By JON WEBB
GLASGOW — Friday’s Barren / Glasgow showdown will be one fans will circle on their calendars, but for Glasgow head coach Rick Wood, it’s just another game.
“We feel like we’ve prepared very similar to the way we have the first two games,” Wood said. “Our philosophy is that we don’t get real high or real low, and try to keep an even keel approach.”
An “even keel” approach has worked well for Glasgow this season, producing two wins, including a 26-22 rain-drenched, come-from-behind victory against Herrin, Ill. last week.
Tailback Tavion Parrish and quarterback Parker Cash produced much of Glasgow’s offense in the game, combining for 178 yards on the ground and four total touchdowns.
Cash also threw for 129 yards in the win.
Wood said he hoped Glasgow wouldn’t experience any sort of let down following the big win, but acknowledged the team will have their work cut out for them against Barren County.
Barren opened their season with a dominant 35-0 win over Metcalfe County in a game that saw the Trojans rush for over 200 yards. But after being forced into adjusting their offense against a big, fast Bullitt Central squad last week, Barren turned to their passing game.
Quarterback Colton Phelps threw for 176 yards a touchdown in the 21-7 loss a week after rushing for 81 yards against Metcalfe.
Wood said preparing for a team that can beat you two ways can be very difficult.
“It’s tough,” Wood said. “(Phelps) is a talented kid. (Barren) has good skill positions all around.”
In the event of a win, Glasgow will begin 2009 3-0 a year after wrapping up a winless 2008.
True to his “even keel” approach, however, Wood said he (and the team) don’t deal in hypotheticals.
“We’re not into that,” Wood said. “Asking ‘what if’ doesn’t do anything. I tell the kids all the time: don’t worry about what we can’t control.”
Barren’s main concern will be controlling Parrish, Cash and a Glasgow offense that’s put up 444 team rushing yards over the first two games.
Trojan head coach Jeff Richey said the team is doing all they can do to prepare for Glasgow, and are taking their season one game at a time.
The Trojans will have their hands full over the next three weeks. After Friday’s showdown with Glasgow, Barren will travel to Monroe County on Sept. 11 to meet the 2-0 Falcons. That game will serve as the Falcons’ home opener.
After Monroe, Barren will remain on the road when they meet 2-0 Grayson County on Sept. 18.
Richey said the key to surviving a tough stretch in the season is simple.
“The key is just play one at a time,” Richey said. “There’s no way we can look ahead.”
It’s doubtless that many players and community members are not looking past this week.
Wood said he knows some of his players may be “a little more excited” considering their opponent, but even though Friday will mark Wood’s initial firsthand exposure to the Barren / Glasgow version, it’s not his first time around a rivalry.
According to Wood, the rivalry is probably bigger for fans and the community than the players themselves.
“There’s no doubt it’s a huge game, but (Barren) is in class 5A and we’re in 2A,” Wood said. “We’ve got district games remaining and big games down the road also.
“To us, it’s the biggest game because it’s the next game.”
