A big first quarter for Owensboro Catholic was too much for the Todd Central Rebels to overcome Friday night at Steele Stadium. The Aces scored 21 points in the first 12 minutes of the game on the way to a 43-16 district win over the Rebels.
Catholic scored on the first possession of the game when Lincoln Clancy connected with Braden Mundy from 14 yards out to cap off a 68 yard drive and give the Aces a 7-0 lead.
The Rebels looked to be marching on their first possession of the night. They took the ball from their own 25 yard line and drove to the Aces’ 46, but the drive stalled out and Todd Central had to punt the ball away.
After the teams traded punts on back-to-back possessions, the Aces found the end zone again, and it was the same connection as the first score of the night. This time Clancy and Mundy hooked up for a 37 yard score to extend the lead to 14-0 with 3:09 to go in the opening quarter. It took the Aces just 29 seconds to go 59 yards on the drive.
The Rebels then turned the ball back over to the Aces just 59 seconds later when Preston Moore was intercepted. Owensboro Catholic returned the pick to the Rebels’ 13 yard line.
Catholic took advantage of the Rebels mistake as fullback Christopher Boarman scored the first of his two touchdowns on the night, this one from 5 yards out to push the lead out to 21-0 with 46 seconds left in the quarter.
The Rebels finally got something going on the ensuing possession. After starting at their own 28 yard line, they drove the ball all the way down to the Aces’ one yard line. On 4th and goal, Preston Moore pushed his way through the line to find the end zone and cut the lead to 21-7 with 8:22 to go in the half.
The Aces responded by driving the ball right back down the field in less than two minutes. Again, it was Christopher Boarman capping off the drive, running it in from 10 yards out to push the lead back out to 28-7.
With the second half kickoff to go their way, Todd Central appeared to be making a bid to get back in the game on the next possesion. The Rebels drove the ball down the field, chewing up clock, only to have the drive stall out. Todd Central turned the ball over on downs at the Aces’ 34 yard line with 31.4 seconds till the half.
Owensboro Catholic was not in a mindset to just take the 21 point lead to the locker room. The Aces went 66 yards in just 25 seconds to deliver the knockout blow. Clancy found Max Byrne on a 10 yard touchdown pass with six seconds left in the half to make it 35-7.
The Rebels had controlled the ball for nearly ten minutes of the second quarter, but still saw the Aces extend the lead going into the break, and as if that were not enough, quarterback Preston Moore was injured in the final minute of the half and did not return to the game.
Owensboro Catholic got the game to the running clock mode on their first possesion of the second half when Hunter Monroe took off on a 33 yard run to move the lead out to 43-7.
The teams traded possessions until late in the 4th quarter. After stopping the Rebels on the 4 yard line, Owensboro Catholic had the first down snap roll through the end zone to give Todd Central a safety and make the score 43-9.
On the punt after the safety, Orrin Scott returned the ball 65 yards to the house to end the scoring, cutting the lead to 43-16.
Todd County Central rushed the ball for 102 yards and passed for 76.
Omarion Riddick carried the ball 14 times for 55 yards to lead the Rebels. Jamarian Smith added 25 yards on ten carries. Preston Moore had 6 carries in the first half for 22 yards.
Before he left the game, Moore was 7-18 through the air with one interception, for 73 yards. All of his passes were caught by Nate Reding.
Lincoln Clancy was the leading rusher for the Aces with 6 carries for 61 yards. Hunter Monroe had 53 yards on 7 carries.
Clancy finished 9-11 for 144 yards and three touchdowns.
The Rebels fall to 2-1 overall and 0-1 in district play. They return home next Friday night for a huge district matchup with Hancock County.
The Aces move to 3-0 overall and 1-0 in the district. Owensboro Catholic will take on McLean County next weekend in a district showdown.
