South Warren powers past Graves County

Published 6:45 am Saturday, November 16, 2024

by Micheal Compton

The South Warren football team used a complete effort to advance in the Class 5A state playoffs, cruising to a 35-14 win over Graves County in Friday’s second-round matchup at Warren Central High School.

Offense, defense and special teams all played a part for South Warren (11-1) which advanced past the second round for the first time since 2021 — the last time the Spartans won the state title.

“It wasn’t a pretty game, but they are a good team too,” South Warren coach Brandon Smith said. “I told the kids that all week long. They had some competitors. They had some seniors, some good players. They did some things that gave us some problems, but when it came down to it our kids made plays when they had to to find a way to win.”

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South Warren marched right down the field with an 11-play, 66-yard opening drive, capped by a 5-yard touchdown run by Kayden York. The lead grew to 14-0 late in the first when Bryce Button connected with Jake Carter for a 51-yard touchdown pass.

The Spartans missed a chance to add to the lead with a missed field goal on the next possession. Graves County (9-3) finally came to life offensively following the missed kick, with an 11-play, 80-yard drive that ended with a touchdown pass from Kaden Gregory to Lincoln Acree with 1:19 left in the first half.

South Warren was able to quickly regain the momentum, going 66 yards in six plays. Button was able to hook up with York twice and Camden Page twice — the second completion a 14-yard touchdown pass that made the score 21-7 with 16.9 seconds remaining in the half.

“We just went tempo,” Smith said. “Probably should have went more tempo honestly. Bryce did a good job and Cam Page made some nice plays on that drive.”

Both defenses settled in during the third quarter, with the Spartans’ special teams providing the next score in the final minutes of the third. With Graves County punting deep in its own territory, Xander Stanke was able to block the kick with Page picking it up and running it in from two yards out to make the score 28-7.

“Every year in the playoffs, when you start getting against teams that are equal and good teams are playing, it always comes down to special teams,” Smith said. “I thought our special teams played really well in every facet and I thought that was probably going to be our biggest advantage tonight and they came out and did that.”

Graves County added a score early in the fourth quarter before Button’s third touchdown pass of the night — a 22-yard strike to Colton Veltkamp — completed the scoring with 8:19 remaining.

“It seemed like we could never get in a rhythm offensively,” Smith said. “We had some big chunk plays, then we would bust something or we would get a penalty or something of that nature and just stall a drive. It was like we could never put it all together, but defensively we did a good job. We just needed to get off the field on fourth down and not have some dumb pass interferences. We know better than that stuff.”

South Warren outgained Graves County 374-170. Button was 18-for-26 passing for 228 yards, while York paced a potent ground attack with 115 rushing yards on 19 carries. York also added four catches for 58 yards.

“We just found a way,” York said. “It feels good. I give it all to our linemen. They busted their butts for us.”

South Warren advances to face North Bullitt in next week’s third round of the 5A playoffs.

GCHS 0 7 0 7 — 14

SWHS 14 7 7 7 — 35

First quarter

SW — Kayden York 5 run (Alen Alic kick), 6:47

SW — Jake Carter 51 pass from Bryce Button (Alic kick), 0:46

Second quarter

GC — Lincoln Acree 14 pass from Kaden Gregory (Lorenzo Arellano kick), 1:19

SW — Camden Page 14 pass from Button (Alic kick), 0:16.9

Third quarter

SW — Page 2 return blocked punt (Alic kick), 2:47

Fourth quarter

GC — Ty Cavette 16 pass from Gregory (Arellano kick), 10:03

SW — Colton Veltkamp 22 pass from Button (Alic kick), 8:19

About Micheal Compton

I am a sports reporter and movie critic for the Bowling Green Daily News.

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