South Warren at Bowling Green highlights local slate in the second round of the KHSAA football playoffs
By Perry Swack
Greenwood. Bowling Green. South Warren. Warren East. Logan County. Metcalfe County.
Only six area teams remain with a chance to hoist the state championship trophy on the first weekend of December. Three teams in Class 5A, two in Class 4A, and one in 2A. Warren East and Metcalfe County enter the weekend still undefeated at 11-0. What teams will reach the quarterfinals? Keep reading for our previews and predictions for Friday’s gridiron action.
(Rankings are reflective of the KHSAA RPI within class) (All games are CST)
#8 Greenwood (9-2) @ #9 Owensboro (9-2)
A top ten meeting between the Gators and Red Devils is one of the more appetizing matchups Friday as Greenwood looks to reach the third round of the playoffs for the first time since 2009. Thirteen years ago the Gators reached the state semifinals of the Class 6A playoffs. Much like the 2009 team, the 2022 squad uses a balanced offense to put points on the board. Sophomore quarterback Ryan Huff has thrown for 1600 yards and 16 touchdowns, while Tel Tel Long leads the team in rushing with more than 700 yards. WKU commit Lofton Howard is a threat to pull off a long run or punch it in from short with 17 rushing touchdowns on the season.
The Owensboro seniors have reached the state semifinals in every year since they were freshman, including a trip to the state finals in 2020. Led by Kenyatta Carbon, the Red Devils will use their vaunted rushing attack to try and overwhelm the Gators in the trenches. The senior Carbon has rushed for nearly 1200 yards on the season and 21 touchdowns. Sophomore Deion Winstead has more than 500 yards and 11 scores on his own.
The team that can slow down the other’s rushing duo will likely advance to the third-round next week. The Red Devils are allowing only 70 rushing yards per game and have not given up more than 16 points since early September. It’s why I think the home team will win a close one and advance by the slimmest of margins.
Owensboro 22, Greenwood 21
#15 South Warren (6-5) @ #5 Bowling Green (9-2)
The Spartans and Purples will renew their gridiron rivalry after providing fans with an instant classic in September. Bowling Green junior Javen Huddleston racked up 145 rushing yards, 117 receiving yards, and three total touchdowns as the Purples won 28-24. The Spartan defense will be key in slowing down Huddleston if they are to move on to the third round for a third-straight postseason. South lost its final two regular season games but rebounded last week on the road to defeat Graves County, 36-7. Jimmy Sales rushed for 109 yards on 15 carries in the win.
The Purples seem to be peaking at the right time, winning five of their last six games. I expect the senior linebacker duo of Davis Fant and Jake Napier to have a big day on defense in preventing the Spartan offense from making too much noise. I look for Deuce Bailey to continue his strong play at the quarterback position and for Bowling Green to advance.
Bowling Green (2020) and South Warren (2021) are the last two Class 5A state champions. Can they continue down the road of making it a third-straight title from the Greater BG Area?
Bowling Green 34, South Warren 21
#12 Madisonville-North Hopkins (7-4) @ #4 Warren East (11-0)
Warren East continues its undefeated season with a second-round playoff date with Madisonville-North Hopkins. The schools have never met (at least dating back to 1997) but will Friday night as Dane Parsley and the Raiders look to reach the third round of the playoffs. The sophomore signal caller has thrown for more than 1700 yards and 28 touchdowns and was used sparingly in the team’s 46-0 playoff opener a week ago. So was the team’s top back, senior Quinton Hollis, who has run for nearly 800 yards and 14 scores in 2022. Defensive lineman Josh Collins leads the Raiders with 70 tackles, while linebacker Simon Ghee has amassed 7.5 sacks on the season.
The Maroons dispatched of Warren Central last week to set up a second-round matchup with another school in Bowling Green. Senior Lajuan McAdoo missed the first three games of the season, but has run for 700 yards and 11 scores in the final eight games. In the 39-12 victory over the Dragons, McAdoo ran for more than 150 yards and three scores. The Raiders will need to slow down the Maroon rushing attack if it is to move on to 12-0. Should Warren East win, it is highly likely it would host a playoff game next weekend as it is currently ranked in the top four of Class 4A. This prognosticator thinks the Raiders cruise behind big days from Hollis and Parsley.
Warren East 42, Madisonville-North Hopkins 28
#15 Hopkinsville (6-5) @ #6 Logan County (10-1)
The Tigers and Cougars meet in the playoffs for a third-straight season and a sixth time since October 2020. Logan County is 4-1 in those games, including a 49-28 victory on September 23 this season. In that win, Logan senior Ryan Rayno broke off for 203 rushing yards on 25 carries and three scores. QB Davin Yates completed 11-of-17 passes for 166 yards and two scores.
Both teams enter tonight’s matchup on long win streaks – Hopkinsville has won its last four, while Logan has run off six in a row. In a 24-17 win over Franklin-Simpson last week, the Tigers only managed 1 net rushing yard but had 266 passing yards from Zach Moss. The HHS defense held the Wildcats to less than 200 yards of total offense. If they can slow down the Cougars, they may find themselves on top in this one. However, Logan County has failed to score 26 points only once this season and I expect them to continue their streak and advance to the third round.
Logan County 38, Hopkinsville 20
#21 Danville (5-6) @ #6 Metcalfe County (11-0)
Metcalfe County breezed to a 58-21 win in the opening round of the state playoffs behind 216 rushing yards and four scores from senior Michael Bennett. The Danville Admirals come to town having won its last five meetings over the Hornets. However, the two programs have not met since 2010. The Hornet defense has been stout in 2022, allowing only 54 yards on the ground per game. Bennett – who plays both plays – leads the team with 95 total tackles and is tied with four sacks. Senior defensive lineman Luke Meadows also has four sacks and has racked up 28.5 tackles for loss. Senior Wyatt Blythe has picked off opposing quarterbacks nine times with two returned for scores.
I expect the Hornet defense to sting the Admirals and advance to the third round of the postseason for the second time in three seasons.
Metcalfe County 44, Danville 17
