HOPKINSVILLE – When South Warren is firing on all cylinders, it is pretty tough to handle.
That’s exactly what the Spartans did Friday – playing nearly perfect from start to finish and performing at a high level in every aspect to roll to a 49-17, season-opening win over Hopkinsville in the Toyota of Hopkinsville Bowl at Stadium of Champions.
“(I saw) a lot of potential,” South Warren defensive back Clayton Bush said. “I remember last year against Hoptown was really my first game starting. It was the same feeling. I see so much potential because we made so many plays.”
South Warren (1-0), which improved to 3-0 all-time against Hopkinsville, battled with the Tigers over the course of the first few possessions but went on to build a 21-10 lead after the opening quarter.
The Spartans then went all-out in the ensuing period, outscoring Hoptown 21-0 to lead 42-10 at halftime – and they didn’t look back.
“I think once they calmed down and got the jitters out, they did a really nice job,” South Warren coach Brandon Smith said. “They made some adjustments, and from that point on did a pretty good job. (Hoptown) is a good team. That was a good first test.”
Cameron Harrison, making his first start as South Warren’s main running back, set the tone early and emerged as the Spartans’ leader on the offensive side of the ball.
Replacing a standout back in former SWHS star Christian Winn, Harrison – a senior – unloaded for 153 yards and three touchdowns on 16 carries in his first start at the position and earned much respect and praise from his teammates and coaches.
Harrison’s dominating outing also put him right in the middle of the spotlight, but he said he couldn’t have done it alone.
“First off, shoutout to the whole offense. Without the offensive line, none of this would have been able to be accomplished,” Harrison said. “Gavin (Spurrier) – he’s such a smart quarterback. He just put me in the right spots, and great play calls from the coaches.
“It was just an all-around team effort.”
Alongside Harrison, Bush also had quite the night for the Spartans. A Western Kentucky commit, Bush led the defensive unit with a pair of interceptions and a fumble recovery – which resulted in a pair of touchdown returns.
Bush also finished with a rushing touchdown and 68 yards on the receiving end, while Spurrier passed for 124 yards.
“I know we’ve got a lot of confidence built up inside us. We’ve just got to release it,” Bush said. We’ve just gotta play.”
South Warren, as it tends to do, got going early – thanks to its stout defense.
After Hopkinsville received the opening kickoff, Bush quickly forced a fumble and returned it 70 yards for the Spartans’ first touchdown of the game. Hoptown responded with a 13-yard field goal, but South Warren still held a 7-3 lead at the 8:42 mark of the first quarter.
Harrison’s first carry of the evening – this one a 14-yard gain – resulted in the senior’s first score of the year and gave South Warren a 14-3 lead midway through the period. Hopkinsville answered with a 34-yard TD pass from Javier Bland to Ellis Dunn to get within 14-10 – but that’s as close as the Tigers would get.
Harrison struck again on the Spartans’ next drive, turning a 25-yard burst into a three-yard TD run to put South Warren up 21-10 after one.
South Warren really put its foot on the gas in the second quarter.
Harrison found the end zone for the third time on a 49-yard dash to open the period. Bush followed up with a 68-yard reception from Spurrier – then a two-yard score out of the Wildcat formation – to push the Spartans’ advantage to 35-10 with 1:19 remaining in the half.
“Really, just take it one game at a time,” Harrison said. “This is a team sport … and I’m just trying to win. I’d rather have zero yards and win than have 100 yards and a loss.”
Bush wasn’t ready for halftime just yet.
As Hopkinsville was looking to try and cut into its deficit before the break, Bush had other plans and intercepted a pass from Bland and returned it 60 yards for another score – which sent South Warren into the locker room at the break up 42-10.
“Clayton made plays. He did a heckuva job in the offeseason,” Smith said of Bush. “He’s a gym rat. He’s one of those guys that all the time is working out or playing. When he touches it, good things happen.”
South Warren’s final touchdown of the affair came on a Garrett Dinkins fumble recovery return, which made it 49-10 with 3:55 left. Hopkinsville finally found the end zone again on a 41-yard run from Jordan Hopson with 1:17 left, but the Spartans had already sealed it and earned a convincing Week 1 victory.
South Warren returns to action next Saturday at 5 p.m. against Warren Central in the second annual Citizens First Bowl at WKU’s Houchens-Smith Stadium. The Spartans won last season’s matchup 43-6 over the Dragons.
“There’s a lot to improve on,” said Bush. “We’ve gotta work especially on our defense. I know offense has to get in the groove of things. We’ve got a lot of people out right now. We’ve just gotta wrap it up and do the thing.”
First quarter
SW – Bush 70-yard fumble return TD
HTOWN – 13-yard field goal
SW – Harrison 14-yard run
HTOWN – Bland 24-yard to Dunn
SW – Harrison 3-yard run
Second quarter
SW – Harrison 49-yard run
SW – Bush 2-yard run
SW – Bush 60-yard interception return TD
Third quarter
SW – Harrison 34-yard fumble return TD
Fourth quarter
HTOWN – Hopson 41-yard run
South Warren – 21 21 7 0
Hopkinsville – 10 0 0 7
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