It was a barnburner at Eagle Stadium on Friday night, with the Apollo football team outlasting Meade County 24-22 in a nail-biting finish.
With under 3 minutes left on the clock, Apollo’s Niles Board took a screen pass 24 yards to the end zone to give the Eagles a 24-22 lead. After a holding penalty nullified a 2-point conversion attempt, the Eagles still managed to hold the advantage.
The game came down to a frantic final drive by Meade County. The Green Wave, starting from deep in their own territory, advanced all the way to Apollo’s 11-yard line. With 38 seconds remaining, Meade County spiked the ball to stop the clock on 2nd down and 10.
Meade got off two more snaps, but the Eagles’ defense held firm, stopping the Green Wave on their final play as time expired.
“It wasn’t pretty, but we won, and we’ll take any win,” said Apollo head coach John Edge. “I’m proud of these kids. They bought into our new style, and it’s not easy when you have to make changes. They did it.”
The game began with Meade County taking an early 7-0 lead on an 85-yard drive capped off by a 7-yard touchdown run from their quarterback. Apollo quickly answered back with a 5-yard rushing touchdown by Board, but the PAT was no good.
Apollo quarterback Max Johnson then connected with Eli Williams on a 35-yard touchdown pass, putting the Eagles ahead 12-7. Despite another missed PAT, the Eagles continued to battle.
A solid defensive stand, including an interception, kept the Eagles in front as they headed into halftime.
Meade County regained the lead in the third quarter with a 32-yard touchdown pass and a successful 2-point conversion, making it 15-12. But the Eagles responded again. Johnson scrambled and found Board near the end zone, and he danced his way in to reclaim an 18-15 lead, as the PAT was missed again.
Meade County seized the lead once more, 22-18, after a bad snap on an Apollo punt led to a quick touchdown. However, Board’s 24-yard touchdown reception with less than three minutes remaining sealed the win for Apollo.
Looking ahead, Edge is optimistic but knows there is room for improvement.
“We’re going to work on blocking down on our PATs,” he said. “We’ve got a really good game next week, and I’m happy for our players. We’re 2-1, and this gives us confidence going forward.”
Edge also highlighted the impact of key players like Board and defensive lineman Anthony Hester.
“Niles is a playmaker,” he said. “He’s like another Tavian Austin out there, and Hester has been a big difference-maker on our D-line.”
Apollo is now 2-1 on the season and will look to carry this momentum into their home contest next week against defending 5A state champion Bowling Green.
