Dragons Denied At Goal Line

- Think this game was important? Warren Central opens the game with on onside kick which they recovered only to have their drive stall.

- After Christian County scored off a Dragon turnover to make the score 6-0, Cortez Barber took the ensuing kickoff to the house to make the score 7-6 in favor of the Dragons.

- In the 3rd quarter, Cortez Barber intercepts an Anthony Hickey pass and sets up the Dragons for a field goal, 10-6 Dragons.

- The Colonels convert on a 4th and 16 play that sets up a Marcoreyon Tandy touchdown scramble out of the wildcat formation. 13-10 Colonels.

- The Dragons add a field goal early in the 4th to tie the game at 13.

- Late in the 4th quarter, Warren Central's Eric Brown busts loose for a 25 yard touchdown run off the sweep. 20-13 Dragons.

- The Colonels face a long field with very little time left in the quarter, Anthony Hickey runs, passes, and scrambles the Colonels down to the red zone. The drive is capped off with an Anthony Hickey (who else) touchdown run and we are tied at 20.

- Overtime...Colonels get the ball first and score on an Anthony Hickey touchdown run, 27-20 Colonels.

- The Dragons answer on their possession as Michael Bush connects with Cortez Barber on a roll out for the touchdown reception. Instead of kicking the extra point, the Dragons go for the two point conversion and the victory. They run their familiar sweep play, the hand off to the motion back hoping for daylight around the corner but nothing is there except Colonel defenders to crush the hopes of the Warren Central Dragons. The final score is 27-26 (OT) in favor of the Christian County Colonels in a fantastic playoff game.

High School Playoff Picture

My apologies for not having posted in a couple of weeks, my job that actually pays my bills has been keeping me busy and I have not been able to get out to any games so far this playoff season. However, I plan on a reappearance this Friday and what a great time to gloss the sidelines again with these fantastic match ups in the south central Kentucky area:

3A: Paducah Tilghman at Russellville
Prediction: Two teams on a roll collide as the Panthers look to beat the defending 3A state champions, but I think the Blue Tornado win in a close one.

4A Lone Oak at Allen County-Scottsville
Prediction: Can the Patriot defense stop the Purple Flash offense? Lone Oak too much in this one.

5A Christian County at Warren Central
Prediction: A rematch of the Rafferty's Bowl game where the Colonels defeated the Dragons 15-8, that was then, this is now...Dragons pull this one out at home.

South Central High School Football Roundup 10/22

Warren Central 17, Bowling Green 14
You would think with the Purples having a 14 point lead fourth quarter lead you would chalk up a victory for BGHS right? Wrong! A ferocious comeback by the Dragons started late in the third quarter with an 73 yard touchdown drive. A botched snap and a fumble recovery by the Dragons set up an Eric Brown 15 yard touchdown run. The Dragons drive 64 yards on 11 plays to allow freshman kicker Adel Muskic to nail a 33 yard field goal as time expired for the win.

Russellville 22, Butler County 19
The Panthers solidified their dominance of District 2, Class 3A with a late 36 yard touchdown pass. Momentum shifted swiftly in this one with Russellville scoring 15 unanswered points to open the game, then the Bears caught fire and scored 19 in a row before the Panthers put in the dagger. Devonta Bryant lead the way for the Panthers with 113 yards rushing.

Franklin-Simpson 64, Logan County 12
The Wildcats continue to put together wins late in the season and have found some offensive firepower in their last five games. They finish 3-1 in District 2, Class 4A and will cap off the 2010 season with a trip to Glasgow.

Glasgow 50, Metcalfe County 6
The Scotties continue to roll with an easy victory and finish 3-0 in Distict 2, Class 2A. Franklin-Simpson comes to town next week, that should be a good game.

Allen County-Scottsville 50, Russell County 33
The Patriots win the District 2, Class 4A title and will finish their season with a trip to Monroe County, who has lost three straight after starting 6-0. I have a feeling the Patriots will cap off a perfect regular season.

5A, District 2 Champ...Who Wants It More?

The Friday night showdown of the night in the south central is clearly the Bowling Green and Warren Central match up for the District 2 title in class 5A. The Purples are looking for revenge after the Dragons scored an 18-10 upset in the rivalry last season. Braggin' rights are on the line, this is where the playa's play!

- Whoever wins obviously gets a district crown, but should get positioned nicely with some home field games in the playoffs. The loser will probably have to deal with those pesky Colonels of Christian County in the second round.

- I saw Central's Cortez Barber limp off the field last week against Grayson County. Will Barber be active for this game to add some flavor to the Dragons backfield punch? If Barber is not active, look for Eric Brown to step in and step up.

- Central and Bowling Green have similar offenses that focus on I formation running, trying to misdirect the defense, and throw in an occasional pass. The Dragons held down the Grayson County offense allowing just 162 total yards in last weeks 24-6 win. The Purples defense allowed 395 total yards to the Cougars earlier in the year in a 41-27 win. An interesting defensive comparison to make!

- Can the Dragons hold down Hunter Neveras, Scooter Hollis, and Bowling Green offense? Can the Purples stop the dynamic duo of Cortez Barber, Demonte Smith, and the Warren Central running attack?

- I am sensing a grind it out game where a critical mistake will make the difference: Bowling Green 20, Warren Central 14.

Warren Central 24, Grayson Co. 6 Highlights

The Dragons defense was in shut down mode on Friday night holding a Grayson County offense that was averaging 400 yards a game to just 188 yards on the night. Warren Central keyed in defensively on Cougars quarterback Hunter Gary, holding him to just 20 yards on the ground, 91 yards passing, and forcing him to throw three interceptions. Definitely a night to forget for the Cougar senior.

RECAP

- After the Cougars took a 6-3 halftime lead, they took the opening kickoff of the second half and drove the ball 68 yards to the Warren Central 27. Grayson County went for it on fourth down and failed after Hunter Gary was sacked. The momentum shifted from this point on and it was bad news for the Cougars.

- Warren Central took the ball and twelve plays later Eric Brown scored on a sweep from 10 yards out to give the Dragons a 10-6 lead.

- The Cougars went three and out on their next possession as the Dragons took over on their own 48 yard line. Cortez Barber broke a 43 yard run that set Warren Central up at the 2 yard line. Which lead to Demonte Smith crashing into the end zone. Dragons 17, Cougars 6.

- On Grayson County's next possession a Hunter Gary swing pass became a botched lateral and the Dragons' Marvin Miles recovered on the Cougars 22 yard line.

- Seven plays later Demonte Smith powered his way up the middle for a 4 yard touchdown run. Dragons 24, Cougars 6.

- With the win, the Dragons are guaranteed a home playoff game and will be playing for a district title as they collide with the Purples next Friday.

- Demonte Smith finished the game with 85 yards rushing and two touchdowns. The credit to this win has to go to the defense of the Dragons for holding the Cougar offense to just 6 points. If the Warren Central defense plays like this next week, Bowling Green better watch out.

High School Football Preview for 8/15

Monroe County at Glasgow
This 2A District 3 matchup will feature the areas best running back in the Scotties Tavion Parrish rushing for 815 and 17 touchdowns on the season. The Glasgow ground game will be countered by the Falcons running attack lead by Corey Shirley and Tanner Kendall who have both rushed for over 400 yards a piece so far this season.

What is impressive about the Monroe County's stats is that there are 5 players who have rushed for over 200 yards. The Falcons are looking to bounce back after a 49-35 loss to Franklin-Simpson and have had a week off to prepare for Glasgow. The Scotties are riding high on a four game winning streak coming off a 63-0 blowout of Webster County. It is senior night at Glasgow and the District title is on the line, a perfect combination for a great night of football.

Prediction: Monroe Co. 28, Glasgow 27

Grayson County at Warren Central
A huge 5A District 1 collision as the Cougars come into town lead by their leading rusher and passer in Hunter Gary. He has accounted for 725 yards in the air and 691 yards on the ground, those are some impressive stats. Their defense has only allowed 44 points on the season but their schedule this year is full of weak teams. Of those 44 allowed points, 41 came against Bowling Green where the Cougars eventually fell 41-27 but not without putting up a fight against the Purples.

Warren Central has seemed to have found their offensive stride in the last three games after struggling at the beginning of the season. Their offense runs through Demonte Smith and Cortez Barber who have combined for 1,195 yards and 15 touchdowns on the season. The Dragon defense has been solid all year as well against tougher opponents in Christian County and Nelson County. Demonte Smith and Jonathan Thompson lead the Warren Central defense and as they will have a tough task in trying to stop the Cougar offense.

Prediction: Warren Central 17, Grayson Co. 14