Looking to bounce back after suffering their first regular-season loss since the 2022 season, Owensboro Catholic’s (4-1) Miles Edge scored three total touchdowns to power the Aces past Bardstown (4-1) 56-30. The Aces’ defense forced multiple turnovers, including an interception and a fumble, and kept the Tigers off balance all night long.
“The effort was great this week,” Owensboro Catholic Head Coach Jason Morris said. “This was the first time these juniors and seniors in the history of them playing varsity football that they had to play a game after a loss. The two losses they have are after State Finals, so they didn’t have a loss the next week. I am really proud of the focus and intensity they have put into the week of preparation. We weren’t perfect, but we were perfect with our effort, and that’s all I can ask of my kids.”
The Aces took an early 10-0 lead after a field goal and an Edge four-yard touchdown run on their first two drives.
The Tigers responded with a field goal of their own, but it took the Aces less than 30 seconds to push the lead to 17-3 on a Luke Thomas eight-yard touchdown reception. On their next drive, the Tigers turned it over on downs deep in Aces territory – leading to Dre’mail Carothers finding Xavier Maddox for a long touchdown and a 24-3 lead.
On the verge of being blown out, the Tigers picked off Carothers and took it a house to cut the lead to 24-9. With 90 seconds remaining in the first half, Carothers and the offense marched down the field, culminating in a 30-yard touchdown pass to Edge.
The second half was back-and-forth, with the two teams scoring a combined 46 points. Bardstown scored a touchdown and converted on the two-point conversion to open the second half, but the Aces struck back in less than a minute. With Peyton Morris at the helm due to Carothers being sidelined by an injury, the Aces marched down the field – ending with Edge scampering in from 11 yards out for his third score of the game.
Forcing a Tigers fumble and recovering on their own 44, Morris threw his first career touchdown, a strike to Cam Woodward. The Tigers struck back on a trick play to Chi Poynter, who got behind the Aces defense and took it to the house.
In the fourth quarter, the Aces scored twice on touchdown runs from Woodward and Shaiden Mitchell, while Bardstown found the endzone one last time.
“That’s a really good football team and they were 4-0 for a reason and we are 4-1 now for a reason,” Morris said. “That is two really good football teams, and we are running thin, as we have been beaten up over this gauntlet of a schedule we have played. But it is just next man up. I am really proud of Peyton, who, on his 16th birthday, came in and led us in the second half. Shaiden Mitchell came in, and I am really proud of him. We are just calling on kid after kid. We had a sophomore nose guard play around 30 snaps for us tonight.”
