Eager for a deep playoff run, Owensboro Catholic got the postseason started in dominant fashion with a 61-7 blowout over Fort Campbell at home Friday.
“I was proud of the way our boys were focused and took care of business,” Owensboro Catholic Head Coach Jason Morris said. “We wanted to come out and take care of business and rest as many starters as we could. I think for the most part, we came out of tonight mostly healthy. We just wanted to execute on both sides of the ball, and we did that for the most part.”
Quarterback Dre’mail Carothers immediately found his stride on the opening drive, connecting with Luke Thomas for a 7-0 lead. After forcing a punt, the Aces scored a few plays later on a Jude Evans seven-yard touchdown run.
Early in the second quarter, Carothers threw his second touchdown pass of the night, this time to Hudson Ebelhar from three yards out, but a missed extra point, made it 20-0.
Later in the quarter, Carothers fired a 15-yard touchdown dart to Cam Woodward, and a few minutes later, Miles Edge broke free for a long touchdown run to push the lead to 33-0. Fort Campbell responded with their lone score of the night, but the Aces bounced back on a Woodward touchdown to make it 40-7 entering halftime.
On the first play from scrimmage to start the second half, Carothers connected with Xavier Maddox for a 47-7 lead, culminating in the second team offense taking over. Down the stretch, Peyton Morris found Noah Grant in the endzone, and Carter James added the exclamation point on a one-yard touchdown run.
While the offense stole the show, Jude Cecil flashed his athleticism, picking off a pair of passes.
“He led us in interceptions last year as a junior and this year leads us in interceptions as a senior,” Morris said. “He is a really underrated player for us over the last three years, and I was glad to see him get two picks in the first round of the playoffs.”
Next week, Owensboro Catholic hosts Crittenden County, who took down McLean County in the first round.
“We just need to stay focused on us and make sure that we are doing everything that takes zero talent,” Morris said. “We talk to our kids about if we were to lose, we have to make sure that we didn’t beat ourselves. In the end you can always live with that. We are trying to make sure we’re doing everything on and off the field perfectly that takes zero talent.”
