Jim Mashek

SPARTANS AWAIT NEW-LOOK CHRISTIAN COUNTY NEXT WEEK; PURPLES HIT THE ROAD TO SQUARE OFF WITH BARREN COUNTY

Bowling Green High School’s football team stayed within striking distance in the first half of its annual grudge match with South Warren on a rainy Friday night at the BGHS Stadium.

Then South Warren quarterback Camden Page got the ball to junior running back Jamir Boards, on a screen pass in the opening moments of the second half.

And Boards was off to the races.

Boards scored on a 68-yard touchdown reception, four plays into a dominant second half, as South Warren — ranked No. 15, statewide, by On3 and Kentucky Sports Radio — stormed to an impressive 49-17 victory over the Purples.

Bowling Green, ranked No. 22 by On3 and KSR, led for the entire first quarter and seemed poised to strike for the upset for much of the first half. But the Spartans turned it on when it counted, earning their third victory of the season against a single defeat. Bowling Green dropped to 1-3 overall, heading into next week’s KHSAA Class 5A, 2nd District opener against Barren County in Glasgow.

The Spartans, meanwhile, will play host to the revamped Christian County squad, which was formed over the summer months with the merger of Christian County and Hopkinsville High School. South Warren eliminated both of those schools, Christian County by forfeit, in postseason play last year, on its way to a KHSAA Class 6A runner-up finish.

“We just want to keep it rolling,” Page said.

The fierce BGHS-South rivalry has a different feel, now that the Spartans have moved on to Class 6A, but it’s a good measuring stick for both squads, where the pursuit of excellence is part of the team culture.

“We can’t feel sorry for ourselves,” BGHS coach Mark Spader said when it was over. “We’ve got to come in, watch film in the morning, live and learn … “

BGHS senior running back Nick Graham found a huge hole on the game’s first play from scrimmage, finding the left sideline before scoring on a 70-yard run. South Warren was equally proficient in its opening drive, and senior wideout Tucker Sears made it happen on a fourth-and-1 play, taking the handoff from teammate Camden Page before scoring on an inside reverse that covered 47 yards with 8:40 left in the first quarter.

The PAT attempt failed, however, and the Spartans still trailed 7-6.

Moments later, Bowling Green quarterback Anthony Davis lofted a 42-yard touchdown pass to his brother, senior BGHS wideout Arlando Davis. But that would be the Purples’ final touchdown of the night. Freshman placekicker Kip Walden connected on a 34-yard field goal in the final three minutes of the first half, but his kick from 44 yards out in the third quarter sailed wide left.

Jamir Boards and the South Warren offensive line — tackles Mason Demerly and Caleb Wilson, guards Kyson Todd and Spencer Rather and center Xavier Wilson — simply couldn’t be stopped.

“It’s a rivalry game, but we tried to take the emotion out of it,” Demerly said.

South Warren coach Brandon Smith was pleased with the Spartans’ offensive efficiency, and his defense made plenty of plays, too.

“The first quarter of this game, there’s a lot of emotion,” Smith said. “We were able to settle in, and (the running game) was good for us … We’ve lost a lot of receivers (to injury), so we have to be able to run the ball.”

South’s Camden Page got the ball to Boards on a swing pass midway through the second quarter, and the 200-pound junior running back got a downfield block before crossing the field and scoring on an 89-yard touchdown pass. Junior SWHS placekicker Kale Phelps added the extra point, and the Spartans led 27-17.

Bowling Green’s Ayden Wickware and South Warren’s Dylan Fair had interceptions for their respective teams, in the final minute of the first half, but Boards’ second TD reception of the night — the aforementioned 68-yard score — put the Spartans on the road to victory.

“We knew we had to make some big plays,” Page said. “Jamir (Boards) looks big and stocky out there, but he’s got really quick feet. He had a big night.”

Page found South Warren teammate Tucker Sears on a fade route in the final three minutes of the third quarter, connecting on a 37-yard touchdown pass. Page added a 2-point conversion run, and South’s Colton Lyons scored the game’s final touchdown on a 4-yard run with 9:33 left in the game.