SOUTH WARREN’s BUTTON, BGHS’ BAILEY ARE CATALYSTS IN THE PASSING GAME
They’ve faced one another twice, once in regular-season play and then again in the KHSAA Class 5A playoffs, in every season since 2019.
They’ve both had sweeps of those two games, Bowling Green High School and its archrival on Nashville Road, South Warren High School, and there have been splits, too.
They’ve both won state championships, and last year, the Purples knocked off South Warren in the second round of the KHSAA 5A playoffs before finishing as the state runner-up to Lexington’s Frederick Douglass High School.
And they’re both intent on putting their best foot forward, in a high-profile rivalry that helps define both teams’ seasons. South Warren (6-1, 1-0 in KHSAA Class 5A, 2nd District play) plays host to the Purples (5-2, 1-0) in what promises to be another memorable contest on Friday night.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
ITS LAST FOUR OPPONENTS.
44 POINTS PER GAME.
WILL BE TESTED ON FRIDAY.
“If you beat (South Warren), there’s a good chance you could get them at home (in the postseason),” BGHS coach Mark Spader said. “And what does that mean? We’ve both won at each other’s place … We’ve been game planning for them for a while …”
The Purples had an open date last week, and they’ve had lopsided victories in their last four games, after a hard-fought, 38-35 defeat to Lexington’s Bryan Station High School on September 2. Junior BGHS quarterback Deuce Bailey has passed for 1,893 yards and 23 touchdowns, with just three interceptions.
South Warren, meanwhile, is averaging 44 points per game and stubbed its toe just once, a 38-35 setback at Louisville’s Manual High School on September 15. Bryce Button, the Spartans’ junior quarterback, has passed for 2,115 yards and 26 touchdowns. He’s been intercepted only five times.
“I still think it’s the best rivalry in the state,” South coach Brandon Smith said. “You don’t have to worry about the motivation aspect of it.”
HAS PASSED FOR 2,115 YARDS
AND 26 TOUCHDOWNS IN SEVEN GAMES.
IS DANGEROUS WHEN HE BREAKS THE POCKET.
FROM LEFT, LAYTON HUMES, LANDON BURKS, BUTTON,
JACK NEEPER, CAMERON BELL AND ETHAN PATTERSON.
The Spartans have had a laser-like focus since last year’s 34-0 loss to Bowling Green in second-round play of the KHSAA 5A playoffs last season. They stumbled to a 6-6 finish — all but unheard of, on South’s campus — before re-establishing themselves as a contender over the first eight weeks of the 2023 season.
“We keep it in the back of our minds,” Button said. “But we try to stay in the moment. It keeps us hungry … There’s a good chemistry with this team.”
Spader is more than impressed with South’s explosive passing game, but he believes the Spartans’ success starts in the trenches, much like it does with his team.
“They beat people with their big guys up front,” Spader said. “It’s what you expect from a South Warren football team. Tough, hard-nosed.”
IS IN HIS THIRD SEASON AS THE PURPLES’ STARTER.
THE BALL TO TEAMMATE JIMMY SALES.
BY SAFETY WICK DOTSON (LEFT) AND QB DEUCE BAILEY.
South’s Brandon Smith is equally effusive about the Purples’ explosive offense. Bailey and Button are both being heavily recruited by Division I FBS programs, and Bailey, a dual-threat quarterback, is particularly effective in a moving pocket. Both quarterbacks are adept at running the ball, but they’ll do the vast majority of their damage with their right arms.
“Their offense is outstanding,” Smith said. “They’ve got a nice group of running backs. (Bailey) can really create, he can improvise. He’s an outstanding football player.”
Both squads have proven defensive players, too.
Junior BGHS defensive back Grayson Newman leads the Purples with three interceptions, and teammates Brandon Gurley and Jordan Green have combined for 13 tackles for losses. South’s Ethan Reynolds, a junior inside linebacker, leads the Spartans with 49 tackles, including 10 for losses. Three other Spartans defenders — Colton Veltkamp, Jace Cutrona and Parker Smith — all have at least nine tackles for losses. Senior corner DeShawn Bridges has two of South’s six interceptions.
Layton Humes, South’s senior offensive lineman, puts it this way:
“It’s a different game.”
Bowling Green’s DeMarcus Elliott, who gets some snaps on defense in addition to his starting role on the offensive line, believes the Purples may have an edge in their non-district competition.
“It’ll be a good game, but we’ve played some of the top teams in the state,” Elliott said.
Be that as it may, South Warren has the highest KHSAA Class 5A Ratings Percentage Index, which will be used more extensively this season in determining postseason matchups.
Mark Spader and Brandon Smith are a lot more interested in the here and now, of course. Senior BGHS running back Javen Huddleston has been limited by injuries this season, but sophomores Jaxen Smith (294 yards rushing, seven touchdowns) and Montravion Graham (178 yards, four TDs) have admirably filled in, and flashy sophomore receiver Trevy Barber has a team-high 33 receptions for 578 yards and 10 touchdowns.
South’s Bailey Shoemaker leads his team with 37 receptions for 765 yards and nine touchdowns, but Veltkamp, Reynolds and Isaiah Rigsby have all emerged as consistent threats in the passing game. Senior receiver/cornerback DeShawn Bridges is a key contributor, on both offense and defense, for the Spartans, and Bryce Button has taken his game to another level in his second season as South’s starter.
There’s plenty of optimism in both camps.
“Last year, we had an issue with starting slow,” South offensive tackle Jack Neeper said. “I’d say we need to come out swinging, in a game like this.”
BGHS quarterback Deuce Bailey believes his team’s defensive improvement will serve the Purples well in the stretch run to the playoffs.
“Our defense has come a long way,” Bailey said. “We’ve got to be disciplined, and offensively, we’ve got to put up some points.”
Or, as BGHS coach Mark Spader puts it, “Everybody knows what’s at hand.”
IN VIRTUALLY ALL STATEWIDE POLLS.
ADDRESSES HIS TEAM AFTER TUESDAY’s PRACTICE.
10th SEASON AS SOUTH WARREN’s HEAD COACH.
IT’s THE BEST RIVALRY IN THE STATE.”
