Apollo football will try start 5-0 for the first time since 2006, but Owensboro Catholic is hoping to keep that from happening tonight in a city-county matchup.
Both teams are coming off blowout victories against inferior opponents a week ago, and tonight’s game will feature offensive strategies on opposite ends of the spectrum. The Aces (2-2) play quick and air the ball out, while the Eagles (4-0) keep it slow and on the ground.
Last year, Catholic lost 31-24 at home, and head coach Jason Morris said the team is ready to flip the script. His team didn’t have a great week of practice last week after a big win over Owensboro in preparation for a meeting with their former head coach, but this week the attitude was totally different.
“This week, it’s the exact opposite,” Morris said. “They want to get revenge against Apollo from last year. The kids have been really focused and working hard, and they know they have a big job ahead of them.”
On the other sideline, head coach Phil Hawkins said his team is no less prepared, and they are as focused as ever.
“It’s been our best week since I’ve been at Apollo,” he said. “I think they’re to that point in the season that they’ve seen some success. The expectations keep going higher, and they keep trying to meet those expectations.”
The game will be important in the city-county standings, as it’s the final game against an in-town opponent for the Aces. OCHS lost the season opener 46-29 to Daviess County in a game that was close until the final minutes. They then beat Owensboro 45-32 in week three for their first win of the year.
Apollo is playing a city-county game for the first time this season and has not yet had a mutual opponent with any crosstown team.
It’s going to be a tale of two different teams trying to get on top of each other with their different styles of play. — OCHS head coach Jason Morris
The toughest task this week for Catholic may be stopping Apollo running back Mariano McKenzie, who’s rushed for 643 yards and nine touchdowns on 85 carries. Morris said the Aces will try to counter with a variety of threats on offense.
“They are going to try to control tempo with their running game, and we’re going to try to control tempo with our spread game,” he said. “It’s going to be a tale of two different teams trying to get on top of each other with their different styles of play.”
Hawkins said McKenzie won’t be the only playmaker, and the new coach has a few things up his sleeve that he’ll use for the first time this week.
“We’re excited,” Hawkins said. “There’s some things we have not done this season offensively that we’ve held in our pocket that we’ll introduce this week. That’s exciting. It’s been an all-around good week.”
Morris was just as enthusiastic about the capability of his team to move the ball downfield and put up big numbers. Leading the charge will be quarterback Drew Hartz, who’s thrown for 1,101 yards and eight touchdowns on 67-for-107 passing.
“We have so many different weapons right now that are clicking,” Morris said. “Drew is on page with all our receivers, so we can hurt you in the slot or outside, and our running game is going. Harold (Hogg) and Von (Williams) are averaging over 7 yards a carry. We attack you in so many ways that it’s going to be a bear to game plan for.”
Both teams generally agreed this game will come down to ball control and being efficient.
“I think at the end of the night, you’re going to look at the number of 3-and-outs and the number of turnovers,” Morris said. “Whoever has the least amount of those will probably be the winner.”
Hawkins said taking control early is something the Eagles have done all year, and so far it’s resulted in nothing but victories. He’s hoping to continue the streak this week.
“I think what it’s going to boils down to is who makes the least mistakes and who can control the game,” he said. “That’s sort of what I try to do offensively is control the game as much as I can. They’re going to want to score a bunch of points, but we’re going to do what we do and manage the game — steady as you go.”
