It was another one-sided affair Thursday night as the Owensboro football team ran away with their third district victory.
With a 54-0 thumping of Muhlenberg County at Rash Stadium, the Red Devils have now outscored their three district opponents 137-0 with two more to go after a bye next week.
Owensboro (6-1, 3-0 Class 5A District 1) was once again led by their defense, which limited the Mustangs (2-5, 1-2) to only 31 yards of total offense, including -8 rushing yards. The Red Devils also got a defensive touchdown when Ben Flaherty returned a fumble 30 yards to put them up 40-0 just before halftime.
“It was another really solid performance by the defense,” said OHS head coach Jay Fallin. “Muhlenberg County is a good football team. I want to give a lot of credit to coach (Joshua) Staples and his team. Their kids play hard and they have a good scheme.”
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For a full photo gallery from the game, click here.
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Fallin said the Red Devils had a good plan from the start defensively, and the players went out and executed — they allowed only two first downs in the first half.
“Any time you give up two first downs as a varsity defensive unit in the half, you’re pleased,” Fallin said. “I thought our defensive unit played hard. I thought our intensity and physical focus was good tonight.”
The offense didn’t have their best game but were still solid overall as they finished with 367 yards, with contributions from a handful of players.
Leading rusher Javius Taylor was the first to score, cashing in on a 6-yard run five minutes into the first quarter. He finished with 68 yards on four carries, including a 58-yard scamper on 3rd-and-long that set up a 4-yard touchdown by Treyvon Tinsley — a score that put Owensboro up 28-0 midway through the second quarter.
“Javius had some nice carries,” Fallin said. “(On his big run) we pitched the ball to him, the O-line did a great job blocking, he found a lane, and he got us a big first down.”
Tinsley was also a big factor on offense, finishing with three touchdowns. His first was a 24-yard reception that helped the Red Devils take a 14-0 lead midway through the first quarter. After scoring on his 4-yard run, Tinsley also caught a screen pass that he took 58 yards to paydirt late in the half.
Before Tinsley’s touchdowns, the Red Devils opened the second quarter when Gavin Wimsatt found Steven Stevenson wide open in the end zone on a 14-yard pass. Flaherty’s defensive touchdown came with 1:33 left in the half.
“I think offensively if we’re going to accomplish what we want to accomplish, we still have some things we have to clean up,” Fallin said. “But overall, I’m pleased with how we played on both sides of the ball and in the kicking phase.”
Owensboro added two more touchdowns in the second half. Sophomore backup quarterback Taquan Robinson scored on a 6-yard keeper in the third quarter, and freshman running back Jeremiah Goodwin scored on a 3-yard run in the fourth.
Wimsatt finished the game throwing 11-for-19 with 185 yards, and Robinson went 4-for-6 with 27 yards.
Cameron Thompson had five carries for 45 yards, while Goodwin had six for 22. Tinsley lead the receivers with 102 yards on three catches. Stevenson had four catches for 54 yards.
Trace Grenier led the defense with one sack and five tackles, including three for a loss.
After a bye next week, Owensboro returns to action Oct. 18 in their final road game at Graves County.
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2019 football coverage is presented in part by Drew Cunningham, agent at State Farm.
