The Madisonville-North Hopkins Maroons headed to Owensboro for the second straight week with still a chance to play themselves into a home playoff game in two weeks. That was still the case as the 4th quarter got underway with the Red Devils and the Maroons tied up at 28-28.
However, Owensboro shut down the Madisonville offense in the final quarter and the Red Devils put up 10 points over the final nine minutes of the game to take a 38-28 win at Rash Stadium.
With the win, Owensboro locks up the top seed in the district, while the Maroons will hit the road in two weeks as the #3 seed.
Owensboro got on the board first Friday night when Trevor Delacey hit Cayden Ray for a 28 yard touchdown to make it 7–0 with 9:29 to go in the first quarter.
The Maroons came back to tie the game with 5:46 to go in the first when Markezz Hightower ripped off a four yard touchdown run.
Trevor Delacey threw his second touchdown pass of the night to put the Red Devils back in front, this one to Evan Hampton with 2:20 to go in the opening quarter, giving Owensboro a 14-7 lead.
The Maroons appeared ready to seize the momentum going into the locker room at the break when Kanyon Johnson rambled 17 yards to tie the game at 14-14 with 2:41 to go in the half. However, Owensboro decided to ‘bedevil’ those plans.
The Red Devils went quickly down the field and scored on a 9 yard Delacey pass to Kingston Dillard, giving Owensboro the momentum and a 21-14 lead at the half.
Markezz Hightower gave the Madisonville hopes new energy when he took it into the end zone from 8 yards out. The extra point tied the game at 21-21 with 7:42 to go in the third.
But again, the Red Devils had an answer. This time it was in the form of a 57 yard touchdown run from Evan Hampton and Owensboro was back in front 28-21 with 3:07 to go in the third.
Markezz Hightower scored his third touchdown of the night in the waning moments of the quarter, again from 8 yards out and the game was tied at 28-28 heading into the fourth.
But, the final quarter belonged to the Red Devils. Owensboro got a 25 yard field goal with 8:43 to go in the game that made it 31-28. Evan Hampton then scored his second rushing touchdown of the night from 25 yards out with 4:10 to go to lock up the win 38-28.
Madisonville heads into the final week of the regular season at 6-3. The Maroons will host Murray next Friday night. The Maroons will then open the playoffs on the road the following Friday at Bowling Green taking on the Purples.
