WILL FACE CROSSTOWN RIVAL
WARREN CENTRAL ON FRIDAY NIGHT.
LOGAN COUNTY PUTS 5-0 RECORD ON THE LINE AGAINST CALLOWAY COUNTY; WARREN EAST’s TANNER HALL SUBMITS HIS RESIGNATION
Warren Central High School’s football team has navigated some choppy waters over the last decade or so, but the Dragons have put together a three-game winning streak on their way to KHSAA Class 5A, 2nd District play.
Warren Central (3-2 overall) plays host to crosstown rival Greenwood High School (3-2 overall) in a critical district game on Friday night at Joe Hood Field. The Dragons have become a prolific passing team under second-year head coach Jeremy Harness, and they certainly have the attention of William Howard, Greenwood’s veteran coach.
The Gators opened their 2nd District schedule last week with an impressive 42-19 victory over Grayson County, using a balanced offense and steady defensive play to break a two-game losing streak at The Swamp. Senior linebacker Stuart Scott anchors a stout Greenwood defense, leading the team with 59 tackles, including eight tackles for losses.
The Gators will be tested by Tavy Dunn, Warren Central’s junior quarterback who has passed for 1,114 yards and 12 touchdowns in the Dragons’ first five games.
HAVE WON THREE STRAIGHT GAMES.
CONFERS WITH HIS SON, GRIFFIN,
DURING WEDNESDAY’s PRACTICE.
DISTRICT PLAY WITH GREENWOOD.
IS TOUGH IN THE TRENCHES.
“They’re a vastly improved team, a little short on the numbers,” Howard said. “We’ve been more efficient on offense. They like to throw the ball downfield, and they’ve get some kids who can go get it.
“Our younger guys are playing better. We’re looking forward to playing them.”
Dunn, a sturdy 6-foot-1, 180-pound junior, has guided the Dragons to consecutive victories over Allen County-Scottsville, Warren East and Ohio County. Warren Central snapped a nine-game losing streak with its 34-13 victory over Allen County-Scottsville on September 6, and the Dragons have come a long way since putting a 61-game losing streak in the rear-view mirror under former WCHS coach Mark Nelson on Opening Night, 2022.
Warren Central coach Jeremy Harness doesn’t have enough players to field a junior-varsity squad, but he’s pleased with how his team, about 45 players strong, has adapted to adversity at the halfway point of the regular season.
“The guys are buying in, that’s the biggest thing for us,” Harness said. “They’re competing, they’re working hard. They’ve done a good job of getting prepared (for a game).
“If you can do that, the Friday nights will take care of themselves.”
IS ON THE ROAD FRIDAY
AGAINST PULASKI COUNTY.
OF THE GAME AT GREENWOOD.
BARREN COUNTY, 42-7, LAST WEEK.
AND THE PURPLES FACE LCA ON FRIDAY.
South Warren (5-0 overall), which is ranked in the Top Five in virtually all statewide polls this week, hits the road on Friday for a non-district game against Pulaski County (4-1) in Somerset. The Maroons opened the season with victories over two tradition-rich teams, Henderson County and Bryan Station, while South Warren has defeated all five of its opponents by double digits.
There’s one other unbeaten team in South Central Kentucky, and Logan County (5-0, 1-0 in district play) will be at home on Friday night for a critical district game against Calloway County (4-1, 1-0). The KHSAA’s Class 4A, 1st District is absolutely loaded, starting with defending 4A state champion Paducah Tilghman, along with Calloway County, Logan County and a hard-nosed Franklin-Simpson squad. Tilghman (4-1 overall, 1-0 in district play) knocked off Franklin-Simpson, 35-14, last week in Paducah.
AT KROGER FIELD IN LEXINGTON.
AS THE HEAD COACH AT WARREN EAST.
There was a development this week at another Class 4A, 1st District school as Warren East’s third-year head coach, Tanner Hall, submitted his resignation, effective immediately, after serving a suspension following an internal investigation at the Louisville Road school. Hall remains on the Warren East faculty.
Warren East (1-4 overall, 0-1 in district play) plays host to traditional rival Franklin-Simpson (3-2 overall, 0-1 in district play) on the blue turf, while defending KHSAA Class 5A state champion Bowling Green High School makes a two-hour road trip to tangle with Louisville’s Christian Academy. LCA (5-0 overall) is the KHSAA’s defending Class 3A state champion, and the Centurions have dominated four opponents this season, in addition to a 34-27 victory over Ryle High School.
Bowling Green (1-4 overall, 1-0 in KHSAA Class 5A, 2nd District play) will return to its home field next week for a rare Thursday night game against Warren Central, before most teams in South Central Kentucky take an open date during fall break. South Warren will play host to winless Meade County in another Thursday night game next week.
Warren Central coach Jeremy Harness is impressed with what he’s seen from Greenwood, which features a 1-2 punch at running back in seniors Nathan Self (341 yards rushing, three touchdowns) and Davis Chaney (252 yards rushing, eight TDs). The Gators have often gone to the Wildcat formation in short-yardage and goal-line situations, but Greenwood coach William Howard is impressed with the steady improvement of senior quarterback Levi Wyatt.
“They’re pretty dominant on the offensive line,” Harness said. “We have to be able to match their physicality, their intensity … There’s not much magic to the madness.”
IT DOWNFIELD,’ ACCORDING
TO GREENWOOD’s WILLIAM HOWARD.
TO COP A ‘TUDE …