Jak’s Friday Night Lights Preview
By: Jak Lindsey
The Owensboro Red Devils will travel south Friday night to take on the Purples of Bowling Green in the KHSAA 5A State Semifinals. After the Purples came out on top in the first go-around this season, Owensboro will be looking for the knockout blow in this rematch with the Purples with a trip to Lexington’s Kroger Field on the line.
Leading the offense for Bowling Green once again is junior QB Deuce Bailey. This season, Bailey has thrown for 3,053 and 39 touchdowns, completing an incredibly accurate 70% of his passes. In the Purples’ third round game against Fairdale, Bailey threw for four touchdowns on 10 completions. His most targeted receiver this season has been sophomore WR Trevy Barber. Barber has racked up 67 catches for 1,004 yards and 15 TDs. Also, make sure to keep an eye out for Javen Huddleston, who rushed for 41 yards and a touchdown against Graves County. Defensively for the Purples, LB Jayden Axson (junior) and DB Grayson Newman (junior) lead the team in tackles, with a combined 163 total. Junior DB Ethan Warder has also been productive, picking off three passes this season, with one returned to the house. An unheralded key cog to keep on your radar is junior kicker Braden Widener, who is a perfect 62/62 on PATs this year.
Coming off a 43-7 win against Atherton in last week’s quarterfinal, the Red Devils will be looking to punch their ticket to the state championship. In the game against the Ravens, quarterback Trevor DeLacey threw for 130 yards and two touchdowns. On the ground, RB Evan Hampton rushed for 103 yards and two TDs. Junior WR Blake Kimbrell also had a nice game, which included a 44-yard house call. He finished the game with four receptions for 103 yards and two touchdowns. On the defensive side of things, Dereon Crowe led the team in tackles last Friday, with eight total and three for loss. He also recorded a sack. Freshman LB Ty Ashley also had a great outing in his return from injury, recording six tackles and one TFL. Another force for Drew Hall’s defense has been senior DL Alex Martin. Martin has 24 tackles and a sack this season.
The Red Devils will need all the support they can get this Friday night at Bowling Green High School, so for all of the Senior High Faithful planning to make the trip, the school is located at 1801 Rockingham Ave, Bowling Green, KY 42104. The game is set to start at 7:00 PM, so show up and show out OHS! And as always, it’s a great day to be a Red Devil.
