For two straight years, Owensboro Catholic has walked into Kroger Field with a title in reach — close enough to taste — only to watch another team hoist the trophy. After living on the precipice of glory, the Aces are back on the sport’s biggest stage for a third consecutive season, and they believe this time can be different.
Catholic will take on Lexington Christian Academy at 4 p.m. ET in the Class 2A 2025 UK HealthCare Sports Medicine State Football Finals.
OCHS Head Coach Jason Morris said the Aces are relying on experience to bring home the program’s first title.
“We have 20 seniors who will all be making their third straight appearance at the state finals,” Morris said. “We can’t let the environment of the game get to us, like we felt like it had in the past couple of years. We have to make sure we start and finish the game well.”
The Aces enter the bout battle-tested after wins over Somerset and Beechwood, two teams with contrasting styles.
On paper, the Catholic and LCA look relatively similar, dominating both sides of the ball. The Aces enter ranked fourth in points allowed (15.5) and sixth in points scored (42.4), while the Eagles are ranked 10th in points allowed (20.2) and eighth in points per game (36.4).
“Lexington Christian is very well coached, a very good team, and has a lot of good players,” Morris said. “They are very strong on both the offensive and defensive lines. They are just a very solid football team in all aspects of the game, are a very good program with a lot of tradition, and play very good football.”
Nash Whelan is at the helm for the Eagles, throwing for 2,299 yards and 26 touchdowns against only six interceptions. Whelan is also a threat with his legs, rushing for 1,000 yards and 14 touchdowns. Tyler King has been his top receiver, hauling in 68 catches for 958 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Defensively, the Tigers are physical, especially up front, and are athletic in the secondary. Sam Pearson is the team’s ballhawk, picking off three passes, while Logan Mays leads the way in sacks with five and a half. The Tigers’ defense has a knack for knocking the football out, forcing eight fumbles and recovering 11, two of them for touchdowns.
“We have to make sure we win the battle of the trenches or at least get stalemates in the battle of the trenches,” Morris said. “We have to make sure we match their physicality or are the more physical team.”
For Aces QB Dre’Mail Carothers, this will be his first time starting in the big game, but the junior acknowledged he is ready for the spotlight.
“Hopefully, I can lead the team to its first state championship in school history,” Carothers said. “I feel like I can with the way I have been playing. I just have to stay calm. It’s just another football game, and I need to play as hard as I can.”
Carothers leads all of 2A in passing yards with 3,753 and has thrown for 46 touchdowns against only six interceptions. He has no shortage of weapons, with Xavier Maddox (1,290 yards, 14 touchdowns), Luke Thomas (841 yards, 8 touchdowns), and Cam Woodward (789 yards, 11 touchdowns) all hauling in 50+ receptions.
Miles Edge leads the ground attack, rushing for 1,221 yards and 20 touchdowns.
“I think this year we’re really experienced,” Edge said. “This senior class has been there twice, and I think we’re just ready to go.”
The Aces’ defense also has a knack for forcing turnovers, ranking third in 2A in forced fumbles (12) and fifth in interceptions (15). They also excel at getting after the QB, with Barrett Evans, Caden Conkright, and Edge combining for 17.5 of the team’s 32.5 sacks.
Veterans of Kroger Field at this point, senior Woodward wants to see his team let their experience shine through.
“We learned from the last two times that when we get to the big place we are going to, we can’t panic,” Woodward said. “We have to be who we are and just have to remain calm and go out there and execute.”
