Purples advance after win at Owensboro
Published 6:10 pm Saturday, November 16, 2024
- Bowling Green’s Jaxen Smith (6) runs the ball in the Purples’ 35-7 win over the Madisonville-North Hopkins Maroons in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs at Bowling Green High School on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (Grace McDowell/grace.mcdowell@bgdailynews.com)
The Bowling Green football team continued its quest for a second straight Class 5A state title, advancing to the third round after a 27-14 win at Owensboro on Friday.
Jaxen Smith had two touchdowns as Bowling Green (10-2) beat Owensboro for the second time this year.
The Purples jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter with a Smith touchdown run and a 50-yard touchdown pass from Deuce Bailey to Trevy Barber.
Braden Widener’s 24-yard field goal midway through the second made the score 17-0, with Owensboro adding a late touchdown to trim the deficit to 10 at halftime.
After a fumble recovery by Brandon Gurley, Widener added a 35-yard field goal to extend the margin to 20-7 in the third quarter. Owensboro scored to pull within six with 10:13 remaining, but BG was able to answer with a 30-yard screen from Bailey to Smith with 7:28 left.
Grayson Newman sealed it with an interception in the end zone on Owensboro’s next possession.
Bowling Green returns home to host Atherton in next week’s third round matchup.
Barren County 16, North Hardin 13
Tate Spillman’s touchdown pass to Jordan Harris with 27 seconds left secured the Trojans’ first second-round playoff win in school history.
Barren County improved to 10-2, the first 10-win season since 1979.
Spillman added a touchdown pass to Daylan Thomas, with Jacob Dooley connecting on a 31-yard field goal that gave the Trojans a 9-6 halftime lead.
The Trojans advance to play at Great Crossing in the third round of the 6A playoffs next week.
Bardstown 42, ACS 7
Bardstown jumped out to a 28-0 lead in the first quarter and never looked back as Allen County-Scottsville fell in the second round of the Class 4A playoffs.
De’Ante Grainger scored the Patriots’ lone touchdown on an 86-yard kickoff return. With the loss, Allen County-Scottsville’s season ends with a 9-3 record, the most wins for the program in 14 years.
Campbellsville 49, Russellville 24
The Panthers’ season came to an end with a home loss to Campbellsville in the second round of the Class A playoffs.
Hunter Hallman threw two touchdown passes to Octavious McKeage and an 82-yard touchdown pass to Noah Stovall.
With the loss, Russellville ends the season 6-6.
