South Warren is a big school, enrollment 1,494 and class 5A, in the Kentucky high school football scene. Being the largest school the Titans would face this season, when the Spartans traveled to Gibson Southern territory, it was expected the game would be exciting. This matchup had everything from a close score to injuries to post-game taunting between two teams that each wanted to pull out a victory.
The Titans kicked off, with South Warren handling the ball first. The Titans started their defense with an interception on the second play by senior Waylon Finney. Junior Titan quarterback Zach Foster threw to senior Maddux Potts to score a quick touchdown for Gibson Southern. South Warren returned the favor with senior quarterback, Bryce Button, connecting with junior wide receiver Jake Carter, resulting in a gain of yards for the Spartans. The Titans stopped South Warren on the 4th down, keeping them out of the endzone. Foster took over and drove his team down to the Spartan’s endzone, making it 14-0.
South Warren came back with its first touchdown of the game, making the score 14-7. Gibson Southern took possession and drove down the field, falling short of the goal line on the 3rd down. Senior kicker Cam Novotny came in to earn three points with a successful field goal. South Warren once again capitalized on its possession and made it to the end of Titan territory, making the score 17-14.
Both the Titans and Spartans were able to shut one another out as the clock ticked down in the second quarter. That changed when junior Lloyd Sellers found the back of the endzone after a pass from Foster, making the score 24-14 at the half with Gibson Southern in control.
Gibson Southern kicked off to start the second half. South Warren took the ball to the endzone to score another touchdown. With a narrow lead by the Titans, 24-21, the crowd and players could feel the intensity build in the third quarter. Both teams swapped turnovers with each other, resulting in injuries for both teams. Gibson Southern players senior Beau Rose and junior Maverick Deputy came out of the game.
“Anytime you lose players like Maverick and Beau that is going to have a huge impact on your team,” said Nick Hart, Titan football head coach. “Waylon Finney was also playing at about 50%. For all of those injuries to happen on defense, I’m extremely proud of the level of football we played. I thought Ben Reinhart and Deacon Dressler did an excellent job of stepping in and playing well.”
South Warren came out of the chaos with the ball. The Spartans marched the ball down the field to score another touchdown but missed the extra kick, taking the lead for the first time, 27-24.
“We knew with their division one quarterback, they were capable of putting up points quickly,” Hart said.
The Titans refused to lie down and lined up to go on the offense. The Titans answered back with Foster airing out a 32-yard pass to Potts, where he slipped into the endzone for the third time of the night and gave the Titans the lead once again.
The Spartans came out swinging after the kickoff, driving through the Titan defense and scoring another touchdown, regaining the lead for the second time in the game, 34-31.
Gibson Southern knew they had to make a play with just a little more than 40 seconds left in the game. After South Warren’s kickoff, the Titans made major passing and rushing plays to advance to field goal range.
With one second left to play, the Titans sent Novotny onto the field. With the ball on the 37-yard line, he was attempting a 54-yard field goal.
“I actually wasn’t really nervous,” Novotny said. “I was ready for the moment; it’s what I’ve been training for. I just wanted the opportunity to tie the game and go into overtime.”
With one field goal through the uprights earlier in the evening, he was ready to keep the game going. After the snap, Novotny connected with the ball, but South Warren blocked the field goal attempt, giving the Spartans the win.
“It sucked,” Novotny said. “A wave kind of went through me; it was a rough one. I was staring at the ground for 10 seconds after it got blocked.”
South Warren delivered the Titans their first loss since their 2023 game against Heritage Hills in the IHSAA Class 3A Semi-State, where the Patriots punched their ticket to State with a 23-20 win.
“The loss definitely stung,” Foster said. “Never will I be happy with losing, but I thought the team overall made huge improvements and played well all night.”
When playing against a class 5A State Champion, everyone needs to be putting forth their absolute best.
“We made small mistakes that we shouldn’t have made in a close game and against a good team,” said senior defensive back Connor Wirey.
However, during the traditional post-game handshakes, the majority of Spartan players ran down the Titan sideline, taunting players, coaches and Gibson Southern fans. Boos from the Titans’ stands were heard on the field.
“Their actions represented what they are as a team last Friday, and I know that we have a lot more respect for our opponents,” Foster said. “The game was over, so we moved on and are focusing on what we need to do to keep improving.”
Despite the loss, Foster threw for 302 yards and completed four touchdowns, earning him a nomination for the “Courier Press” Player of the Week.
“It’s a great accomplishment to be up for Player of the Week,” Foster said. “Like I said before, it’s easy for me to do my job when you have great teammates doing their job every play like mine.”
Games against large teams like South Warren, currently ranked 2nd in Kentucky’s class 5A, help Hart’s players sharpen their skills and improve for later games.
“They were a really good team, and we will not play anyone the rest of the year that had the size and speed that South Warren did,” Hart said. “I think it showed our kids what level they are capable of playing at and also prepared us for when we do see athletes as big and fast as South Warren down the line. When we play teams like that, we have to play at a really high level to win, which simulates big conference and post season games.”
South Warren continued its undefeated season, and the Titans will build on their loss and move on to Southridge this Friday.
