With a little roster turnover for both sides since the last time these two hit the gridiron, Owensboro Catholic and Apollo are gearing up for a cross-town battle to open up the season.
The Aces come into this matchup looking to replicate its mid-season success from the 2021 campaign, boasting a little bit of a different roster. Despite losing some key weapons, Head Coach Jason Morris and company don’t plan on missing a beat to start this year.
“We are expecting to improve from where we ended last season on a seven-game winning streak,” Morris said. “We are not expecting to take a step back.”
Owensboro Catholic’s starting quarterback from a year ago in Lincoln Clancy and multi-faceted wide receiver Braden Mundy are some of their key contributors that they lost to graduation, but Morris isn’t focused on filling in for their production.
More so, Morris wants to see his team play smart and efficiently on both sides of the field. As long as the Aces offensive line can find a way to limit key Eagles defensive lineman Devon Parm from causing problems in the pocket, Morris thinks they can do so.
“Our biggest focus is on managing the game and not beating ourselves with penalties and turnovers,” Morris said. “Tackling in open space is always an emphasis when you are playing Apollo.”
Morris said that in order for Owensboro Catholic to come away with a win Friday, they will have to win the battle of possession time. Especially against an offense that is capable of scoring in bunches that’s led by senior Christian Combs.
“Apollo has a very efficient and sneaky athletic quarterback who is a terrific game manager,” Morris said. “They have two very good running backs and a very good defensive line. Everything goes through their quarterback though and his ability to distribute the ball.”
Meanwhile the Aces will be led by sophomore Brady Atwell under center, someone that Apollo Head Coach John Edge said could cause problems under the Friday night lights.
“Coach Morris does a good job of making their offense tempo really well,” Edge said. “Obviously, Atwell is young but he has a lot of intangibles that make it hard for us to stop him running if the pocket breaks down.”
They will look to limit Atwell and company defensively, while also ensuring Combs time to operate on the offensive side. Edge said that protection from the offensive line will be crucial, knowing that Owensboro Catholic will blitz more often than not.
Edge said that will also be focusing on the little things such as limiting turnovers, blocking and solid tackling on Friday, saying that they have to play as clean as possible to come away victorious in the season opener.
The two will go toe-to-toe looking to start out the 2022 campaign with a week-one victory and the stage is set for Apollo to be the host at 7 p.m. on Friday.
