It took Owensboro’s defense just two plays to set the tone in their second-round playoff match against Greenwood, with defensive back Jalen Carr coming down with an interception. Two plays later, Kingston Dillard caught a pass, scampered past the defense, and took it 40 yards to the house.
Whenever the team needed a spark, the defense delivered, as the Red Devils cruised to a 42-14 victory and setting up a third-round matchup with Fairdale.
“We’ve been preaching defense wins championships and making sure they understand that,” Owensboro Head Coach DaMarcus Ganaway said. “The first thing I talked about today was bend them but don’t break them. Sustain them through these long drives. We knew what type of team they were. They were physical.”
Greenwood tied the game at seven after capitalizing on excellent field position after Owensboro’s punt team had a bad snap. The Red Devils retook the lead on their ensuing drive, with Ganaway connecting with Dillard for the second time, this time from 22 yards out.
Owensboro’s defense forced a quick punt, and a few players later Evan Hampton bruised his way into the endzone to push the lead to 21-7. Needing to answer, Greenwood responded with a drive that ate up over eight minutes, but stalled in the redzone and culminated in a missed fieldgoal.
With eight seconds remaining in the half, Ganaway extended the play with his legs, allowing Ayden Fountain to beat his defender and haul in a 38-yard score.
“That’s just another aspect of Marcus keeping his feet moving, keeping his eyes downfield, and trusting his guys,” Ganaway said. “All of our guys had the confidence that if he puts the ball in place, somebody is going to come down with it because he’s making the right decisions.”
Leading 28-7 entering the third quarter, it took Owensboro less than 90 seconds to pad their lead, ending with Ganaway connecting with Jaileon Bryant for a 24-yard strike. After forcing a punt, Owensboro’s offense had a rare error, stalling out in the red zone and turning it over on downs at the one.
Greenwood capitalized on the momentum, cutting the lead to 35-7 after Davis Chaney ran it in from 31 yards out. The Red Devils punched right back, with Ganaway throwing his second touchdown to Bryant – a screen pass that the junior took 18 yards to the house.
Moving forward, Ganaway wants to hiss his team continue to find ways to win.
“If it’s an offensive or defensive night, we just have to stay together, be locked in, and communicate. We have all of the pieces; we just have to put them together when it matters.”
