South Warren Football Preview
By Perry Swack
South Warren Spartans
Coach: Brandon Smith, Eighth Season
Record at School: 79-11
2020 Record: 6-1
Lost to Bowling Green, 41-24, in the second round of the 5A Playoffs
Starters Returning: 7 on Offense, 7 on Defense
In speaking with other coaches, pundits, and fans, there was one team that seemed to generate the most buzz this offseason: the South Warren Spartans. The 5A program enters the 2021 campaign with a target on its back. The 2015 and 2018 state champions are hungry to add to their collection of hardware. However, to get back into the winner’s circle, coach Brandon Smith’s club will have to go through their cross-town rival, and state power, Bowling Green. The Spartans ousted the Purples in the 2017 and 2018 playoffs, but they have fallen short to their district foe in each of the last two seasons. South defeated BG in the 2020 regular season on the road before bowing out to them at home in the playoffs.
A major reason why so many people are expecting great things from South Warren this season is the abundance of talent it returns on both sides of the ball. On offense, the club’s leading passer, rusher, and receiver are all set to return. Highly touted play caller Caden Veltkamp returns for a third season as the starting quarterback after throwing for more than 1,300 yards in only seven games in 2020. The WKU commit threw for 17 touchdowns and only six interceptions. Leading rusher Kobe Martin also returns to the fold after rushing for nearly 500 yards and seven scores on 86 carries last season. The top two pass catchers return for the Spartans in Christian Conyer and Avrin Bell. Conyer led the team in receiving yards with 220, while Bell led the team with 17 receptions. Both wideouts caught three TD passes.
On defense, four of the top five tacklers return to the lineup, including the team leader in sacks, tackles for losses, and interceptions. Linebacker Luke Burton led the way last season with 37 solo tackles, 63 total tackles, and five sacks. Defensive lineman Jake Jackson paced the Spartans with 15 tackles for losses to go with 50 total tackles and two sacks. Tyler Snell will join Burton among the linebacker corps after totaling 43 tackles in 2020. William Trussell, Conyer, and Bell will all star in the defensive backfield after teaming up to form a fearsome group last season. Bell picked three passes off (one for a touchdown), while Trussell totaled 28 tackles. Conyer’s ability to cover star receivers as a lockdown cornerback gives the Spartans something most teams do not have.
As for the schedule, Coach Smith admitted that the club has “a very difficult schedule” that will open in Houchens-Smith Stadium at WKU in the Rafferty’s Bowl on August 21 against North Hardin. The three-week stretch of September 24 to October 8 will show us exactly where this iteration of the Spartans stacks up against the state’s best. South will travel to Louisville Central on the 9/24 before hosting Bowling Green and McCracken County in successive weeks.
In 2015, the program won its first state title. It did it again three years later in 2018. Three years later and we are in 2021. Might history repeat itself? The Spartans are ready to rock and roll. This motivated bunch hopes to avenge its losses from 2019 and 2020, taking the next step with a new crew. As they move forward, all eyes will be on South.
