Bowling Green celebrates homecoming tonight as the Buccaneers face Central Private School in the District 5AAA opener for both teams.

The Buccaneers come in with a 1-2 record, after defeating Amite School Center, 22-6 last week.

Bowling Green won last year’s contest, 41-12.

“Central Private is 2-0. They had some flood issues. They didn’t get to play the first two games. They look solid,” Bowling Green coach David Currier said. “Their starting quarterback (Cade) Sanchez is a three-year quarterback. We match up well against them. They don’t have speedsters. We just have to avoid giving up the big play.

“We’ve been giving up the long runs. If we avoid the long run, we’ll be fine. Offensively, we need to catch the ball better and start off better in the first half. Our special teams have been good. Tyler Cunningham had a really good night punting the ball the other night.

“Our QB continues to get better. He’s still our leading rusher. Cam Cowart is definitely doing his job. If the receivers don’t start catching the ball better, we’re going to have target him more in the passing game.”

Last week, Cameron Bell ran 16 times for 132 yards (8.2 yards per attempt) and a touchdown, and he threw for 61 yards with an interception.

Cowart tallied 77 yards on 14 carries (5.5) and a touchdown.

Cunningham also scored a touchdown for the Bucs.

Defensively, Brandon McElveen recorded 13 tackles.

“He’s going to be our big play guy,” Currier said, of McElveen. “He was our leading tackler last week. He’ll be our middle linebacker. He’s going to be our anchor there.”

Taz Smith and Nathan Case finished with seven tackles each.

Central Private enters this week with a 2-0 record. Last week they defeated CHEF, 36-7.

“We’re blessed,” third-year coach Joey Sanchez said. “We have nine seniors and two juniors that have been playing with us for three years, so we have 11 kids that have been under our wings for the three years.”

Sanchez has thrown for more than 200 yards on 9-of-11 passing.

Running back/wide receiver Cole Averette begins tonight with more than 270 yards rushing with four touchdowns.

Running back Austin Slater has about 150 rushing yards.

Fullbacks Hunter Todd and Chris Lofstrom have two touchdowns each.

The receivers are Brandt Glover and Hunter Harris.

Defensively, the middle linebackers are Hunter Todd and Baylen Watkins. Todd is the team’s leading tackler.

Lofstrom is a defensive end and Glover plays safety on defense.