Jim Mashek

PURPLES’ MARK SPADER, GATORS’ WILLIAM HOWARD EMPHASIZE THE ‘HERE AND NOW’

Greenwood High School’s football team is looking forward, as opposed to the rear-view mirror.

Likewise, the Gators’ crosstown rival, the Bowling Green Purples.

Bowling Green will play host to Greenwood in a showdown on Friday night that will determine the No. 1 seed for the KHSAA’s Class 5A, 2nd District.

Bowling Green has been plagued by a rash of injuries, from jump street, and the Purples have fought back behind the play of 6-foot-4 freshman quarterback Anthony Davis. The Gators, meanwhile, have put together an impressive three-game winning streak, including a hard-fought victory over new district rival Barren County on October 2.

Greenwood’s Davis Chaney finished with 99 yards rushing, scoring two touchdowns, in the Gators’ tense 21-17 victory over Barren County in Glasgow. Bowling Green, meanwhile, used a steady first half with Davis at the controls, cruising to a 47-0 victory over district rival Warren Central. The Purples’ lefty QB completed nine of 12 passes for 132 yards and a touchdown, all before halftime, as Bowling Green got back into the win column after taking Louiville’s Christian Academy — the defending KHSAA Class 3A state champions — to the wire before falling, 27-24, in Louisville.

“We’re excited it’s Game Week. I think it’s the first time we’ve been fully healthy all season,” BGHS senior offensive tackle Zach Jordan said.

Bowling Green lost its all-state wide receiver, 5-foot-9 senior Trevy Barber, on Opening NIght against Owensboro Catholic in the Rafferty’s Bowl. Barber was sidelined in the opening moments of the game, leaving the stadium with his arm in a sling, and he’s made it his mission to get back on the field for the stretch run of the KHSAA regular season.

“I’ve been waitin’, I’m ready to go,” Barber said at the BGHS Field House on Wednesday afternoon.

BGHS coach Mark Spader always has emphasized playing top-flight competition outside district play, but the Purples’ 2025 schedule was particularly ambitious. Bowling Green (2-5, 2-0 in the KHSAA’s Class 5A, 2nd District) is a two-time defending state champion, and the Gators (5-2, 2-0) are still looking for their first victory over the Purples in school history.

Spader and his Greenwood counterpart, William Howard, understand the elephant in the room is Bowling Green’s 36-0 record, all-time, against the Gators.

Greenwood opened its doors in 1990, and the Gators have enjoyed plenty of success against Bowling Green in other sports, in both boys and girls competition. Davis Chaney, Greenwood’s senior fullback, believes the Gators match up well with Bowling Green, in large part because the Gators are bigger and stronger up front than they’ve been in recent years.

“I think this is one of the very few years, where we know we can beat them,” Chaney said.

The game will feature contrasting styles, as Spader and his coaching staff like to spread the field and let freshman quarterback Anthony Davis operate behind an improving offensive line in the open field. Howard’s Greenwood program, meanwhile, is decidedly more ‘old school’ in its offensive approach, leaning on the defense and running game.

Spader, for one, is impressed.

“This game is a year-by-year thing,” Spader said. “Greenwood’s offensive line is really good. They’ve got kids who can play on the edge, defensively. Coach Howard does a great job with that program, every year, and they’ve got good players.

“You’re going to have to earn anything.”

Over on Scottsville Road, William Howard and the Gators’ coaching staff are taking a similar approach at The Swamp.

“”The only thing we’ve discussed, with the team, is that this game is for a district championship,” Howard said. “Being in a situation like this is kind of unique for us.

“It’s exciting, for the kids, to play in this kind of atmosphere.”

Greenwood will close regular-season play with a road trip to East Robinson High School, located in Cross Plains, Tennessee, before playing host to a rugged Union County squad, which takes a 4-3 overall record into the ninth week of the season.

The Gators use a lot of wing-T principles in their offensive sets, relying on the sturdy legs of GHS seniors Nathan Self (449 yards rushing, three touchdowns) and Davis Chaney (423 yards rushing, 12 TDs). Senior QB Levi Wyatt is also a threat with the ball in his hands, and the Gators have defensive standouts in Stuart Scott (a team-high 59 tackles, eight tackles for losses), Roy Bray and Cooper Hines.

Hines, a 210-pound senior linebacker, scored the first touchdown of his high school career in Greenwood’s 30-6 thumping of Warren Central, finding the end zone from 29 yards out on an interception return.

Bowling Green’s Mark Spader is intrigued by what Trevy Barber’s return to the lineup might mean for the Purples offense.

Last year, with former BGHS quarterback Deuce Bailey at the controls, Barber led the Purples with 79 receptions for 1,237 yards and TWENTY-TWO TOUCHDOWNS in 15 games. Barber also scored on the opening kickoff against crosstown rival South Warren in the KHSAA Class 5A semifinals, when the Purples held on for a 31-28 victory over the Spartans.

“Trevy has had four good practices. We’re happy for him, happy for us,” Spader said. “(Freshman quarterback) Anthony Davis improves a little bit, each week. He’s a humble, quiet, hard-working kid.”

Bowling Green’s Ethan Kirkwood, a veteran wide receiver, said the Purples are taking nothing for granted with Greenwood on the opposite sideline. Last year, Bailey completed 12 of 17 passes for 157 yards and three touchdowns in leading Bowling Green past the Gators, 42-14. Bailey made his first college start last week against Middle Tennessee State, guiding Conference USA newcomer Missouri State to a 22-20 victory over the Blue Raiders at MTSU’s Johnny Floyd Stadium.

“The big thing, with this game, is not to take any opponent lightly,” Kirkwood said. “They transition well on defense. I think we’re going to be locked in, for this game.”

Kickoff at the BGHS stadium is set for 7 p.m. Friday.