PAINT THE TOWN PURPLE/Bowling Green rolls past Barren County, 42-7, for first victory of the season

PURPLES SENIOR TRAY GRAHAM FUELS BOWLING GREEN’s ROUT OF TROJANS

There was no shortage of smiles on the Bowling Green High School sideline in the final few minutes of the Purples’ KHSAA district opener against visiting Barren County on Friday night.

Veteran BGHS coach Mark Spader noticed.

And his players could embrace a signficant breakthrough, after Bowling Green rolled the Trojans, 42-7, for its first victory in five games this season. The Purples improved to 1-4 overall and 1-0 in KHSAA Class 5A, 2nd District play. Barren County fell to 2-3 and 0-1, respectively.

“As sloppy as it was, at the end, it was a good feeling to win a game,” Spader said. “It’s such a grind, when you’ve gone for awhile, without winning … We’re taking baby steps.”

The Purples had not won a football game since December 7, 2024, when former BGHS quarterback Deuce Bailey guided Bowling Green to an impressive 37-20 victory over Cooper High School at the University of Kentucky’s Kroger Field in Lexington. That capped back-to-back state championships for Spader and the Purples, as well as the ninth state title in school history.

The Purples established the upper hand in the early going before BGHS freshman quarterback Anthony Davis found his passing touch in the second quarter. Davis threw three touchdown passes, covering 21, 62 and 41 yards, respectively, in sending the Purples to a 28-0 halftime lead.

Bowling Green forced a KHSAA mandated running clock in the third quarter, when the 6-foot-4 Davis lofted a deep ball for BGHS teammate Ethan Kirkwood, who caught the pass in stride for a 41-yard touchdown strike on the right sideline.

The Trojans got in the end zone with 1:55 left in the game, on 220-pound bruiser Daylon Thomas’ 5-yard scoring run, but the BGHS backups accounted for the final margin, with freshman Zyrek Burton finding the end zone from 12 yards out with 63 seconds left on the clock.

The Purples were having fun playing football again.

“It gives us some confidence back,” junior BGHS defensive back Embree Dotson said when it was over. “We’re still growing up.”

Dotson is a vital cog in the Purples’ defense, and he made one play after another in the Trojans’ backfield. Dotson, the younger brother of former BGHS star Wick Dotson, said the Purples’ experience playing against Scott County’s wing-T offense helped his team prepare for a similar Barren County approach.

Senior BGHS linebacker Montez Trussell, the Purples’ leading tackler, was quick to throw bouquets in Dotson’s direction.

“Embree’s a tremendous asset for our defense,” Trussell said. “We’ve just got to keep moving forward.”

That was a big part of BGHS coach Mark Spader’s message after the game. The Purples will hit the road next week to tangle with a talented Louisville Christian Academy squad. The unbeaten Centurions have had just one close game this season, a 34-27 victory over Ryle High School, while outscoring their other four opponents to the tune of 182-20.

That’s domination.

Senior running back Tray Graham put on a show for the Purples. The 5-foot-11, 170-pound Graham opened the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run with 5:17 left in the first quarter, and Graham burned the Trojans on the second play of the second quarter, catching Anthony Davis’ pass on the left sideline before weaving through the Barren County defense on his way to a 21-yard TD reception.

Backup BGHS placekicker Kale Phelps delivered the first of six extra points and the Purples were poised to motor into the Victory Lane.

It’s been a long time coming, as several of the Purples’ players admitted afterward.

“It’s a good sign, definitely, but we’re never satisfied,” Graham said. “We’re always hungry. We’re still 1-4. It’s good to get this one out of the way, but we’ve got some tough opponents coming up. We’ve got to keep working.”

The Purples’ Jaxen Smith beat the Trojans secondary to haul in Davis’ deep ball for a 62-yard touchdown pass with 8:51 left in the half. And BGHS teammate Ethan Kirkwood did the same, on the right sideline, to catch Davis’ deft pass for a 41-yard scoring strike. That made it 28-0 at the break.

Bowling Green’s offensive line, anchored by senior tackles Zach Jordan and Chris Cohron, used unusually large splits to force the Trojans to adapt, defensively, and that seemed to give BGHS freshman QB Anthony Davis the flexibility he needed to thrive.

And boy, did he ever.

“Anthony works hard, he’s coachable,” BGHS coach Mark Spader said. “I love how he handles himself. When he settles in, he’s going to be really good.”

Trevy Barber, the Purples’ all-state senior wideout, missed his fourth consecutive game with an elbow injury. Barber hopes to be back on the field for mid-October, after Bowling Green’s open date for fall break, as well as the postseason.

Because that’s where the Purples have really made their mark, under Spader’s tenure, with three KHSAA state championships and a runner-up finish over the last five years. Louisville Christian Academy, the defending KHSAA Class 3A state champion, has won 12 straight, dating back to the 2024 season.

“We know we’ve put in the work,” BGHS star linebacker Montrez Trussell said. “We’ll be ready to get back on the practice field Monday.”

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