Fall is out, winter is on its way in, and Bowling Green High School’s football season has ended. The 2018 football season was a little different to previous years due to former head coach Kevin Wallace’s transfer to St. Xavier High School. Mark Spader replaced him, and the 2018 season was his first as coach, though he had previously been involved with the team. Under his leadership, the team earned a win-loss record of 9-3.
The team had a great start to their season, going undefeated for seven straight games until they played the number one ranked team in the Midwest, Warren Central, in Indiana and lost 62-14. After that loss, the Purples played against their biggest rivals, the South Warren Spartans. Evan Spader, a junior strong safety, said, ¨We prepared the same way for the game. It just had a lot more emotion tied to it.¨ The two teams lined up at South Warren High School in front of a packed student section on October 19th. Through difficult weather conditions, the Purples played an intense game but ultimately lost 12-38.
After the South Warren match, the team handily won two more games against Bullitt Central (52-0) and Christian County (29-7). The latter game doubled as the first of the championship Gridiron Bowl. However, the second game against Owensboro was also their last of the season. The final score of the game was 21-28, a close game but a loss for the Purples.
Despite this end-of-season loss, the team still had a respectable record for the season. The team scored 404 points this season, allowing 209 points against them; rushed 1747 yards and allowed 1398 yards against them; and had 2554 passing yards, allowing their opponents to gain 1613 passing yards.
Evan said, ¨I don't think that the team responded how we should have [to the South Warren loss] and that impacted the rest of our season.¨ Although he believes the season was a success over all, he feels the team can definitely come out with a state championship next year. Overall, the season might not have had the outcome Purples fans had hoped for, but it included many sizable victories, and the team came out with a strong record to match next season.
The team had a great start to their season, going undefeated for seven straight games until they played the number one ranked team in the Midwest, Warren Central, in Indiana and lost 62-14. After that loss, the Purples played against their biggest rivals, the South Warren Spartans. Evan Spader, a junior strong safety, said, ¨We prepared the same way for the game. It just had a lot more emotion tied to it.¨ The two teams lined up at South Warren High School in front of a packed student section on October 19th. Through difficult weather conditions, the Purples played an intense game but ultimately lost 12-38.
After the South Warren match, the team handily won two more games against Bullitt Central (52-0) and Christian County (29-7). The latter game doubled as the first of the championship Gridiron Bowl. However, the second game against Owensboro was also their last of the season. The final score of the game was 21-28, a close game but a loss for the Purples.
Despite this end-of-season loss, the team still had a respectable record for the season. The team scored 404 points this season, allowing 209 points against them; rushed 1747 yards and allowed 1398 yards against them; and had 2554 passing yards, allowing their opponents to gain 1613 passing yards.
Evan said, ¨I don't think that the team responded how we should have [to the South Warren loss] and that impacted the rest of our season.¨ Although he believes the season was a success over all, he feels the team can definitely come out with a state championship next year. Overall, the season might not have had the outcome Purples fans had hoped for, but it included many sizable victories, and the team came out with a strong record to match next season.
By Daniel Gazaryan