Garrard County, North Bullitt Set for First-Ever Meeting in Death Valley Bowl

Garrard County will begin its 62nd football season with a new challenge in a familiar setting when the Golden Lions take on North Bullitt in the Death Valley Bowl at Lincoln County High School. The matchup marks the first-ever meeting between the two programs and adds another chapter to the history of one of Kentucky’s longest-running season-opening bowls.

North Bullitt enters the contest after a 7-6 campaign in 2024 that concluded with a regional final loss to South Warren. The Eagles, who play in Class 5A-District 4, are making their first appearance in the Death Valley Bowl, though not their first trip to Death Valley. Nearly 40 years ago, in 1985, North Bullitt opened its season at Lincoln County, falling 21-19. The Eagles now return seeking a different result on a bigger stage.

For Garrard County, the game offers both opportunity and history. The Golden Lions are playing in the Death Valley Bowl for the 10th time, second only to host Lincoln County, which has anchored the event since its inception in 1998. Garrard County won the inaugural game that year, defeating Newport Central Catholic 24-14. Since then, however, success has been difficult to sustain. The Lions have lost five straight appearances, including a 27-20 setback to Lincoln County last season.

Head coach Spencer Crutchfield brings an intriguing storyline into this year’s contest. Though Garrard County has struggled in recent bowl games, Crutchfield himself has been among the event’s most successful coaches. During his tenure at Lincoln County from 2018 to 2021, he led the Patriots to three Death Valley Bowl victories. That total ties him with the late Robbie Lucas of Somerset and former East Jessamine coach Mike Bowlin for the most wins in the bowl’s history. Now at the helm of Garrard County, Crutchfield seeks to bring that winning formula back to his current program.

The Lions are no strangers to early-season spotlight games. Their first bowl appearance came in the 1970 Recreation Bowl at Mount Sterling, where they fell to Paris 34-6. Since a mid-1990s rule change by the KHSAA expanded opportunities for bowl games, Garrard County has become a frequent participant, particularly in the Death Valley Bowl and in various contests hosted by Danville High School. Along the way, the program has produced some memorable moments. In 1995, the Lions shocked four-time defending state champion Beechwood with a 22-20 victory in the Constitution Bowl, led by Wayne Kiser’s 100 rushing yards and three touchdowns. In 2006, Garrard County battled through heat and lightning delays to defeat Barren County 18-6 in the Trojan Bowl, paced by Steven DeBord’s all-around performance. Perhaps most notably, the 2011 Lions launched a landmark season by outlasting Clay County 40-38 in four overtimes in the Golden Lion Bowl, behind Cory Wilson’s three-touchdown effort.

While Garrard County has faced Bullitt Central, North Bullitt’s longtime rival, each of the past two seasons, the Golden Lions and the Eagles have never shared the field until now. That changes under the lights in Stanford, where both programs will look to set a strong tone for the season. For North Bullitt, it is a chance to establish itself in unfamiliar territory. For Garrard County, it is an opportunity to break its bowl losing streak and reclaim early-season momentum.

(Historical data provided by Daniel Hopkins)