Class 5A football finals preview: Bowling Green vs. Pulaski County

Kickoff: 9 p.m. EST Saturday at Western Kentucky University’s L.T. Smith Stadium in Bowling Green

Cantrall Ratings: Bowling Green 89.3, Pulaski County 84.2

Final AP ranking: Bowling Green No. 1, Pulaski County No. 3

Previous championship appearances (record): Bowling Green 8 (4-4); Pulaski County 2 (1-1)

Quick hits: Bowling Green won three straight championships from 2011-2013 after winning its first one in 1995. The Purples defeated Pulaski County the previous two times they’ve played: in the 2013 finals (49-14) and in the 2014 regular season (23-7). Pulaski County quarterback Riley Hall is sitting on 10,362 career passing yards, good for sixth all-time in state history. Should Hall hit his 230 average for the season, he would jump past Trinity’s Brian Brohm for fifth place.

Bowling Green leaders: Jamale Carothers (1,280 rushing yards with 20 TDs; 679 receiving yards with six TDs), Clark Payne (2,361 passing yards with 31 TDs/six interceptions; two rushing TDs); Deangelo Wilson (870 receiving yards with 15 TDs), Trey Fant (nine interceptions, three returned for TDs; 28 tackles); Griffin Cline (five interceptions with one TD return; 68 tackles); Dalan Cofer (five fumble recoveries); Andrew Spader (93 tackles); Jake Bush (90 tackles); Jordan Meredith (offensive lineman committed to WKU).

Pulaski County leaders: Riley Hall (2,993 passing yards with 35 TDs/3 interceptions; 336 rushing yards with five TDs); x-Jaylon Conwell (777 rushing yards with 12 TDs; three TD receptions); Jake Johnson (1,498 receiving yards with 23 TDs; one rushing TD); George Gregory (623 rushing yards with nine TDs; three TD receptions; one interception returned for a TD; one fumble recovery; 33 tackles); Jacob New (four interceptions; 95 tackles); Christian Holman (104 tackles); Jackson Mobley (105 tackles), Derek Burgett (68 extra points)

x-questionable with a knee injury

Bowling Green (13-1)

Coach: Kevin Wallace

Results

• vs. Monroe County at WKU, 44-7 (W)
• vs. Christian County at Hopkinsville, 55-14 (W)
• at St. Xavier, 45-19 (L)
• Owensboro, 17-14 (W)
• Warren Central, 32-7 (W)
• at Central Hardin, 42-6 (W)
• Grayson County, 56-13 (W)
• Barren County, 48-7 (W)
• at Greenwood, 49-14 (W)
• McCracken County, 38-14 (W)

Playoffs

• Apollo, 50-7 (W)
• Christian County, 41-21 (W)
• at Owensboro, 41-12 (W)
• Fern Creek, 21-0 (W)

Pulaski County (13-1)

Coach: John Hines

Results

• vs. Jeffersonville (Ind.) at Southwestern, 64-26 (W)
• at Scott County, 53-31 (L)
• Russell County, 47-0 (W)
• at Rockcastle County, 42-22 (W)
• Madison Southern, 49-14 (W)
• Henry Clay, 43-0 (W)
• at Lincoln County, 56-6 (W)
• South Laurel, 64-8 (W)
• Southwestern, 52-6 (W)
• at Bourbon County, 34-27 (W)

Playoffs

• Letcher County Central, 49-22 (W)
• Lincoln County, 63-0 (W)
• North Laurel, 28-24 (W)
• at Highlands, 41-31 (W)

This story was originally published December 4, 2015 at 2:59 PM with the headline "Class 5A football finals preview: Bowling Green vs. Pulaski County."