The No. 24 ranked South Warren Spartans completed the upset victory over No. 11 Bowling Green 28-24 on Friday night in a game that went down to the final minute. What could be better than a cross-county, Top 25 matchup?
This rivalry runs deep and consistently features game-of-the-year caliber play. This rivalry is comparable to UK and UofL. The Spartans have come up short on their last three meetings, but broke the streak and reclaimed the county title.
South Warren played a full four-quarter game, especially defensively. They were able to pressure three-star Deuce Bailey and force a Bowling Green 4th & 8 with under one minute to play. Their ability to stay grounded on defense is what won them the game.
“With the group we got, I told them we’re gonna play to win, we’re gonna play aggressive, and that’s what we did…” head coach Brandon Smith said after the win. “It’s a big victory, no question about that.”
The Spartans were the first to strike late in the first quarter. After multiple stops on defense, senior quarterback Bryce Button and company pushed upfield and put up the first points with a quarterback keep.
Bowling Green had an answer. After a South Warren 3-and-out, BG’s Charlie Compton intercepted a pass, giving Bailey and WR Trevy Barber a clear look for a touchdown, tying it up at 7-7 before the end of the first quarter.
A scoreless second quarter was a testament to both defenses. In a game like this, calmness can be drowned out by the intense atmosphere. With the run game not working as effectively as they’d hoped, South Warren hit the locker rooms tied up at 7-7 to make the readjustments that led to victory.
The Purples came out of the locker room with a different energy. A field goal midway through the third gave them the lead at 10-7. The Spartans responded quickly to claim another six and the lead at 14-10, but Bowling Green was able to swing momentum their way late in the third.
Two back-to-back touchdown receptions gave the Purples a double-digit lead 24-14 at the start of the fourth quarter. It seemed like Bowling Green had the control, but SW’s Jake Carter had an answer for the Spartans with a huge touchdown reception to get them back in the game.
Button was super comfortable at this point, and his commitment to his decisions gave South Warren quick first downs. He connected with Colton Veltkamp later in the fourth quarter to take a late lead at 28-24.
As the Purples pushed back up the field, Veltkamp found himself in the middle of a toss from Bailey, and the Spartans reclaimed possession near their own 25-yard line with 2:22 to play. But that didn’t seal the deal.
Senior safety Grayson Newman broke up a pass from Button, which gave Bowling Green the ball back in enemy territory with two minutes to play. But, that Spartans defense held their ground. Forcing a 4th and 8 situation, the Purples could not convert, and South Warren took the knee to claim the win on their enemy’s turf.
South Warren looks ahead to play Ohio County at home next Friday at 7 p.m. CT.
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