{"id":386,"date":"2021-10-15T05:07:55","date_gmt":"2021-10-15T05:07:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/?p=386"},"modified":"2021-10-15T13:15:19","modified_gmt":"2021-10-15T13:15:19","slug":"dervisevic-does-it-all-in-second-ranked-spartans-51-20-rout-of-christian-county","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/?p=386","title":{"rendered":"Eldar Dervisevic does it all in second-ranked Spartans&#8217; 51-20 drubbing of Christian County"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-1 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/IMG_20211014_201633231_HDR-1-1024x675.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"441\" data-link=\"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/?attachment_id=441#main\" class=\"wp-image-441\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption\"><strong>South Warren coach Brandon Smith addresses his team after the second-ranked Spartans&#8217; 51-20 victory over Christian County on Thursday night in Hopkinsville.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">VELTKAMP THROWS THREE TOUCHDOWN PASSES AS SOUTH WARREN IMPROVES TO 7-1 OVERALL<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">HOPKINSVILLE &#8212; South Warren&#8217;s Eldar Dervisevic grew up playing soccer, chasing the ball around the field and looking for a path toward the goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Little did Dervisevic know that his career in athletics would take a sharp turn in middle school, when future South Warren football teammates such as Mason Willingham, Preston Parks, Kobe Martin and Luke Burton convinced him that he might have a future in their game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Turns out, he does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-1 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"583\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/IMG_20211014_202556014_HDR-1-583x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"445\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/IMG_20211014_202556014_HDR-1.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/?attachment_id=445#main\" class=\"wp-image-445\" srcset=\"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/IMG_20211014_202556014_HDR-1-583x1024.jpg 583w, https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/IMG_20211014_202556014_HDR-1-171x300.jpg 171w, https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/IMG_20211014_202556014_HDR-1-768x1350.jpg 768w, https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/IMG_20211014_202556014_HDR-1-874x1536.jpg 874w, https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/IMG_20211014_202556014_HDR-1-1166x2048.jpg 1166w, https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/IMG_20211014_202556014_HDR-1.jpg 1186w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 583px) 100vw, 583px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption\"><strong>South Warren senior Eldar Dervisevic is one of the most versatile players in the Commonwealth, serving as the Spartans&#8217; punter, placekicker, wide receiver and kick returner. Dervisevic scored on two kickoff returns to spark South Warren to a 51-20 victory over Christian County on Thursday night.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dervisevic, a 6-foot, 175-pound senior, does a little bit of everything for the second-ranked Spartans. On Thursday night, Dervisevic returned two kickoffs for touchdowns and did his part in the passing game as South Warren rolled to a 51-20 victory over homestanding Christian County.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">South Warren improved to 7-1 overall and 2-0 in KHSAA Class 5A, 2nd District play. Dervisevic also serves as the Spartans&#8217; punter, placekicker and wide receiver, and he plans to walk on with Western Kentucky University&#8217;s football team as a kicking specialist after graduation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Unless his speed gives the Hilltoppers&#8217; coaching staff other ideas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Eldar is an extraordinary athlete, a great example for our younger players,&#8221; South Warren coach Brandon Smith said. &#8220;He didn&#8217;t start playing football until he was in eighth grade.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-1 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/IMG_20211014_193340693_HDR-1024x436.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"453\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/IMG_20211014_193340693_HDR.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/?attachment_id=453#main\" class=\"wp-image-453\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption\"><strong>South Warren controlled the line of scrimmage on both offense and defense in its 51-20 victory over Christian County on Thursday night. The Spartans will play host to Greenwood on October 22.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That&#8217;s when Willingham, Parks and Co. convinced Dervisevic that he could help the Spartans on the football field.  Dervisevic&#8217;s older brother, 23-year-old Fahrudin Dervisevic, plays soccer for the Bowling Green Football Club in the UPSL.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Mason Willingham and I had PE together, and we started throwing the football around,&#8221; Dervisevic recalled. &#8220;Preston Parks, Kobe Martin,  some of the other guys convinced me I might like playing football &#8230; I did. Tonight, I really just wanted to take advantage of my opportunities, do anything I could to help our team win.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dervisevic had two kickoff returns for touchdowns in the first half, both of them covering more than 90 yards. He also scored on a two-point conversion on a trick play, when the Spartans lined up in PAT formation before Dervisevic took a pitch and scored on a sweep to the end zone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Spartans had little trouble establishing their dominance in the first half against Christian County, but they did have several holding calls on the offensive line, much to Brandon Smith&#8217;s chagrin when it was over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Honestly, I thought we kind of followed last week&#8217;s game (a 41-0 victory over McCracken County), where we made way too many mistakes,&#8221; Smith said. &#8220;The focus, and the execution, really wasn&#8217;t there. I&#8217;m not sure what the issue is, but I&#8217;ve got to figure it out.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-1 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-4 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/IMG_20211014_194617962_HDR-2-848x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"450\" data-link=\"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/?attachment_id=450#main\" class=\"wp-image-450\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption\"><strong>South Warren wide receiver Keegan Milby had two touchdown receptions, including this one that covered 48 yards in the third quarter, in the Spartans&#8217; 51-20 victory over Christian County on Thursday night.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Smith, the former WKU quarterback, is a perfectionist. His senior quarterback, Caden Veltkamp, is also headed to Western on a full scholarship. Veltkamp hit South teammate Tyler Snell for a 20-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter, and he later found Spartans junior Keegan Milby for a 25-yard touchdown strike in the second quarter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the third quarter, Milby came up with a juggling 48-yard touchdown reception for the Spartans&#8217; final touchdown of the night. Milby said it was the first time he has scored two touchdowns in a single game at South Warren.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;We really have a lot to work on, we can&#8217;t take anything for granted,&#8221; Milby said. &#8220;I think we&#8217;ve got to start faster in the first half.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-1 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-5 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/IMG_20211014_201733831-944x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"446\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/IMG_20211014_201733831-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/?attachment_id=446#main\" class=\"wp-image-446\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption\"><strong>South Warren quarterback Caden Veltkamp yielded to his freshman backup, Bryce Button, in the third quarter of the Spartans&#8217; 51-20 victory over Christian County on Thursday night.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Veltkamp made a similar observation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;It was nice to put 51 points on the board,&#8221; he said, &#8220;but we really have a lot to clean up in practice.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Preston Parks, the Spartans&#8217; veteran offensive tackle, admits the team has had trouble matching the intensity that carried South Warren to an impressive 36-7 victory over Bowling Green High School on October 1. BGHS has knocked South Warren out of the KHSAA Class 5A playoffs in each of the last two seasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;We played our hearts out in that game, we did,&#8221; Parks said. &#8220;We&#8217;ve talked about it, as a team, as a senior class. This is our chance to leave a legacy, for the younger guys. That&#8217;s something we take to heart.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-1 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-6 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/IMG_20211014_203057465-843x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"454\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/IMG_20211014_203057465.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/?attachment_id=454#main\" class=\"wp-image-454\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption\"><strong>South Warren offensive tackle Preston Parks and the rest of the Spartans provided consistent protection for quarterback Caden Veltkamp in Thursday night&#8217;s 51-20 victory over Christian County.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Parks and most of the Spartans interviewed after the game said they plan to catch Bowling Green&#8217;s game with crosstown rival Greenwood on Friday night. Greenwood has never defeated the Purples in football, with a lifetime record of 0-31. The Gators (6-1, 1-0 in district play) get a chance to end that streak at home against the Purples, who have lost three straight since their 38-7 victory over Hopkinsville on September 10.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bowling Green is 3-4 overall and 0-1 in district play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;I&#8217;ll be there. Definitely,&#8221; Parks said with a smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">South Warren plays host to Greenwood on October 22 before traveling to play Class 4A power Logan County (6-2 overall)  in its regular-season finale on October 29.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-1 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-7 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/IMG_20211014_195538980-1-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"447\" data-link=\"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/?attachment_id=447#main\" class=\"wp-image-447\" \/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Sou<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption\"><strong>South Warren offensive linemen review some formations in the early moments of the second half against Christian County. South Warren won its sixth straight game, rolling past the Colonels 51-20 on Thursday night.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-0 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-8 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-0 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-9 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-1 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-10 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/IMG_20211014_191035186_HDR-1-1024x370.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"452\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/IMG_20211014_191035186_HDR-1.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/?attachment_id=452#main\" class=\"wp-image-452\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption\"><strong>South Warren coach Brandon Smith emptied his bench in the fourth quarter of Thursday night&#8217;s 51-20 victory over the Christian County Colonels. South Warren improved to 7-1 with the win.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>VELTKAMP THROWS THREE TOUCHDOWN PASSES AS SOUTH WARREN IMPROVES TO 7-1 OVERALL HOPKINSVILLE &#8212; South Warren&#8217;s Eldar Dervisevic grew up [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-386","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-hsfootball"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/386","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=386"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/386\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":459,"href":"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/386\/revisions\/459"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=386"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=386"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=386"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}