Jim Mashek

RAIDERS PLAY HOST TO WAYNE COUNTY ON THE BLUE TURF

It’s been a long time coming at Warren Central High School.

No, not the losing streak. The Dragons obliterated that obstacle, which had reached an excrutiating 61 games, on Opening Night, thumping Bullitt Central 13-0 in Shepherdsville.

Not a drought of district victories, either.

Warren Central, thinned by a handful of injuries and other setbacks, traveled to Allen County-Scottsville last week to open KHSAA Class 4A, 2nd District play against the Patriots in Scottsville. Star wide receiver/defensive back Omari Glover had three touchdown receptions and defensively, nine tackles — three for lost yardage — in the Dragons’ gritty 30-22 victory over AC-S.

No, on Friday night, second-year coach Mark Nelson’s Warren Central squad (2-2) plays host to another district rival, the Russell County Lakers (1-4) at Joe Hood Field. It will be the Dragons’ first home game since October 22, 2021, when Marshall County slipped out of town with a 27-26 victory over WCHS.

That’s the backdrop for Week Six of the KHSAA high school football season, along with unbeaten Warren East (5-0) playing host to Wayne County (3-1) on the blue turf of Jim Ross Field, and Butler County (4-0) coming back from its open date to tangle with another unbeaten squad, the McLean County Cougars (5-0).

That will be the opening game in KHSAA Class 2A, 2nd District play for both Butler County and McLean County.

Elsewhere in South Central Kentucky, the Greenwood Gators (4-1) are on the road for just the second time this season, a non-district matchup with Glasgow High School (4-1) at Hank Royse Field. Glasgow whipped the Gators 37-16 last year at The Swamp, so the Gators are looking to return the favor.

“We’d like to avenge that loss,” Greenwood receiver/cornerback Tel Tel Long said.

Bowling Green High School (4-1) is on the road to face Father Ryan Academy (2-3) in Nashville, while its archrival South Warren (2-2) is at home for a non-district game with Louisville’s Central High School. The Yellow Jackets (2-3) have won two of their last three games, including last week’s 14-7 victory over Fern Creek.

Don’t look now, but Bowling Green will play host to South Warren on September 30, in a matchup of the last two KHSAA Class 5A state champions. The Spartans completed a two-game sweep of BGHS last November, winning 28-3 in the second round of the playoffs at SWHS.

In other games involving South Central Kentucky teams, Logan County (4-1) opens district play against visiting Hopkinsville (2-3), while Allen County-Scottsville (1-4) looks to bounce back against archrival Franklin-Simpson (3-2). Winless Russellville (0-5), the KHSAA Class 1A runnerup last year, tangles with Class 6A Barren County (3-2) at historic Rhea Stadium.

Warren Central coach Mark Nelson said there’s been plenty of enthusiasm on the WCHS campus this week. The Dragons have only three home games this season, including tonight’s tilt with visiting Russell County.

“There’s been a lot of ‘firsts’ this season,” Nelson said. “We’re happy for the kids, that they get to play at home. We had five starters out last week at Allen County, but our kids were really focused in practice and came together as a group.

“Mentally, they were ready to play.”

Nelson is pleased with the progress of senior quarterback Kayumba Jean Aime, who is the team’s leading rusher (342 yards, four touchdowns) while completing 55 percent of his passes for 476 yards and four more touchdowns. Three of them, of course, went to fellow WCHS senior Omari Glover, perhaps the Dragons’ top college prospect.

Glover also is a star on the Warren Central boys basketball team, last season’s Sweet Sixteen runnerup.

“A.J. (Jean Aime) can throw really well on the run, and Omari works well downfield on those kinds of plays,” Nelson said. “These kids really don’t let little things bother them … No one has to tell them about how long it’s been since we’ve won a home game.

“After the Bullitt Central game, it probably took us a couple weeks to get things back to normal. That was a big weight lifted off our program. It’ll be good to be playing at home again.”

Warren East, one of the Dragons’ district rivals, has rolled through the first five weeks of the season. The Raiders (5-0) have yet to be challenged this season, winning 47-13 last week at Russell County. Sophomore quarterback Dane Parsley is off to a sensational start, having completed 61 percent of his passes for 865 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Parsley has been intercepted just once. He’s rushed for 453 yards and 10 touchdowns.

The Raiders will be playing host to Wayne County (3-1) at 7 p.m. Wayne County drubbed McCreary Central 47-16 last week.

Meanwhile, up the Natcher Expressway, the Butler County Bears will square off with another unbeaten team, the McLean County Cougars. Butler County quarterback Garrett Phelps, a sophomore, has passed sparingly, with the Bears’ 1-2 punch at running back, Brody Hunt (422 yards rushing, four touchdowns) and Colton Dunnells (404 yards, eight TDs) shouldering much of the load.

“This’ll be a battle of two very physical teams,” Butler County coach Brandon Embry said. “It’s a big game for both of us, as it’ll have a huge role in district seeding. The bye week did come at a good time for us.

“They do a very good job of running the Wing-T, and our defense will have to be on our game to slow their rushing attack down. The kids are mentally prepared, focused for the challenge.”

Metcalfe County (5-0), another unbeaten KHSAA Class 2A team, is on the road to play Edmonson County (1-4) on Friday night. Senior running back Michael Bennett leads the Hornets with 445 yards rushing and three touchdowns. Teammate Charles Branstetter has scored a team-high seven touchdowns.

Bowling Green’s defense should be bolstered by the return of senior linebacker Davis Fant, the Purples’ leading tackler who missed the second half of the Boyle County game. The Rebels handed BGHS its first loss of the season, winning 35-21 at El Donaldson Stadium, so the Purples will be looking to bounce back on the road against Father Ryan Academy.

Sophomore quarterback Deuce Bailey turned in a strong effort against Boyle County, completing 16 of 30 passes for 271 yards and two touchdowns.