GAME PREVIEW: Bowling Green vs. South Warren

With another week of high school football action quickly approaching, it's time to visit the state of Kentucky as today, we focus our attention on a significant class 5A rivalry matchup between Bowling Green (5-2) and South Warren (6-1) this upcoming Friday. Both teams have unique rosters with a handful of talented prospect that have already made their presence known this season. Without any further ado, here's my preview of the top standouts to watch in this week's contest between the Purples and the Spartans.    At the top of my list is [player_tooltip player_id='340071' first='Deuce' last='Bailey'], a 6-foot-1, 170-pound quarterback at Bowling Green High School. Bailey has been highly explosive at the helm of the Purples' offense this season, throwing 121 completions out of 171 attempts for 1,893 yards and 23 touchdowns. Bailey has additionally recorded 25 rush attempts for 100 yards and four scores. Bailey's composure, footwork, arm strength and pin-point accuracy makes him one of the top gunslingers in the Bluegrass State, making a difference both on the ground and in the air. He should not be slept on in this week's game against the Spartans.    I am additionally impressed with [player_tooltip player_id='212337' first='Trevy' last='Barber'], a 5-foot-9, 155-pound wide receiver at Bowling Green High School. Barber has been a gamechanger for the Purples on the offensive side of the ball, hauling in 33 receptions for 578 yards and a total of 10 touchdowns. What makes Barber so efficient is his overall athleticism as well as his physicality down the stretch, consistently attacking the ball and breaking tackles on his way to the endzone. Barber's breakaway speed and reliability on deep passes make him a real threat for South Warren's defense.    Claiming the number three spot on my list is [player_tooltip player_id='331739' first='Bryce' last='Button'], a 6-foot-2, 195-pound quarterback at South Warren High School. Button has proven himself as one of the top gunslingers in the state under center for the Spartans this year, throwing 113 completions out of 177 attempts for 2,115 yards and 26 touchdowns. Button has also collected 34 rush attempts for 217 yards and four scores. What makes Button so difficult to contain is his ability to advance production on the ground and hit his receivers in stride from anywhere on the field, making him a real challenge for the Purples' defense this week.    Another skilled prospect to keep an eye on is [player_tooltip player_id='735606' first='Ethan' last='Reynolds'], a 6-foot-0, 210-pound athlete at South Warren High School. Reynolds has been a relentless weapon for the Spartans on both sides of the ball this season, recording 26 rush attempts for 155 yards and five touchdowns as well as 14 receptions for 310 yards and four scores. On the other side, Reynolds has collected 49 total tackles, including 22 solo stops, 27 assisted takedowns, 10 tackles for loss and four sacks. What makes Reynolds such a talented prospect is his well-balanced playstyle and ability to execute, proving he can overwhelm the opposition with his strength and ability to adapt. Reynolds should be a challenging foe for the Purples on both sides this week.    Coming in at number five on my list is [player_tooltip player_id='653493' first='Bailey' last='Shoemaker'], a 5-foot-11, 175-pound wide receiver at South Warren High School. Shoemaker has been nearly unstoppable for the Spartans down the stretch as he is currently the team's top receiving weapon, hauling in a total of 37 receptions for 765 yards and nine touchdowns this year. Shoemaker has proven himself as a reliable passing target from all over the field and also impresses with his ability to handle defensive contact, breaking tackles as he maneuvers the field. Heading into this week's matchup, Shoemaker will be a challenge for the Purples to stop due to his great speed and durability in the backfield.    Also worth mentioning is Max Buchanon, a 6-foot-1, 210-pound linebacker at Bowling Green High School. Buchanon has contributed excellent defensive firepower for the Purples this season, picking up 42 total tackles, including 19 solo stops, 23 assisted takedowns and one tackle for loss. Buchanon has additionally forced one fumble, ran a fumble recovery all the way to the house for a six-yard touchdown and hauled in two interceptions, returning one to the endzone for a 21-yard score. Buchanon's defensive execution and overwhelming strength off is what makes him so efficient, showcasing his stopping power and ability to apply pressure in the pocket.

With another week of high school football action quickly approaching, it's time to visit the state of Kentucky as today, we focus our attention on a significant class 5A rivalry matchup between Bowling Green (5-2) and South Warren (6-1) this upcoming Friday. Both teams have unique rosters with a handful of talented prospect that have already made their presence known this season. Without any further ado, here's my preview of the top standouts to watch in this week's contest between the Purples and the Spartans.