It’s long been said that ‘speed kills’ when it comes to athletics, and one thing the Owensboro Red Devils have is plenty of speed, on both sides of the football. The Red Devils used that speed and big play after big play on offense to steamroll past the Madisonville-North Hopkins Maroons 61-7 on Senior Night in Madisonville.
The Maroons actually score first in the game and then saw the Red Devils respond with 61 unanswered points over the final 38 minutes of the game.
While the speed led to big plays on offense, the Owensboro defense used it to contain the Maroon offense in the first half and then virtually shut it down in the second.
Madisonville, which two weeks ago was in line to possibly stay at home in the playoffs until the state championship round, now will hit the road in two weeks for its first postseason contest.
The game started off an a positive note for the Maroons. On the fourth offensive play of the game, Markezz Hightower launched a halfback pass down the right sideline that was deflected away from the intended receiver and ended up in the hands of Jayden Travis, who took it 60 yards to the end zone to put Madisonville up 7-0 with 10:11 to go in the first quarter.
The momentum from that score did not last long, however. On the next play from scrimmage, Owensboro quarterback DaMarcus Ganaway hit Kingston Dillard on a short pass across the middle and Dillard took it 67 yards to tie the game at 7-7 and the Red Devils were off and running.
The Maroons took the next possession and looked to be headed for another early score. After a drive of six minutes, Alex Richards was picked off with the interception returned to the Madisonville 42 yard line.
Four plays later, Evan Hampton rambled 38 yards to put Owensboro in front 14-7 with 2:04 to go in the first.
Madisonville once again drove the ball down the field on the ensuing possession but the drive stalled out at the Owensboro 25 yard line. Noah Mays 42-yard field goal attempt was just off the mark with 9:50 to go in the half and the Red Devils had the ball back.
It did not take Owensboro long to find the end zone again, this time on a 63 yard pass from Ganaway to Kalil Shemwell with 8:11 to go in the half as the lead grew to 20-7.
The Red Devil defense got in on the run when the Maroons snapped the ball over the head of quarterback Alex Richards. Owensboro picked the ball up and ran it back for a 55 yard score to make it 28-7.
The Maroons were stopped on downs on their next possession and the Red Devils took advantage, going down the field and scoring on a 22 yard pass from Ganaway to Hampton as Owensboro took a 34-7 lead into the break.
Madisonville tried a little trickery on the second half kickoff, but the Red Devils recovered the onside kick. The Maroons caught a break when Owensboro fumbled the ball on the third play of the half. But, Madisonville went three and out and missed out on the opportunity.
Two plays later, Ganaway hit Kingston Dillard for the second time, this one for a 60 yard touchdown, and Owensboro led 41-7. After the Maroons stalled out again on the next possession, Ganaway connected with Hampton for a 78 yard touchdown, Ganaway’s fifth TD pass of the night as the lead ballooned out to 47-7.
Another three and out put the ball back in the hands of the Owensboro offense and the Red Devils kept rolling. DaMarcus Ganaway threw his sixth touchdown pass of the game as he hit Ayden Fountain for 38 yards to make it 54-7 with 4:07 left in the third.
Owensboro reserves would add a touchdown in the final minute to get to the final score of 61-7.
The Red Devil offense finished the game with 472 yards, 406 of those coming through the air.
After having 199 total yards at the half, the Maroons managed just 14 total yards in the second. The Owensboro defense held Markezz Hightower to just 43 rushing yards for the night.
The loss drops the Maroons to 7-2 overall and 3-2 in district play. It also locks Madisonville into the #3 seed in the district for the playoffs and will send the Maroons on the road to Greenwood to take on the Gators in two weeks.
Madisonville wraps up the regular season next Thursday on the road at Warren Central.
