG in 1993, but since the Purples have won 19 of 23 meetings, including the last four - all four in the last two years. The Purples have additionally taken 10 of 12 meetings at El Donaldson Stadium. These two have met for two straight region titles and have combined for every district title in 5A District 2 since its inception in 2007, all but one of those in the hands of Bowling Green (Warren Central's came in 2010). Bowling Green is 26-3 in the series when scoring 17 or more against Warren Central, and have not come anywhere close to losing in the series at their 2012 season average of 52 PPG (12-0 scoring 31 points or more, 4-0 at 52 points or more). Both teams enter off their bye week. Bowling Green has won 36 straight games overall and are coming off their two largest wins of the year, winning by a combined 139 points against Barren County and Logan County. Meanwhile Warren Central is on a 4 game winning streak after starting the year 0-3, regaining a ranking in the BGP 5A Top Ten. The two have played a single common opponent, with the Purples winning at home 41-7 over Owensboro while the Dragons knocked off the Red Devils on the road by a 28-7 score. This serves as a district title game as the winner could have no more than 1 loss in the district and all other teams have two losses already.

Glasgow has won three straight district titles in 2A's District 3. Before that, Green County won in 2009. One of these two will take the district yet again. Last year was an extremely tight affair, with homefield carrying Glasgow to the 25-16 victory and the district title. Green County is hoping the homefield advantage will do the same for them. Coming in, Glasgow has continued to win, running up a 6-1 record, though not necessarily in dominant fashion. Each of the last two weeks they were expected to win by more, but gutted out a 6 point win versus Monroe County and a 12 point win against Seneca, those coming on the heels of an ugly loss to Somerset. Green County comes in with an unimpressive 4-4 record, having run a gauntlet including the likes of Caldwell County, Danville, Frankfort, and Bardstown.

Series: Barren County leads 15-9 Series at Warren East: Barren County leads 8-3 These two will square off for the third straight year, splitting their two meetings the past two years with the road team taking the win each time. Last year Warren East stopped Barren County's 9 game winning streak in the series 32-0, scoring only two fewer points than they had in the previous four meetings with Barren County combined. Now they will look to defeat the Trojans at Raider Stadium for the first time since 1996. The Raiders will be looking to wipe the bad taste out of their mouth from a 35-0 blowout loss to South Warren last week, while the Trojans will try to get the second win that eluded them in their 1-9 campaign last year.

Series: Tied 1-1 Series at Logan County: Logan County leads 1-0 South Warren continues their series against neighboring Logan County, who they've played every year of their varsity existence. When the teams last met at Logan County, the Cougars managed a 24-13 win to prevent the Spartans from notching their first varsity win. Last year the Spartans showed how fast they'd come along in a 36-0 pasting of Logan County. And following the results of week 1 when South Warren destroyed Warren East 35-0, this looks to be running clock material.....

Series: Boyle County leads 1-0 Series at Boyle County: First Meeting Warren Central meets Boyle County for the first time since the 2008 Rafferty's Bowl at Bowling Green High, a humiliating 49-13 loss during the worst Warren Central season of the better part of the least two decades. Prior to last week this was seen as perhaps an uphill battle for the Rebels, but the script has flipped following Boyle's dominant opening and Warren Central's poor showing against Madisonville-North Hopkins. The Dragons have not lost three consecutive games since that 2008 season. Can they avoid that here?

Series: First Meeting Bowling Green and Bryan Station meet for the first time in Lexington Catholic's bowl game. The Purples will enter as huge favorites to extend their winning streak to 32, currently the longest in the state. Do the Defenders have a prayer or will this be another stat making game in Nacarius Fant's Mr. Football campaign?

Inside South-Central Kentucky Football (8-25-13) Week 1 in the area saw a mix of expected results and head turners. -Bowling Green (1-0) was up to their usual dominance in a 48-21 shellacking of highly regarded 4A #4 Lexington Catholic. The Purples gained 461 yards offense and the Hayes to Fant connection accounted for 4 TDs. The Purples look every bit the favorite they are. -Meanwhile Warren Central (0-1) stubbed their toe in their season opener against 4A #7 Madisonville-North Hopkins in a 27-13 loss. The Dragons were undone by 4 turnovers and a pair of blocked punts, with the Maroons scoring 21 points off of those turnovers. -South Warren (1-0) made a statement in a 35-0 victory over Warren East (0-1), the first victory over a Warren County team for the Spartans. All 35 points came in the first half as South Warren took advantage of two bad snaps on punt attempts and absolutely shut down the Warren East offense in the first half. The news for the Raiders got worse from there as their QB Austin Pagel was knocked from the game and may have a broken collarbone. -Glasgow (1-0) won easily 48-0 over Hart County, which was no surprise. Running backs Marquez Trigg and Quentel Bradley combined for 218 yards on just 21 carries as they ran all over the hapless Raiders. -Franklin-Simpson (0-1) had a decent showing in a 25-7 loss to Danville at Campbellsville University. The Wildcats trailed just 13-7 and had possession midway through the 4th Quarter, but a fumble at midfield was returned for the TD to put the game out of reach. -A key interception was the undoing for Allen County-Scottsville (0-1) in their loss to Mercer County in the Rafferty’s Bowl at WKU. Trailing 21-14 just before halftime, Colton Oakes threw an INT that was returned 73 yards for a backbreaking TD. Instead of potentially tying the game, the Patriots were down two TDs and never recovered. -Greenwood (0-1) turned in what may have been the most shocking result of the first week in the area when they were crushed 35-6 by Hopkinsville. It was the largest win for the Tigers since 2009 and least points allowed since 2006. The teams played to a scoreless tie in the first quarter and the Gators led 6-0 in the second quarter, but very little went right from that point on. Greenwood was outgained 308-48 in the second half. -Barren County (1-0) looked to be on their way to a laugher against Metcalfe County as they had a 19-0 halftime lead, but some Trojan turnovers began to make things tough immediately in the third quarter as the Hornets closed the gap to 19-13. Barren County bore down in the fourth, surviving a last ditch drive by Metcalfe County that reached the Barren 26 in the closing seconds. An INT sealed the game. South-Central Kentucky Rankings (8-25-13) 1) Bowling Green vs. 6A Bryan Station at Lexington Catholic (8/24) 2) Warren Central at 4A #5 Boyle County 3) South Warren at 5A Logan County 4) Warren East vs. 5A Barren County 5) Glasgow vs. 3A Garrard County at Danville 6) Franklin-Simpson at 5A #9 Graves County 7) Allen County-Scottsville vs. 5A Greenwood 8) Greenwood at 4A Allen County-Scottsville 9) Barren County at 4A Warren East

Series History: First Meeting South Warren is statistically the most dominating defense in the state. They have not allowed a point this season, the last in the state to have that honor. Their three shutouts equal the total they had in their first two seasons combined. They make their hay with a ferocious rushing defense, which has yet to allow positive yardage in any game. The Spartans are even tougher at home, carrying a 9-3 all-time record in the friendly confines, including winning 9 of their last 10. Only Monroe County last season beat them during that stretch. Five of the last seven games at home have ended in Spartan shutouts, and one of the other games they allowed only 7 points. By any measure, it's a daunting task that faces Elizabethtown. The Panthers are no slouch themselves, entering the game with an unblemished 3-0 record of their own, and have allowed merely 17 points in those three games. It's a huge turnaround for the program, which had lost 22 of their previous 23 games coming into this season.

Series History: Warren East Leads 7-1 Series at Warren East: Warren East Leads 3-0 Warren East has won seven consecutive games in the series, but this is the first meeting between the two since 1990. The only win for the Eagles in the series came in 1975, and was played at Bowling Green High School. Ohio County has not won any meetings played at either home field. After going undefeated during the regular season a year ago, the Raiders have already dropped two games out of their first three, most recently a 25-20 decision at Monroe County. Counting their loss in the 2012 playoffs, they have lost 3 of 4 overall. On the plus side, they have not lost at home since being eliminated by Owensboro in the 2011 playoffs, a streak of 8 straight wins. That streak is the second longest in program history. They have won 12 of 13 at home. Ohio County enters at 2-1, having just dropped their first decision 55-26 to 2A #1 Caldwell County. Those two wins are already just one shy of their total from last year when they dipped from their strong 9-2 campaign in 2011.

Series History: Glasgow Leads 27-7 Series at Allen County-Scottsville: Glasgow Leads 15-2 The Scotties and Patriots have met every year since 2003, but the Scotties have won two straight in the series, both extremely close affairs. Last year the Scotties won 7-6 in a game that saw some key injuries for Allen County-Scottsville. This year it is Glasgow that enters a little banged up, suffering a few minor injuries against rival Barren County last week, causing the Scotties to cautiously maneuver their way to a 28-0 victory in that game. They enter 3-0 ranked very highly in 2A, and are considered a sleeper for the state title. The Patriots have had a more difficult time, but they are coming off their first win of the year, a road victory over Marshall County 35-28.

Series History: Franklin-Simpson Leads 8-4 Series at Franklin-Simpson: Franklin-Simpson Leads 4-3 The two county neighbors meet for the fifth consecutive season and second straight year at Shadetree Stadium in Franklin. In a bit of an oddity, the road team has won the last five meetings in the series, including last year's 21-14 victory for the Gators. Both teams are 1-2, with Franklin-Simpson coming in off their first victory of the year, a 49-7 win over Logan County. Meanwhile Greenwood was shellacked 38-0 in their first meeting with new rival South Warren, with all points coming in the first half. The Gators are managing only 7.67 points per game, being outscored 73-6 in their two losses.

Series History: Owensboro Leads 38-31-2 Series at Bowling Green: Series Tied 18-18-1 The Purples and Red Devils renew one of the oldest rivalries in the state, with 71 meetings dating back to 1932. This will be the seventh consecutive year the teams will play, something that is increasingly hard to find for the Purples out of district. The Purples have won 5 consecutive against Owensboro, last losing in the 2008 playoffs. That was their last loss to Owensboro at home as well. The teams both enter unbeaten, the Purples at 2-0 while Owensboro is 3-0. This is the first game for the Devils outside of their City-County schedule, where they swept their fellow Daviess County teams to take that title. The Purples of course are on a 32 game winning streak and added another marquee win with their third consecutive win over St. Xavier. That game was perhaps not even as close as the 39-25 final would make it seem. Last year the Purples slammed Owensboro 31-3 at El Donaldson Stadium.

Series History: Warren Central Leads 8-6 Series at Warren Central: Warren Central Leads 5-2 Scrimmage mates for the last couple of years, these two square off for the first time since 2008 in the regular season. The Dragons have won two straight in the series, those coming in 2007 & 2008, each with very unique attributes. In 2007 the Dragons won 20-18 despite a staggering 6 turnovers in the first half. In 2008 they won 34-19. They led that game at halftime despite having negative offensive yardage thanks to turnovers and a kick return TD. Each team enters the game at 0-3, desperately seeking their first win. The Trojans were blown out in games against rival Central Hardin and Pulaski County, sandwiched around a 1 TD loss to Doss. This is part of a month-long road trip for North Hardin, which will not return home until October 4th. Meanwhile the Dragons dropped games to Madisonville, Boyle County, and DeSales, all ranked, but all losses by 2 scores. The Dragons are trying to avoid their first five game losing streak since they lost 7 straight in 1995. They are already in the midst of their worst start since that same year.

South-Central Kentucky Football - Top 5 Running Backs So Far A quick look at where we stand for the best runners in the South-Central Kentucky Area. 1) Blue Tisdale, Sr., Bowling Green – 30 Rushes, 222 Yards (7.4 YPC), 1 Touchdown. 5 Receptions, 111 Yards, 1 Touchdown. – The most talented back in the area running behind the most talented line. It’s really not fair to the teams he squares off against. Tisdale lost a chance to boost his stats when Bowling Green’s second scheduled game against Bryan Station was rained out, but is still averaging north of 100 yards per game and boasts a strong YPC. What sets him apart from most of the other backs in the area is he is a huge receiving threat as well. In Bowling Green’s 39-25 win over St. X, he had an 82 yard TD reception while lined up in the slot. 2) Joel Iyiegbuniwe, Sr., South Warren – 16 Rushes, 73 Yards (4.6 YPC), 4 Touchdowns. 2 Receptions, 38 Yards, 1 Touchdown. – Tisdale’s line is a little under because of a lost game. Iyiegbuniwe’s line is a little under because the Spartans quite frankly haven’t needed him to rack up the stats. Thanks to a strong defense, Iggy hasn’t had to face many long fields, so when he breaks his runs he hasn’t had to go too far. What’s most impressive is that he is averaging a touchdown every four carries or every 3.6 touches when you factor in the receptions. Joel has been South Warren’s most impressive player all-around in the young season. 3) Marquez Trigg, Jr., Glasgow – 24 Rushes, 263 Yards (11.0 YPC), 5 Touchdowns. 2 Receptions, 45 Yards. – What a luxury Coach Wood has in Trigg. It’s not every day you have a running back that when you hand him the ball averages gaining a first down. It’s no wonder that he is averaging a touchdown every 4.8 carries. He essentially compiled his stats in the first two games of the year, leaving with a minor injury after only three carries for 18 yards against Barren County, netting a touchdown and “only” 6 yards per carry. 4) Eli Brown, Jr., Warren East – 49 Rushes, 378 Yards (7.7 YPC), 2 Touchdowns. 1 Reception, 8 Yards. – You knew the Raiders were going to have to lean on their bell cow, but possibly they’ve had to do so even more than they thought they would after losing their starting QB in the very first game of the year. He is already almost halfway to his total carries from the 2012 season, in which Warren East played 14 games. Brown has continued to excel in all facets of the game, knocking down opponents from the defensive side as well as running them over on the offensive side. His numbers include a mammoth 202 yard effort against Barren County. 5) Charlie Trapp, Sr., Allen County-Scottsville – 66 Rushes, 410 Yards (6.2 YPC), 5 Touchdowns. 4 Receptions, 23 Yards. – If you go see a Patriot game this year, chances are you are going to see Trapp carry the ball A LOT. He’s currently seeing a carry on roughly 40% of the offensive plays AC/S runs, and still averages an incredibly strong 6.2 yards per carry. Trapp accounts for 45% of all offensive yardage for the Pats right now. The next opponent to hold him under 100 yards rushing on the game, will be the first one. Honorable Mention (Listed Alphabetically) Quentel Bradley, Sr., Glasgow – 50 Rushes, 327 Yards, 3 Touchdowns. 5 Receptions, 86 Yards. – Bradley is the thunder to Trigg’s lightning for Glasgow. Rondell Green, Sr., Warren Central – 26 Rushes, 141 Yards, 3 Touchdowns. 5 Receptions, 130 Yards, 1 Touchdown. – Central has had a rough start, but continue to get reliable play out of their best back. Blake Pillow, Sr., Bowling Green – 13 Rushes, 99 Yards, 3 Touchdowns. 5 Receptions, 82 Yards, 1 Touchdown. – Pillow may actually be the most dynamic weapon the Purples have. If you don’t tackle him before he hits the jets, you won’t. DeMarcus Potter, Sr., Greenwood – Stats Unavailable – Potter has been something of a surprise for the Gators. He transferred from South Warren and has given the Gators a strong presence in the backfield. South Warren is the only team to hold him down so far.

Revenge will be on Glasgow's mind entering this game, in addition to looking to continue their unblemished streak of four straight wins to open the year. Last year Somerset came into Glasgow and knocked off and shut out the Scotties by a score of 20-0. This year Glasgow will try to return the favor to a Somerset team that enters at a surprising 1-3. The Briar Jumpers (who have one of the most unique nicknames in the state) have only defeated Southwestern this year, but all their losses come to BGP ranked opponents. While they will likely leave the BGP 2A rankings this week, they still present the stiffest challenge Glasgow has faced this year. The Scotties' opponents are a mere 5-11 combined this year, and only Garrard County has managed to score a point.

Series History: Hopkinsville leads 1-0 Series at Warren East: First Meeting The Raiders host the Tigers in the second meeting ever between these two teams. The first was a 52-35 Tiger victory in a first round playoff game in 1996, when Hopkinsville was a dominant power in the west. The times have changed. Hopkinsville started the season with a pair of wins, including one over East's nearby neighbor Greenwood. But since they have allowed over 40 points in each game while notching only 26 ppoints per game of their own. Meanwhile Warren East carries a 2-2 record of their own, alternating wins and losses with each game. They are currently on the upswing following a 50-18 victory over Ohio County. Most importantly, the Raiders have still not lost at home since 2011, a span of 9 straight wins. Homefield has been a huge strength.

Series History: South Warren leads 2-0 Series at Hart County: South Warren leads 1-0 The only team in the state that has not allowed a point this season puts that streak on the line against one of the teams they shut out in 2012 when South Warren visits Hart County. Last year the Spartans thumped Hart County by a score of 50-0, and look to be a strong favorite to win. Probably the only suspense in the game will be whether South Warren can extend their scoreless span north of 205 minutes of game time. Hart County has already been shut out twice this year, but they are 2-2 while averaging just over 11 points per game.