Eager for a deep playoff run, Owensboro Catholic got the postseason started in dominant fashion with a 41-13 blowout over Crittenden County at home Friday.
Miles Edge was the star of the show, catching two touchdowns and rushing for a third.
“Miles is such a good defensive player and running back,” Owensboro Catholic head coach Jason Morris said. “His quick burst from 0-10 yards is one of the best I have ever coached. He shows that, catching the ball out in the flats and getting a first down before you know it.”
It took the Aces only 45 seconds to find the end zone, with Atwell connecting with Xavier Maddox for a 6-0 lead. On their first play from scrimmage, the Rockets fumbled on their own 19 and the ball was recovered by the Aces’ Dereon Crowe. Just 32 seconds later, Atwell gave his team a 13-0 lead after throwing a 14-yard touchdown to Crowe.
On the Rockets’ ensuing drive, Catholic’s Jude Cecil intercepted a pass, setting up an Aces’ drive that ended with Atwell finding Edge from 10 yards out for a 20-0 lead.
Receiving the kickoff, the Rockets pitched the ball back to Caden Howard who ran it down to the Aces 10 before being tackled from behind. Facing their first challenge of the night, Owensboro Catholic’s defense stood tall, forcing a turnover on downs on their own 5-yard line.
Backed up in their own territory, Atwell led a 95-yard drive capped off by a 52-yard touchdown run by Edge to put the Aces up 27-0 with 2:36 left in the first quarter.
Only 43 seconds into the second quarter, Atwell found Edge for his third touchdown, this time from 18 yards out, and Waryn Ebelhar caught a pass for the two-point conversion and a 35-0 lead.
Trailing 35-0 and facing Owensboro Catholic’s second string in the second half, Crittenden County put together two scoring drives.
The Aces got on the board one more time with a three-yard touchdown run by Shaiden Mitchell.
“We have a good job all year long and it is a senior-led team,” Morris said. “They didn’t want any kind of slip up and that showed early. We were locked in and besides a few holding penalties we played real clean football.”
Next week, Owensboro Catholic hosts Murray, who took down Edmonson County in the first round.
