Fern Creek’s Kyree Hawkins breaks loose against Bullitt Central earlier this season. Photo by Adam Creech, Special to The Courier-Journal.
BOWLING GREEN (13-0) AT FERN CREEK (11-2)
* Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday.
* Next week: Winner will face South Oldham-Pulaski County winner in Class 5-A state final at 6 p.m. EST Sunday in Bowling Green.
* Bowling Green: No. 2 in the state in The Courier-Journal’s Litkenhous Ratings, the Purples have won four of the past five Class 5-A state titles and own the longest current winning streak (25) in the state. Bowling Green averages 47.9 points per game and is led by senior quarterback Clark Payne (3,329 yards and 39 touchdowns with just four interceptions) and senior running back, a Navy commit who has rushed for 1,159 yards and 21 TDs and averages 7.8 yards per carry.
MORE COVERAGE | Fern Creek, South Oldham look to take down Class 5-A powers
* Fern Creek: The Tigers upset Covington Catholic 35-28 last week to advance to the state semifinals for the second straight year. Last year Fern Creek traveled to Bowling Green in the state semifinals and lost 21-0. The Tigers will lean on a pair of running backs in Kyree Hawkins (1,155 yards, 18 TDs) and Devon Blincoe (915 yards, nine TDs). Senior quarterback Shamar Bryant has completed just 49 of 122 passes this season but he’s thrown for 1,078 yards and 18 TDs.
* Quotable: “Bowling Green is arguably the best team in the state in any class, but I really don’t think our guys will be spooked at all or afraid,” Fern Creek coach Josh Abell said. “That’s mostly because of how confident we’ve become the last four or five weeks. But it’s a bit of downplaying Bowling Green. They’re human beings like us, not machines. They’re not perfect, and they can be beaten.”
* Pick: Bowling Green 28-20.