The last time South Warren and Bowling Green met on the gridiron the game certainly did not go in the Spartans’ favor, as the Purples’ defense forced five turnovers in a decisive 43-7 win at home back on Oct. 20.
Despite that lopsided outcome in the first meeting, the anticipation levels are re-heightened as the two sides prepare for Round Two on Friday night at El Donaldson Stadium. However this time there will be more than just bragging rights on the line.
Bowling Green is seeking its third consecutive Class 5A Region One title and its sixth since 2010, but the Spartans will be looking to dethrone their new crosstown rival.
South Warren (10-2) is coming off one of its best performances of the season after ending Christian County’s undefeated season with a 24-6 victory on Friday night in Hopkinsville, and the Spartans will look to carry that momentum over into the game with the Purples.
Quarterback Gavin Spurrier was a major force offensively in the Spartans’ win, completing 15-of-25 passes for 268 yards and a touchdown to complement a pair of rushing touchdowns. The junior’s 89-yard touchdown pass to senior Cody Eblen in the middle of the third quarter against Christian County is the play that put the Spartans in front for good.
But the main story of the win over Christian County was the Spartans’ defensive performance.
South Warren was able to control one of the best quarterbacks western Kentucky has to offer in Kolbe Langhi, as the Spartans sacked the senior four times and forced four interceptions.
Senior Greg Byrd was the leader of the Spartans’ defense on Friday night, as he recorded a season-high three interceptions—two of them being in the Spartans’ own end zone. Byrd now has six interceptions in three games and nine picks on the season overall.
Eblen also tallied an interception in the win, and juniors Tre Teague and Preston Sparkman each came up with two sacks for South Warren.
Bowling Green (10-2) is coming off a harder-than-expected 42-21 victory over rival Greenwood in the second round, and the Purples have still not lost a district game since 2010.
The Purples are led by junior quarterback Beau Buchanan, who has completed 152-of-225 passes for 2,198 yards and 24 touchdowns, while tossing zero interceptions on the season.
Nash Hightower and Ziyon Kenner top the receiving corps with 612 and 760 yards, respectively, and the Purples’ leading rusher is Dazhon Blakely with 470 yards and 10 touchdowns on 73 attempts.
While Bowling Green has several talented players on the defensive side of the ball, the main impact player has been Georgia Tech commit Justice Dingle. The senior linebacker has recorded a whopping 99 tackles on the season, with 75 of them being solo.
Kickoff between the Spartans and Purples is slated for 7 p.m. at El Donaldson Stadium in Bowling Green. The game will be broadcasted on STBNTV.com with two separate feeds. Joe Brunk will be on the call on the Purples’ team feed, while Cameron Brown and Ethan Payne will be on the microphone for the Spartans’ team feed.
