Cougars, Spartans set for one final regular season test
Published 10:30 am Wednesday, October 28, 2026
Logan County’s Tysean Thomeczek (1) runs for extra yards during Logan County’s 43-21 win over Warren East at Warren East High School in Bowling Green, Ky. (Caleb Lowndes/Daily News)
(Caleb Lowndes)
It’s become a tradition the final week of the season with the South Warren and Logan County football teams squaring off in the last test before a playoff push. The two teams meet again in Logan County at 7 p.m. with both teams sporting 7-2 records and both teams ranked in the latest statewide media poll. South Warren is ranked fourth in Class 6A, while Logan County is ranked eighth in Class 4A.
“We’ve been playing this one for a while now,” South Warren coach Brandon Smith said. “It’s the end of the year. It’s a local (team). We are 20 minutes away from each other. We both have the same goals and desires at the end of the year, which is to be a championship-level team. I think those types of teams, where the players have that mindset, I just think they play different. You want to see that as many times as you possibly can.”
Logan County coach Todd Adler agreed it’s a game that gives his team a litmus test before the postseason begins next week.
“For us, I don’t think we are going to find a better team locally here that is going to give us a great test right before the playoffs and help prepare us for a playoff run for sure,” Adler said.
South Warren comes in after three lopsided district wins. The Spartans held a 162-6 advantage in those three games, with the district foes combining for four total wins.
“I know it is kind of a silly comment, but it has been a hard three-week stretch,” Smith said. “It’s hard for teenage kids to get themselves ready to go – and coaches too – when you are playing teams that are just in a different phase of the program, a really complete rebuilding mode. That’s not easy. It’s not fun for either program. It’s great to finally be back in a competitive game with some real competition and a team that is going to expect to win as much as we expect to win.”
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Adler said the Spartans are a complete team that will present a challenge in all phases of the game.
“They are so well-coached in every position and they play so hard,” Adler said. “Defensively, they get after you. All 11 guys get to the football. Offensively, they are so dynamic and kind of unpredictable in not showing you any tendencies. They are very unpredictable. They block extremely well and they got guys in the backfield that can burn you for 80 or 90 (yards) too if you aren’t paying attention to them.”
Logan County clinched a home playoff game after last week’s 43-21 win. The Cougars have scored at least 40 points in all but one game this season, held to seven in a loss to Paducah Tilghman.
“They virtually have the same team they had last year,” Smith said. “They didn’t have a lot of seniors last year and it is the same kids, so they have a year under their belt. They are very explosive. I think the skill guys are as good as anybody that we’ve played. They do a really nice job of using them. Defensively, they are very aggressive in how they play defense. We haven’t exactly killed it against those types of defenses this year, so it’s one more chance to go against someone that plays that style.
“That’s kind of why I like playing them here at the end because we are not going to find nobody better to prepare for this playoff run.”
Smith said Friday’s game will be a good chance to get back into the flow of a competitive game against a quality opponent.
“The little things are going to matter,” Smith said. “Not having negative yardage plays and dropped balls, penalties. Those type of things are going to be key for us.”
Adler said his team will have to be mistake-free on both sides of the ball.
“You can’t turn the football over,” Adler said. “You can’t give those guys free, extra possessions and we’ve just got to tackle. I think if our defense can fly around and make some tackles, we take care of the football, hopefully move the football … and see if we can get some points on the board (and have a chance to win).”
About Micheal Compton
I am a sports reporter and movie critic for the Bowling Green Daily News.
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