Having his fastest receiver, Drew Miles, on the outside on a go route, Owensboro Catholic quarterback Dre’mail Carothers waited patiently in the pocket and then released a perfect pass into the back left corner of the endzone to the sophomore. The touchdown connection between the two capped off a dominant performance by the Aces in their 41-14 win over district rival Hancock County.
“We call that a trashcan throw,” Owensboro Catholic Head Coach Jason Morris said. “We set up trash cans in the back corner of the endzone and just throw it in the trash can over and over. He basically just threw in the trash can, and Miles went and got it.”
Carothers finished the night with three touchdown passes, while running back Miles Edge added three more on the ground.
It took the Aces only 20 seconds to take a quick 7-0 lead – scoring in just two plays from scrimmage. After taking a pass 68 yards to the one-yard line, Edge punched it in on the next play. Forcing a punt on the Hornets opening possession, the Aces marched down the field, setting up Edge to run it in from two yards out.
Riding the run game, the Hornets picked up a couple first downs, but Nick Sims forced a turnover, stripping the ball carrier and recovering his own fumble. With the ball on their own 47, Carothers eventually found Cam Woodward from six yards out for a 21-0 lead.
Needing to respond, the Hornets marched down into Aces territory via their run game, but eventually stalled out and turned it over on downs. Starting on their own 37, the Aces quickly found themselves facing a third and 20, but Xavier Maddox took a screen pass 62 yards to the house to push the lead to 28-0.
“Woodward had a great block on their corner,” Morris said. “It was a great play call by Coach Morris my brother. We are getting that press man, and that takes their overhanging player out, who was chasing Woodward. Cam got a really great block on the corner, and then it became just Xavier and the free safety. Xavier won that matchup.”
Right before the end of the first half, Carothers delivered what he called his best throw of the night to Miles in the back left corner of the endzone.
In the second half, the Hornets avoided the shutout after Brady Eubanks broke free for a 25-yard rushing touchdown. The Aces responded with a Shaiden Mitchell 23-yard rushing touchdown, and the Hornets’ Cooper Jones was able to score just before the fourth quarter clock expired.
Next Friday the Hornets will look to bounce back when they host McLean County in a pivital district game. On Thursday, the Aces will travel to Fort Knox for a district game of their own.
“We need to keep it going,” Carothers said. “This was a good district win, but we can’t stop here. We have to keep turning it up every week and stay focused.”
