In Owensboro Catholic’s first win of the season a week ago, the Aces needed a strong second half to take down Mt. Vernon (Ind.).
On Thursday, that wasn’t the case.
The Aces scored on the first drive of the game and led wire to wire as they crushed Hopkins County Central 56-6 at Steele Stadium.
On that first drive, junior Braden Mundy started his night with a 3-yard touchdown run, but that was only the first time he saw the end zone.
The do-it-all back for the Aces then caught a 21-yard touchdown pass from Lincoln Clancy and a 76-yard touchdown pass before the Storm scored their only points of the game on an Adrian Stringer pass to Jaden Campbell that went 79 yards.
Mundy was back again to start the second quarter as he scored his fourth touchdown of the game on a 40-yard pass from Clancy.
“We came in here knowing their secondary wasn’t the best and we could get over top of the, easily,” Mundy said. “Our quarterback Lincoln Clancy just made that happen.”
Mundy said he and Clancy have played together a long time and their chemistry is obvious on the field.
Catholic coach Jason Morris said Mundy is a special player.
“We knew going in, knew for the last two years, Braden is one of our best athletes,” he said. “There’s no hiding it. He shows it every Friday night.”
Morris said there were a few times last season where his halftime adjustment consisted of writing the number one on the board as he wished former Ace quarterback Drew Hartz would find Mundy a bit more.
“As long as Braden’s mindset is right and the efforts there, he’s just a special, talented kid that the futures really bright,” he said.
But Mundy wasn’t able to do it all on his own, as Clancy threw for four touchdowns in the victory.
“I’ve known all along that Lincoln Clancy’s going to be just fine,” Morris said. “He’s got such good moxy and he’s such a competitor. He’s just got that ‘it’ factor. There’s no other way to explain him. He’s not going to wow you with anything, he’s not going to go to a combine and run a 4.40 40 (yard dash). But for whatever reason, he’s picking up 10 yards a carry out here. He can make every throw on the field that I need him to make.”
Morris said he always knows what he’s going to get in Clancy.
“He was built for this,” Morris said. “His mindset and everything. One thing you don’t have to worry about Lincoln Clancy is him mentally not being in the game and that’s great to have as a quarterback.”
Hunter Monroe scored on a 43-yard run and Chris Boarman rumbled in from 15 yards out to give the Aces a 43-6 leading going into the break.
Morris said he’s looking forward to having Monroe around the program for awhile.
“I’ve never seen the kid take a sprint off,” he said. “First in every sprint, first one down on kickoff after he scores a 43-yard touchdown. That’s just the kind of kid he is and I’m glad we get him for four years.”
Boarman is also key for the Aces as he anchors the Catholic defense.
Morris said Monroe’s ability to run the ball eases the need for Boarman to play both ways a lot of the game.
“We cannot lose Chris Boarman on defense so Hunter’s going to get plenty of snaps this year,” he said.
Clancy found Michael Sullivan for a 20-yard score in the second half as Kaleb Daugherty ended the scoring in the third when he recovered a fumble then took it a few yards into the end zone.
Morris said when all facets are working, the Aces can be scary.
“Our whole mindset is about the defensive side of the ball and running the football,” he said. “We feel like it’s very important to be able to do that. To be able to tackle in space and also on the offensive side, be able to run the ball downhill. That way we can take our shots off the top … When we get both, the running game and the passing game, going like that, it’s dangerous.”
Owensboro Catholic continues its homestand to start the season next week as they welcome their first district opponent in the Todd County Central Rebels.
Owensboro Catholic 56, Hopkins County Central 6
HCC (0-2) 6 0 0 0–6
OCHS (2-0) 22 21 13 0–56
Scoring Plays
First Quarter
10:50: Braden Mundy 3-yard run (PAT good) 7-0
6:52: Lincoln Clancy 21-yard pass to Mundy (PAT good) 14-0
2:14: Clancy 76-yard pass to Mundy (Two-point good) 22-0
20.1: Adrian Stringer 79-yard pass to Jaden Campbell (Two-point no good) 22-6
Second Quarter
9:58: Clancy 40-yard pass to Mundy (PAT good) 29-6
6:43: Hunter Monroe 43-yard run (PAT good) 36-6
2:41: Chris Boarman 15-yard run (PAT good) 43-6
Third Quarter
1:41: Clancy 20-yard pass to Michael Sullivan (PAT good) 50-6
5.0: Kaleb Daugherty 3-yard fumble recovery (PAT no good) 56-6
