Week three features a pair of city-county matchups in Daviess County Vs. Owensboro and Owensboro Catholic Vs. Apollo, while Hancock County and McLean County are both on the road.
Owensboro Catholic (Class 2A, District 2) Vs. Apollo (Class 5A, District 1)
The Aces once again have started the season 2-0 and look very well-rounded on all three phases of the ball. Last week in their 34-2 win over Daviess County, Dre’Mail Carothers threw for three touchdowns, while Miles Edge scored three total touchdowns.
Apollo, is looking for their first win after starting the season 0-2 with their most recent loss against Indiana powerhouse Heritage Hills. Head Coach John Edge was complimentary of the Aces offense and knows they have plenty of ways to hurt defenses
“Dre’Mail is a great QB,” Edge said. “I think he does a great job of escaping pressure and finding Miles on check-downs and swing routes. Just like the Tony Franklin offense is run. Miles and Xavier have given Catholic a lot of production, but they have more guys than just those two. Xavier had a great game vs Bowling Green. We have to know where Miles and Xavier line up. They are great athletes and can take it to the house anywhere. Offensively, we have to do a good job on Conkright and take advantage of what they give us. We will have a good game plan, but we just need to execute it and adjust during the game. That’s all coaching is. Game plan and adjust.”
Edge wants to see his team clean up the silly mistakes and penalties moving forward. Despite their 0-2 start, the Eagles have shown flashes, especially in week one against Murray, including a Caiden Tutt 95-yard kickoff return, and QB Max Johnson’s three touchdown passes.
Daviess County (Class 6A, District 2) Vs. Owensboro (Class 5A, District 1)
The Panthers are looking to bounce back after falling to Owensboro Catholic 34-2 last week. Despite the Red Devils 0-2 start, Daviess County is well aware of the vast talent on their rivals roster.
“I am expecting a competitive game,” Daviess County Head Coach Quadarius Wallace said. “I expect them to come out and play hard because they are fighting for their first win. OHS has a lot of guys who can play. They obviously have one of the top running backs in the state if not the top player in the state, in Evan Hampton. He’s always very dangerous. They have weapons at receiver with Kingston Dillard leading the way. He’s another dynamic player for them.”
Owensboro is expecting for the Panthers defense to fly around and head coach DaMarcus Ganaway stated they will need to know where Jace Hunt is lined up at all times.
“Daviess County is going to give us their best shot,” Ganaway said. “They like to do some things up front to cause some confusion and chaos in the box. We just have to be prepared.
For Ganaway and Wallace, the two are looking forward to coaching against each other, having known each other since their time at KWC.
“We both knew this week was coming and we talk every week before every game,” Wallace said. “But it’s not just him, I have other guys on that staff I call good friends. We just won’t talk until after Friday. When our game is over, we will talk again, but right now it is a competition.”
“He’s a fellow KWC Panther that I got to play with, and we have done some things in the off-season coaching together on the travel circuit – 7 on 7,” Ganaway said. “I have a lot of love and respect for Coach Wallace.”
Hancock County (Class 2A, District 2) @ Ohio County (Class 5A, District 2)
Quick notes: The Hornets are once again 2-0 after beating Breckinridge County 34-12 behind Brady Eubanks’ four rushing touchdowns. Tonight, they travel to Ohio County, whom they shut out 52-0 a year ago.
Head Coach Robert Eubanks said: We expect our guys to respond the right way after Week 2. The focus is on cleaning up our mistakes, playing more disciplined football, and executing at a higher level. If we take care of ourselves, the results will follow.
It will be a physical, hard-fought game. Both sides want to establish themselves up front and set the tone early. I expect a tough, competitive matchup for four quarters.
On offense, we’ll have to account for their playmakers in space who can turn small gains into big ones. Defensively, their front seven is very active, and we’ll need to be sharp in our assignments to handle their pressure.
McLean County (Class 2A, District 2) @ Grayson County (Class 5A, District 2)
Quick notes: McLean County bounced back in a big way with their 44-8 win over Caverna. The Cougars rushed for six touchdowns, including three from Trokoby Gill. Tonight, they travel to Grayson County, whom they lost to a year ago, 14-6.
Head Coach Zach Wagner said: We will need to be physical and the aggressor on both sides of the ball to see success.
Both teams will look to establish the down-hill running game. Henshaw and Mudd are both tough physical runners that we will need to try to contain and not let them get going.
