INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Bowling Green was well aware of what it would be competing against on Friday.
Although they had planned all week and were very familiar with their Week 9 opponent, the Purples may have not expected the exact type of outcome that resulted against a top-tier, nationally-recognized team from Indianapolis, Ind.
Bowling Green suffered a 62-14 loss to Warren Central High School – the top-ranked team in Indiana and No. 15 overall ranked team in the nation – to have its perfect record snapped at Warrior Stadium in Indy.
Warren Central (9-0) jumped out to a 21-0 lead at the end of the opening quarter and pushed its advantage to 41-0 near the end of the second. The Purples (7-1) were able to score before the period ended, but the Warriors ultimately took a 55-7 lead into the locker room at halftime and didn’t look back.
The Purples couldn’t seem to string together any type of offensive rhythm, and their defense was tasked with slowing down Warren Central’s explosive offense.
That offense was led by senior running back Romier Elliott, who had a career night with over 400 all-purpose yards and seven touchdowns. His performance earned him a new single-game rushing record at WCHS.
Along with Elliott, senior quarterback Jayden George tossed three TD passes, and those two alone were too much for the Bowling Green defense to handle.
Evan Spader, Beau Buchanan and Jordan Dingle recorded the Purples’ two scores with a 95-yard kickoff return in the second quarter and a four-yard TD pass in the fourth.
Bowling Green will look to bounce back next Friday as it collides with Class 5A, District 2 rival South Warren (8-0). Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Spartan Stadium.
It was all Warren Central from the start.
Two scores by Elliott in a span of 2:35 quickly gave the Warriors a 14-0 lead midway through the first quarter. A 39-yard touchdown pass from George to the versatile running back with just seconds remaining in the period had the home club up by three scores after 12 minutes of action.
Elliott and George continued to dominate in the ensuing quarter, accounting for all five of Warren Central’s TDs in the second to help the Warriors hold a commanding 55-7 lead at the break.
Bowling Green was able to score an offensive touchdown in the fourth quarter to make it 62-14, but it wouldn’t be enough for a comeback as the Purples suffered their first loss in 2018.
BGHS – 0 7 0 7
WCHS – 21 34 7 0
First quarter
WCHS – Elliott 11 run (Ramirez kick), 8:46
WCHS – Elliott 3 run (Ramirez kick), 6:11
WCHS – George 39 pass to Elliott (Ramirez kick), 0:01
Second quarter
WCHS – George 2 pass to Bell (Ramirez kick), 9:31
WCHS – Elliott 16 run (Ramirez kick), 6:35
WCHS – Elliott 87 run (Ramirez kick), 4:16
BGHS – Spader 95 kickoff return (Major kick), 3:57
WCHS – George 45 pass to Stanley (Ramirez kick), 3:32
WCHS – Elliott 49 run (Ramirez kick), 0:39
Third quarter
WCHS – Elliott 45 run (Ramirez kick), 4:40
Fourth quarter
BGHS – Buchanan 4 pass to Dingle (Major kick), 8:18
Tyler Mansfield; @ByMansfield
