A look at this weekend’s area prep football games

Published 11:48 am Friday, November 1, 2013

SOUTH WARREN (8-1) AT RUSSELLVILLE (8-1)

7:30 p.m., Rhea Stadium

Email newsletter signup

•Last year: South Warren won 20-0.

•Radio: WBGN 1340-AM; WRUS 610-AM 

•Notes: These one-loss teams each get a major test in the final week before the postseason begins. South Warren’s heralded defense, which has given up 19 total points this year, goes up against the Panthers’ stable of explosive rushers. Until the beginning of October, it looked like the teams could both be undefeated in this meeting, but South Warren dropped a game at Daviess County, and Russellville couldn’t hold on last week against district rival Mayfield. RHS is averaging 44.8 points and 354.8 yards per game. Demarcus Hampton leads the way with 824 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, while quarterback Barrett Crostlin has rushed for nine scores. South Warren leads the state in scoring defense (2.1 points per game allowed) and rushing defense (4 yards per game), and is second in passing defense with 39 yards per game surrendered. South Warren had a bye last week after walloping Monroe County 53-8 on Oct. 18 to win the program’s first district title.

BLACKMAN (TENN.) (8-1) AT BOWLING GREEN (8-0)

7 p.m., El Donaldson Stadium

•Last year: Did not play

•Radio: PurplesNation.com (online)

•Notes: The Purples will face one of their biggest challenges during their 38-game win streak from Blackman, which was undefeated until last week’s 9-3 loss to nationally ranked Oakland (Tenn.). The Blaze are led by junior quarterback/safety Jauan Jennings, one of the nation’s top 2015 recruits and a four-star prospect, according to Rivals.com. BG coach Kevin Wallace told the Daily News Journal in Murfreesboro, Tenn., that the Purples haven’t faced a team like Blackman since Louisville Trinity in 2010. Bowling Green blanked district foe Greenwood 42-0 last week.

CENTRAL HARDIN (8-1) AT GREENWOOD (3-6)

7 p.m., Gator Stadium

•Last year: Greenwood won 35-34.

•Radio: WKCT 930-AM

•Notes: The Gators will have their hands full at home in the regular-season finale. Central Hardin won its first seven games of the year before falling at Meade County. The Bruins bounced back with a 47-0 win over Muhlenberg County last week. Xavier Arnette leads CHHS with 662 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns on 110 carries. Quarterback Koree Krupinski has passed for 1,358 yards and 13 TDs, and he’s also rushed for 514 yards and six scores. Greenwood is averaging 13.9 points per game.

LOGAN COUNTY (0-9) AT WARREN EAST (5-4)

7 p.m., Jim Ross Field

•Last year: Did not play

•Radio: GoRaiderNation.com (online); WRUS 610-AM (tape delay)

•Notes: The Raiders are likely to head into the playoffs with two dominant wins as they wrap regular-season play against winless Logan County. East beat Breckinridge County 63-7 last week to lock up the No. 2 seed in its district. Antonio Shields rushed for 214 yards and three TDs in that victory. LCHS, which will miss the playoffs, has been outscored 539-65 this year. After scoring seven total points in the first five weeks, the Cougars have scored at least 10 points in each of their last four games.

WARREN CENTRAL (5-4) AT HIGHLANDS (8-1)

6:30 p.m. CDT, David Cecil Memorial Stadium

•Last year: Did not play

•Radio: None

•Notes: The Dragons make the long trip north to Fort Thomas to face perennial Class 4A power Highlands. The Bluebirds have won 25 state titles, including six straight. Quarterback Drew Houliston has thrown for 2,702 yards and 35 touchdowns with two interceptions. Running back Zach Harris has 570 rushing yards and 14 scores. Warren Central set a school record for points last week in a 70-14 win over Logan County. New kicker Raul Guillen made a school-record 10 point-after attempts.

BUTLER COUNTY (6-3) AT EDMONSON COUNTY (4-5)

7 p.m., Wildcat Field

•Last year: Butler County won 26-21.

•Radio: WLBQ 1570-AM; WYLE 94.1-FM

•Notes: Butler County has found its stride in district play with three straight wins, outscoring those opponents 142-16. The Bears shut out Hancock County 53-0 last week, as quarterbacks Bryce Shanklin and Jimmy Burns each threw for two touchdowns. Edmonson County fell 27-7 at Monroe County last week to settle for a No. 3 district seed. The last two meetings between these teams have been decided by 11 total points.

HOPKINSVILLE (4-5) AT FRANKLIN-SIMPSON (5-4)

7 p.m., James Mathews Stadium

•Last year: Did not play

•Radio: WFKN 1220-AM

•Notes: Franklin-Simpson has found its groove, winning five of the last seven, including three straight. The Wildcats beat Allen County-Scottsville 35-7 last week to win their second district title in three years. In its four losses, Franklin has allowed 34.3 points per game. In its five wins, it’s allowed 6.8 points per game. Hopkinsville has spread the wealth equally in its rushing attack. Tyler Graham and Dee Killebrew each have eight touchdowns, while Zach Atkins has six.

MONROE COUNTY (6-3) AT ALLEN CO.-SCOTTSVILLE (4-5)

7 p.m., Patriot Stadium

•Last year: Monroe County won 45-33.

•Radio: WVLE 99.3-FM

•Notes: ACS will try to avoid a third straight losing regular season in its home finale. The Patriots got another stellar effort last week from running back Charlie Trapp, who’s rushed for 1,280 yards and 17 TDs, but gave up 28 unanswered points to Franklin-Simpson. Monroe County has rebounded nicely from a large 2012 graduating class and has three losses against teams – Wayne County, Glasgow and South Warren – with a combined 25-2 record.

OWENSBORO CATHOLIC (7-2) AT BARREN COUNTY (4-5)

7:30 p.m., Trojan Field

•Last year: Did not play

•Radio: WCDS 1230-AM; WHHT 103.7-FM

•Notes: The Trojans are quietly having one of the stronger comeback seasons in the area. After winning one game last year, they’ve won four this season, including three straight for the first time since October 2011. Last week, they won on the road at Taylor County with reserve quarterback Ellis Wininger leading the charge. OCHS averages 35.9 points per game and has won five in a row. Six of Barren County’s 10 opponents this year have a winning record.

ELIZABETHTOWN (6-3) AT GLASGOW (8-1)

7 p.m., Hank Royse Stadium

•Last year: Glasgow won 47-6.

•Radio: WCLU 1490-AM

•Notes: The Scotties stomped Elizabethtown last season, but the Panthers are a different bunch this year. They won five total games from 2010-12 but have six victories this year, relying heavily on sophomore running back Berneil Cecil (1,327 yards, 19 touchdowns). Glasgow won its fourth straight district title last week. Marquez Trigg has 1,114 rushing yards and 16 TDs, and quarterback Ryan Hinkley has passed for 1,167 yards and 15 scores with two interceptions.