For the first time since 2012, the Owensboro Catholic Aces have started the season 3-0 after they dismantled district foe Todd County Central Friday at Steele Stadium.
Much like they did last week over Hopkins County Central, the Aces scored early and often as they cruised to the 43-16 victory over the Rebels for their first district win of the season.
“Obviously getting started 1-0 in district play, it’s coach talk, but it’s a great thing,” Catholic coach Jason Morris said. “You want to be able to host a playoff game and you’ve got to pretty much go undefeated in your district to do that. I just really like the mindset of my kids right now. We’re taking it week by week and day by day. Our practices have been good all year.
“We’re stopping the run and we’re running the football. When you can do that, with our passing game, it’s great. I really like where we’re at right now. We get into what I consider the toughest part of our schedule, starting next week. We know that, there’s no denying it. We’ll go back to work on Monday ready for McLean County and next Friday night will be a really good show.”
The Aces didn’t waste any time in getting on the scoreboard as Lincoln Clancy threw his first of three touchdown passes with 9:26 left in the opener when he found Braden Mundy for the 13-yard score.
“We were able to pass the ball when we wanted and we were able to run the ball when we wanted,” Clancy said. “We got a great O-line and great coaches for a great gameplan. It was a great night all around.”
Morris said they didn’t come out looking to pass or run, they just wanted to go with what the defense gave them.
“I don’t come out wanting to establish anything,” he said. “We come out wanting to take what the defense gives us. They were showing some press/man coverage and in my opinion, with a kid like Braden Mundy, that’s insulting. You got to take advantage of that immediately. We don’t want to wait until the next play, we want to take advantage of it right now. That’s what we do. They gave it to us and we took advantage of it.”
About six minutes after their first touchdown, Clancy dropped a dime to Mundy for a 39-yard score.
Clancy said having a teammate like Mundy makes his job easier.
“It’s awesome,” he said. “On 3rd-and-20, I know I have a safety blanket and I have Braden, he’s going to be open. He’s just a great talent and we’ve been together since 7th grade. It’s awesome to play with him. I love it.”
When asked what Clancy thought as he heaved a ball toward Mundy late in the first that ended in the touchdown, he had a simple answer.
“I saw the window and I just let it fly,” he said. “I trust him.”
Chris Boarman ran it in from five yards out to give Catholic a 21-0 leader after the first frame.
After the Rebels’ first score to start the second quarter, the Aces struck twice, including Boarman’s second rushing touchdown and Clancy’s third passing touchdown when he found Max Byrne from 16 yards out.
“I keep saying it, he’s a competitor,” Morris said of Clancy. “He’s got a chip on his shoulder but it’s a positive. He’s not a cocky, negative kind of kid. He’s got good leadership over the team. He’s everything you look for in a high school quarterback. He can make all the throws, he can run the football. He’s a really good player and there’s a lot of high schools in this state who would love to have Lincoln Clancy at quarterback.”
Hunter Monroe scored the lone third-quarter touchdown as he weaved through the Rebel defense to score on the 35-yard run.
Todd scored nine points in the fourth but it wasn’t enough to make the game any closer than its 43-16 final.
The Aces continue their homestand to start the season as they host McLean County next week.
It will be the second straight week two undefeated teams meet under the lights at Steele Stadium.
Owensboro Catholic 43, Todd County Central 16
TCCHS (2-1) 0 7 0 9—16
OCHS (3-0) 21 14 8 0—43
Scoring Plays
First Quarter
9:26: (OC) Lincoln Clancy 13-yard pass to Braden Mundy (PAT good) 7-0
3:09: (OC) Clancy 39-yard pass to Mundy (PAT good) 14-0
46.0: (OC) Chris Boarman 5-yard run (PAT good) 21-0
Second Quarter
8:22: (TC) Preston Moore 1-yard run (PAT good) 21-7
3:23: (OC) Boarman 10-yard run (PAT good) 28-7
6.0: (OC) Clancy 16-yard pass to Max Byrne (PAT good) 35-7
Third Quarter
9:04: (OC) Hunter Monroe 35-yard run (Two-point conversion good) 43-7
Fourth Quarter
4:10: (TCC) Safety (43-9)
1:55: (TCC) Orrin Scott punt return for touchdown (Two-point good) 43-16
