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Mustangs Try to End Purples' 21 Game Win Streak

Mustangs Try to End Purples' 21 Game Win Streak
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By Eric Chumbler
Oct. 27, 2016 | WESTERN KENTUCKY
By Eric Chumbler Oct. 27, 2016 | 09:05 PM | WESTERN KENTUCKY
The team with the longest current winning streak in Kentucky travels to McCracken County Friday night as Bowling Green (9-0) takes on McCracken County (7-2).

The Purples have won 21 in a row going into Friday night’s contest with the Mustangs. Mayfield, another opponent on McCracken’s schedule this season, currently comes in second with 20 consecutive wins.

Not only does Bowling Green have the longest winning streak in the state, they also have the top scoring offense in the state. Bowling Green has scored 444 points on the season, while McCracken County ranks 4th in the state with 435 points this season. In the last six games, Bowling Green has outscored their opponent 323 points to 7 points with a running clock used in each game.

McCracken County comes into Friday night winners of Class 6A District 1 in convincing fashion. In the Mustangs’ four district games, McCracken County outscored their opponents 212 points to 53 points with a running clock used in each game.

The Purples have been led at quarterback this season by Clark Payne. On the season, Payne is 128-of-178 passing with 2,305 yards and 28 touchdowns to only two interceptions. Payne’s top target this season is Deangelo Wilson, who has 41 receptions and 786 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns.

The ground game this season has been anchored by Jamale Carothers. Carothers on the season has 706 rushing yards on 89 rushing attempts and 14 touchdowns. He also has 487 yards receiving seven touchdowns.

“They’re so talented at every position,” McCracken County head coach Shawn Jackson said on his coaches show Wednesday night. “If you start to Focus on (Payne) and his receivers too much, Carothers will carve you up out of the backfield.”

Bowling Green also has a stout defense on top of their top offense in the state. The Purples have only given up 61 points on the season with five of their last six games being a shutout.

McCracken County quarterback Cash Jones passed the 2,000 yards passing mark in the 55-20 win over Muhlenberg County last Friday night. Jones has 2,016 yards passing on the season with 35 touchdowns to only 5 interceptions. Senior Darian Woods leads all receivers 628 receiving yards and ten touchdowns.

McCracken County will try to pull off something that hasn’t happened in almost two years; beat Bowling Green. The Purples are polished in all facets. Top offense, one of the top defenses, and they don’t turn the ball over.

McCracken County was able to move the football on Bowling Green last season, but five turnovers caved the Mustangs efforts in the 2nd half. The Mustangs will have to play near flawless football and create some turnovers to have a shot. I am the first to admit my bias towards the Mustangs as their radio play-by-play broadcaster, and my prediction is coming straight from the heart. Mustangs find a way to get it done.

 

PREDICTION – McCracken County-35, Bowling Green-34

 

(4-5) Paducah Tilghman at (3-6) Murray – It’s not often that a 4-win team and a 3-win team highlight a season finale, but that is the situation with Paducah Tilghman traveling to Murray Friday night.

Both Tilghman and Murray had horrendous first halves of the season. Tilghman started the season 0-4, losing to rivals McCracken County and Mayfield. Murray started the season 1-6 with losses to rival Calloway County, Graves County, Marshall County and Mayfield.

But both teams have experienced resurgence in the past two weeks. Murray has used two district wins against Webster County and Ballard Memorial to get them a home playoff game next week against McLean County. Paducah Tilghman has used dominant wins over Union County and Fort Campbell to earn a home playoff game against LaRue County next week.

Quarterback Jayden Freeman impressed many in his first opportunity for big minutes for Tilghman last week against Fort Campbell. Freeman was 7-for-11 for 189 yards and two touchdowns against the Falcons. Alec Gold led all rushers against Fort Campbell with 114 yards rushing and three touchdowns.

Murray lost senior running back Andrew Pajor at the beginning of the season, but the Tigers have found their footing in the run game this season. Michael Parks and Jordan Boyd have shared a majority of the rushing load this season. Parks has rushed for 500 yards on 96 carries and three touchdowns while Boyd has rushed for 423 yards on 60 carries and five touchdowns.

It has been good to see both Murray and Tilghman come alive in the second half of the season and earn a home playoff game. Both will be a long shot in their respective playoff classes, but both can end the regular season on a high note which both will accept after their rough starts.

I really like what Tilghman has done the last few weeks and it seems like the offense has finally clicked. Murray still struggles defensively, giving up 34 points last week to Ballard Memorial and average giving up 30 points per game on the season. I don’t think Murray’s defense can match up with Paducah TIlghman’s offense. Look for the Blue Tornado to pull away early with the win.

 

PREDICTION – Paducah Tilghman-42, Murray-21


Friday Night's Games

Fulton County at Ballard Memorial
Graves County at Calloway County
John Hardin at Christian County
Madisonville at Fort Campbell
Owensboro at Henderson County
Hopkinsville at Marshall County
Caldwell County at Mayfield
Bowling Green at McCracken County
Paducah Tilghman at Murray
Hopkins County Central at Union County

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