FRIDAY’S FOOTBALL HEADLINES:
• Central Hardin pulls away for big win over Apollo
• Early deficit too much to overcome for DCHS
CENTRAL HARDIN PULLS AWAY FOR BIG WIN OVER APOLLO
After staying within striking distance through the first half, Apollo’s offense wasn’t able to keep up as Central Hardin pulled away for a 51-20 victory at home.
“I think we’re still just a work in progress,” said Apollo head coach Phillip Hawkins. “I think some of the stuff we did well. We shut the passing game down fairly decent, but we gave up some in the run game.”
The Eagles (1-2) were plagued by turnovers, and despite an early 16-0 hole they trailed only 23-14 at the half.
The Bruins (3-0) first scored after forcing a fumble on Apollo’s opening drive. They returned a punt 80 yards for a touchdown and added a field goal for a 16-0 advantage.
Geoffrey Johnson got Apollo on the board with a catch-and-run that he took 40 yards for a score, but Central Hardin added another touchdown midway through the second quarter.
With 1:20 to play in the half, Damian Lovinsky connected with Ashton Weaver for a 26-yard touchdown. Lovinsky then ran in the 2-point conversion.
The Bruins scored less than a minute into the third quarter, and Apollo’s next drive ended with an interception in the end zone. Central Hardin went on to take a 51-14 lead before a final score by the Eagles when Lovinsky kept it for a 5-yard run.
“I think the kids just have to learn how to finish games,” Hawkins said. “At halftime, we were in the game. They were demoralized on the first drive of the second half.”
Apollo returns home next week for a city-county matchup with Owensboro (2-1). Hawkins knows the Red Devils have been playing well and will be a tough opponent, so he’s hoping for a strong showing as the district schedule starts to draw closer.
“We’ve got to get this kids better before district comes,” he said. “That’s been my goal from the beginning.”
EARLY DEFICIT TOO MUCH TO OVERCOME FOR DCHS
Daviess County was able to limit the passing attack of Central Hardin, but the Bruins rushed for 439 yards and six touchdowns in a 52-15 win at home.
The Panthers (0-3) were also set back by injuries to linemen early on, and head coach Matt Brannon said it took DC out of the game.
“I think that was a big difference that allowed it to get out of hand,” he said. “We usually are competitive on both sides of the defensive and offensive line. We weren’t able to hold them off. They were really good up front.”
The Maroons (3-0) scored on a 51-yard run with their first offensive play, though Daviess County had a quick response. Shane Riley rushed for a 63-yard touchdown two plays later to tie the game 7-7.
MNHHS recorded a safety after a grounding call against DC quarterback Joe Humphreys in the end zone, and another touchdown pushed the lead to 16-7 after the first quarter. They went on to hold a 31-7 advantage at half that was stretched to 52-7 by the fourth quarter.
The Panthers added a late touchdown on an 80-yard run by Humphreys, who then passed to Isaiah Tomes for the 2-point conversion.
Brannon said the team has to try to hold on to the positives and keep improving.
“They’re a young team and they keep fighting hard,” he said. “We have to continue to push forward and challenge them. One of our best postseason runs was an 0-3 start. We can’t let adversity get us down and turn on each other. We have to continue to pull for each other and work hard.”
Daviess County will stay on the road next week with a game at Ohio County (2-1).
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2019 football coverage is presented in part by Drew Cunningham, agent at State Farm.
