A couple of things will be at stake when Warren East and Warren Central meet on the blue turf at Jim Ross Field on Thursday evening.
It has been a long time since the winless Dragons last had a taste of victory – Oct. 16, 2015 to be exact. Their opponents that night, ironically enough, were the Raiders.
This season, it won’t be any easier for Central as they try their luck against a red-hot East (3-3) team that is coming off of a 55-35 win over Monroe County last Friday night, allowing them to enter Class 4A, District 2 play with a .500 record.
Raider offense (all aboard the Maxey train)
Not many on this side of the state of Kentucky have been as scintillating in the run game as Thomas Maxey has throughout the first six games.
Maxey leads Class 4A in rushing yards (1,101), rushing touchdowns (17) and average rushing yards per game (184). The senior running back is coming off of a monstrous performance against Monroe County, where he rushed for 222 yards and five touchdowns on 19 carries.
Accompanying Maxey on offense is Nolan Ford, who is coming out of his shell as the sophomore starting quarterback. Ford has completed 60-of-134 pass attempts for 1,048 yards and 13 touchdowns on the season while throwing just six interceptions. His 175 passing yards per game puts him at fourth in the 4A standings.
Last Friday against Monroe County, Ford completed 9-of-19 passes for 202 yards and two touchdowns.
Dragons close to breaking through
Warren Central will not let itself have a third-straight winless season. Not on this team’s watch.
The Dragons have come close in a few of their games this season, only to be edged out in a few heartbreakers. On Aug. 31, the Dragons came up short, 20-14, on the road against Monroe County.
Last Friday, Central led a very talented Central Hardin team throughout most of the game before the Bruins were able to pull away in the fourth quarter with a 35-20 win.
Long story short, the Dragons are tough as nails despite two straight winless seasons. Nobody knows when the breakthrough will come along, but don’t be surprised if this squad is able to turn some heads very soon.
Warren Central at Warren East
Jim Ross Field (Warren East High School)
7:00 pm CDT
Broadcast: ESPN KY 102.7 FM (PXP: Garrett Browning)
Clay Manlove; @ctmanlove58
