By Perry Swack – Sporting Times
Joe Hood Field – October 9, 2020 – 7:00pm
Last Week
Hart County lost to Taylor County 38-8
Warren Central lost to Warren East 47-6
First Ever Meeting between the Two Schools
Preview
In a game that is being dubbed the Norman Bowl, Hart County will travel down I-65 from Munfordville looking to end its 10-game losing streak that dates back to last season. Its host – Warren Central – will be looking to end a streak of its own, one that dates back to October 2015. The Raiders and Dragons will both be playing with nothing to lose when they kick off at Joe Hood Field on Friday night. While Hart County came close to beating Butler County in its season opener, every other game has been decided by at least ten points. Warren Central has lost all four of its games by at least 40 points.
Despite its woes, the Raiders have two running backs averaging at least 100 yards per game on the ground. Senior Dustin Butler is averaging 106.3 yards per game and has scored one rushing touchdown, while teammate Julian Barbour checks in at 101.7 yards per game and four scores. The Raiders rely heavily on the run game as through its first three games, the team had thrown only 21 passes – compared to 127 rushes. Barbour – and sophomore Jaxson Shoulders – are the team’s leading tacklers, coming in at 43 and 42 tackles through the first three games of the season.
The Dragons utilize a more balanced offense, attempting 97 passes compared to 85 runs through its first four games. Quarterback Jace Carver has thrown for two touchdowns and 336 yards to lead the Dragons on offense. Sophomore Omari Glover has caught both of those touchdowns and has 12 receptions for 225 yards thus far. Carver is the team’s leading rusher as well – 40 attempts for 196 yards and one score. Running back Deanglo Patterson is coming off his best game of the year against Warren East. The sophomore rushed 11 times for 53 yards and a score. Junior TySeam Day has been a force on the defensive side of the ball. The defensive back has logged 46 tackles on the season, including 16 against East last week.
Prediction
Warren Central 34, Hart County 33
October 16, 2015. The last time Warren Central won a football game. The streak has been talked about ad nauseam over the last few years. There is nothing more coach Cary Fowler and his crew would love to do than to end the 49-game losing streak nearly five years to the day. It would only be fitting that the Dragons defeat the Hart County Raiders to end the streak, having last beaten a team with the same nickname, the Warren East Raiders.
It all seems like the perfect night for Warren Central to get off the proverbial schneid. I look for Deanglo Patterson to have a big night on the ground, rushing for 100 yards and a touchdown. I expect Jace Carver to connect with Omari Glover for a score as well. I also predict that Dustin Butler and Julian Barbour will have solid games too, each scoring a touchdown and one of the two rushing for over 100 yards. However, with the Raiders driving late and needing only a field goal to win, I think TySeam Day will continue his outstanding season on defense and finish Hart County off with a game-saving, streak-breaking, win-inducing tackle to put the Dragons back on top. Therefore, the winner of the inaugural Normal Bowl – named after Warren Central principal and Hart County graduate Joey Norman – will be the home team as the Dragons move to 1-4.
Next Week
Hart County travels to Casey County for a 7:00pm kickoff on October 16
Warren Central hosts district rival Franklin-Simpson on October 16 at 7:00pm
