INTO THURSDAY NIGHT’s GAME IN HOPKINSVILLE.
BGHS HAS WON FIVE STRAIGHT SINCE OPENING NIGHT DEFEAT TO FREDERICK DOUGLASS
They’ve come back strong, with a purpose.
They’ve won tight games, or at least tight until the fourth quarter, and they’ve won back-to-back blowouts.
Bowling Green High School’s football team, the defending KHSAA Class 5A state champion, has shown a steady resolve since its opening night loss, a 35-13 defeat at the hands of Lexington’s Frederick Douglass High School at WKU’s Houchens-Smith Stadium.
The Purples will take a 5-1 overall record into Thursday night’s road game against Christian County (0-6), their final game before the annual showdown with archrival South Warren High School (also 5-1) on October 18 at BGHS.
They’ll have an open date next week to gets rested” stretch run of the regular season.
“Our practices, for the last few weeks, have been good for the most part,” seventh-year BGHS head coach Mark Spader said. “We had a lull on Tuesday (this week) but came back with a good one today.”
ITS LAST THREE OPPONENTS
BY A COMBINED 116-16.
ACCORDING TO BGHS COACH MARK SPADER.
Thursday night’s game will be a homecoming for Spader, who played football at Hopkinsville High School, which played in Koffman Stadium in downtown Hopkinsville in those days. He’s coached several times at the massive Stadium of Champions, where Christian County has lost its last two games, to Murray High School (54-36) and Caldwell County (37-6).
“It’s always good to see a few familiar faces from my youth,” Spader said.
Senior BGHS quarterback Deuce Bailey, a verbal commit to Missouri State, has been on top of his game in his fourth and final season as the Purples’ starter. Bailey has completed 87 of 134 passes (65 percent) for 1,451 yards and 21 touchdowns. He’s been intercepted just twice.
Junior wideout Trevy Barber again has been the Purples’ big-play receiver, with 29 receptions for 535 yards and seven touchdowns. On the ground, Bowling Green’s Nick Graham leads the team with 196 yards rushing and two touchdowns.
Bowling Green defeated Christian County, 55-0, last year at BGHS.
WORK ON STAYING LOW IN THE CHUTES …
THE TONE AGAINST CHRISTIAN COUNTY.
Junior linebacker Montrez Trussell has been the Purples’ leading tackler this season. He’s recorded a team-high 44 tackles, including 12 for losses and 6.5 sacks. Bowling Green has had to fight through a couple injuries on defense, but Spader is optimistic the Purples will hit their stride for the stretch run of the regular season.
“Our team will continue to be a work in progress, until our last game,” Spader said. “Our seniors will dictate how far down the road that happens.”
Kickoff for Thursday night’s game is at 7 p.m.
HIS TEAM AFTER WEDNESDAY’s PRACTICE.
TIMED IN THE 60-YARD DASH ON WEDNESDAY.
HIS FOURTH SEASON AS THE PURPLES’ STARTER.