Jim Mashek

PURPLES WILL PLAY HOST TO APOLLO IN FIRST ROUND OF KHSAA CLASS 5A PLAYOFFS IN NOVEMBER

Bowling Green High School chose Friday night’s KHSAA district game against Grayson County to honor the architect of the Purples’ path to prowess, former BGHS coach Kevin Wallace.

And then the Purples plowed through Grayson County with power and precision, claiming an impressive 54-7 victory on a brisk night at the BGHS Stadium.

For the second straight week, Bowling Green could coast to victory with a KHSAA-mandated running clock, giving some of its younger players a chance to compete while keeping a collective eye on the immediate future.

Bowling Green improved to 5-4 overall, while completing a four-game sweep through the KHSAA Class 5A’s 2nd District, while the Cougars dropped to 7-2 and 2-2 in district play.

District championships are noteworthy, to be sure, but the Purples have their eyes on bigger prizes come November. After next week’s regular-season finale against Franklin County, Bowling Green will play at home for the third consecutive week when the Purples tangle with Owensboro’s Apollo High School in first-round play of the KHSAA Class 5A playoffs.

“I’m really proud of this team,” BGHS ninth-year head coach Mark Spader said when it was over. “We had some things carry over from last week (in a 45-7 victory over Greenwood), and had a great week of practice.

“Maybe we’re onto something.”

Bowling Green’s defense kept Grayson County running back Kadin Hanshaw in check until the fourth quarter, when the 6-foot, 200-pound senior workhorse broke free against the Purples’ second- and third-team defenders for a 55-yard touchdown run.

Sophomore BGHS quarterback Anthony Davis and the Purples’ offense turned in an efficient performance for the second straight week. Bowling Green’s Nick Graham had two first-half touchdown runs, covering 3 and 6 yards, respectively, while Davis was proficient through the air, operating behind tight protection most of the night.

Davis used that time in the pocket to find BGHS teammate Xavier Rice for a 23-yard touchdown pass, with 3:46 left in the first quarter. In the second quarter, Anthony Davis got the ball to his elder brother, Arlando Davis, on a hitch pass to the right sideline, before Arlando Davis turned the play into a 22-yard scoring strike.

That made it 27-0, followed by a missed extra point, but the Purples were a long way from done in the first half.

Bowling Green’s pass rush forced a fumble by GCHS quarterback Trigg Payne before the Purples’ Embree Dotson scooped the ball off the turf and scored on a 4-yard return, and after a two-point conversion try failed, Bowling Green’s Kip Walden executed a deft onside kick, making the recovery himself in the middle of the field.

Just like he did in last week’s lopsided victory over Greenwood.

Anthony Davis broke off a 17-yard scramble before finding BGHS teammate Izek Reed for the Purples’ next score, a 7-yard TD pass to Izek Reed in the final minute of the first half. The PAT made it 40-0, and that meant running clock time for the Purples to complete the task at hand.

“Anthony is really careful with the ball, he’s a student of the game,” BGHS coach Mark Spader said. “He makes it go.”

Dotson said containing Grayson County’s workhorse running back, Kadin Hanshaw, was the Purples’ primary focus, and when forced to throw the ball, the Cougars struggled to get anything going.

“We knew (Hanshaw) was a really good running back. Stopping him was the main priority,” Dotson said.

Anthony Davis said the presence of BGHS running back Nick Graham opens the Purples’ playbook, and they used some razzle-dazzle, a double-reverse pass from Davis to tight end Reid Gaithright, for a 27-yard completion before Graham found the end zone from six yards out.

“Nick can really bail out the offense,” Davis said. “Our offensive line had another good game. I think we’ve made a lot of progress … it feels good when things are starting to click.”

Bowling Green’s defense made a big play in the game’s early moments, when the it was still a scoreless affair. The snap from center sailed well over the head of GCHS quarterback Trigg Payne, and the Purples’ Ayden Wickware made the recovery, giving the Bowling Green offense a short field for Graham’s first touchdown of the night.

“I’m really proud of how our defense is progressing,” Spader said.

In the second half, Bowling Green’s Chance Carrigan found the left sideline on a dive play that covered 49 yards, followed by Carrigan’s 13-yard touchdown run to make it 47-0. The Purples’ Casen Edison blocked a pass before tipping the ball to himself and scoring on a 50-yard return for Bowling Green’s final touchdown of the night.

Bowling Green will close regular-season play at home, against tradition-rich Franklin County (5-4 overall). The Flyers defeated BGHS, 28-18, last year in Frankfort.

“This is a big week for us as well,” Spader said. “We could help ourselves a little bit, RPI-wise. Franklin County is a 4A measuring stick — a quality opponent. It’s a chance for us to prepare for a really good team before we go into the playoffs.”

It was a special night for Spader, the Purples and longtime Bowling Green coach Kevin Wallace, who was honored at halftime with a placard to be placed on the wall of the team field house. Wallace guided the Purples to 254 victories and five KHSAA state championships before finishing his career at Louisville’s St. Xavier High School, where he won another state title in 2021.

“This is an award I get to share, with people who mean a lot to me,” Wallace said. “People like Mark (Spader) and (BGISD superintendent) Gary (Fields) and so many others … I’ve seen a lot of former (BGHS) players tonight, and the relationships, those are the things you really remember.”