The Owensboro Red Devils’ football team is eager to break its 39-year title drought. They’re back in the finals for the first time since 2020, and tonight they’ll take on Pulaski County at Kroger Field with a chance to bring home the crown.
The Red Devils fell in the semifinals in three straight years before a second-round exit a season ago. While they’re excited to have finally made it back to the championship, they’re not satisfied.
“Obviously, I think the narrative around the program has been that hump in semistate,” running back Evan Hampton said. “To get over that and get to where we are right now is awesome. I’m really proud of our team, but the goal isn’t to get there, it’s to win the whole thing.”
As the top two teams in RPI, OHS and Pulaski County look relatively similar on paper, dominating both sides of the ball. Owensboro enters ranked first in 5A in points per game (43.4) and second in points allowed per game (12.4), while the Maroons are sixth in points per game (35.0) and ninth in points allowed per game (20.2).
A well-coached and disciplined program, the Maroons are making their return to Kroger Field for the first time since 2016.
“They are big. We know they are going to be very physical, and they have some athletes as well that can really play and cause some problems,” Owensboro Head Coach DaMarcus Ganaway said. “I think it’s a state championship-type bout and we need to play our best.”
The Red Devils defense will have its hands full with the Maroons’ Kasen Brock, who is fourth in 5A in rushing yards with 1,659 and touchdowns with 21. Defensively, Pulaski County is sound, with Cohen Finley second in 5A in tackles with 159.
The Maroons have four players who have recorded four or more sacks, with Bryan Ford leading the way with 11. Toby Wright is the team’s top ball hawk, recording three of the Maroons’ eight interceptions and returning one for a touchdown.
“Their defense is disciplined,” Ganaway said. “They are going to get to the ball, and their coach is going to have them in the right spots. I think they do a good job of taking away what teams do best, and they play a lot faster than I thought.”
The Red Devils boast one of the top running backs in the state in Hampton, who, on the season, has rushed for 1,927 yards and 28 touchdowns. He was also recently named the Gatorade Kentucky Football Player of the Year.
Transfer student DaMarcus Ganaway Jr. has flourished at quarterback, immediately making a connection with sophomore receiver Kingston Dillard.
Defensively, the Red Devils flourish at forcing turnovers, with five different players picking off two or more passes, while Kalil Shemwell has forced a pair of fumbles and recovered three. Owensboro also lives in the opposing backfield, with five players recording four or more sacks.
“Defense wins championships,” Ganaway said. “I truly expect and hope our defense comes out ready to play and has the best game that they have had all season. That will be big for us.”
