The Apollo football program jumped out to an early lead over home-standing Owensboro Catholic that propelled them to a 44-27 victory at Steele Stadium on Friday night. The Eagles’ fast pace and versatile offense allowed them to overcome runs put together by an injury-ladened Aces team.
The early lead came on the back of Noah Rhinerson, who punched one in from the 1-yard line for the game’s first score and reeled in a screen pass from Christian Combs that he converted into a 27-yard touchdown with seconds remaining in the first. Kyle Taylor sandwiched an interception that he took 35 yards for a touchdown in between those scores.
“Christian and our offensive line had a great game, and what a breakout game for Noah,” Apollo head coach John Edge said. “We get up 20, and we knew we had to keep our guard up, especially when you’re going against a team like Catholic that has so much fight in them.”
He was right. With mere seconds remaining in the first quarter, Catholic pulls off a reverse on a kick-off return that allows Braden Mundy to take it nearly the length of the field for a touchdown. That ignited a fire — and after a quick defensive stop — the Aces concluded a 75-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run by Hunter Monroe to bring the score to 20-14 with 6:38 remaining in the second frame.
The game moved fast for the remainder of the half as Apollo wide receiver Eli Masterson secured a pass that tipped off two Aces’ hands that he took 46 yards for a touchdown. The Aces retaliated on the ensuing drive as Mundy leaped well into the air to reel in a 65-yard touchdown pass. This made it 28-21 in Apollo’s favor entering the half.
“We were making little mistakes with our defensive ends in our alignment; we had to make a few adjustments entering the half,” Edge said. “Our practices run at a fast pace, much like a game; we just grinded it out, and it was apparent by how hard our kids fought and played. We knew Catholic was going to play 48 minutes and that we would have to do the same.
Catholic head coach Jason Morris said that some minor mistakes and struggles on third down were likely the difference-maker. He added that injuries sustained to utility player Braden Mundy and Quarterback Lincoln Clancy also didn’t help their cause.
“They made plays when it was time to make plays — we couldn’t get our feet on third down,” he said. “For us to be as good as we can be, Braden Mundy has to play four quarters, and he wasn’t able to do that tonight. My prayers go out to my quarterback; he’s as good of a kid as you could ask for.”
Clancy exited the game with seconds remaining in the first half, which prompted Mundy to start the second half at quarterback. Mundy made the highlight reel in a few plays to start the half before exiting with just under six minutes remaining in the third quarter.
“He’s (Mundy) a special talent, and he’s been that way for the last four years, and he’s going to continue to as long as he’s on the field,” Morris said. “We have an excellent foundation behind us. We have a stable unit of guys that understand that and know that we’re better than we showed tonight. “
In the second half, it was all Apollo — accounting for the only points in the third quarter as Combs connected with John Lynn on a slant across the middle for a 51-yard touchdown. Rhinershon secured his third touchdown of the evening on a screen pass he took 33 yards.
They scored their final two points of the game when they pinned Catholic on their third-yard line and converted it into a safety to secure a 44-21 lead. Freshman quarterback Brady Atwell replaced Mundy for Catholic and scored his first varsity touchdown on a sneak with just under a minute left in the game to bring the final score to 44-28.
“We’re tough, but we have to cut down some mistakes, and we made some silly ones tonight, as all teams do during their first game,” Edge said. “We need to polish some things up; we will celebrate this one for 24 hours, and then we’re on to the next one — one game at a time.
Combs finished the game with four touchdowns on 290 yards passing while tallying 68 yards on the ground. Rhinerson finished the game with two touchdowns in the air and one on the ground and accounted for nearly 100 yards.
Clancy finished the evening for Catholic with one touchdown on 107 yards passing, and Monroe accumulated 100 yards rushing with one touchdown. Mundy concluded the night with 66 yards receiving and 47 yards rushing with two touchdowns, while Monroe added a touchdown on 100 yards rushing.
Apollo will next host Owensboro in yet another city-county rivalry, while Catholic will make the short trip to Reid Stadium to face Daviess County.
Apollo 44, Owensboro Catholic 28
Scoring Plays
First Quarter
8:50 (AHS) Noah Rhinerson goal-line rushing touchdown (PAT good) 7-0
6:41 (AHS) Kyle Taylor returns an interception 35 yards for a touchdown (PAT good) 14-0
00:17 (AHS) Christian Combs finds Rhinerson on a screen that he takes 35 yards (PAT no good) 20-0
00:00 (OCHS) Reverse on a kick-off return; Mundy takes it length of field (PAT good) 20-7
Second Quarter
6:38 (OCHS) Hunter Monroe punches it 1 yard for a TD (PAT good ) 20-14
3:58 (AHS) Eli Masterson reels in 46-yard TD reception (2pt conversion good) 28-14
3:10 (OCHS) Combs connects with Mundy for a 65-yard TD (PAT good) 28-21
Third Quarter
7:58 (AHS) Combs connects with John Lynn on a slant for a 51-yard TD (PAT good) 35-21
Fourth Quarter
9:54 (AHS) Rhinerson converts screen into 33-yard TD (PAT good) 42-21
5:15 (AHS) Safety 44-21
00:57 (OCHS) Brady Atwell quarterback sneak on goal line (PAT good) 42-
