The Owensboro Catholic Aces kicked off their playoff campaign in explosive fashion Friday night, dismantling Fort Campbell 61-7 at home. The Aces were firing on all cylinders, leaving little doubt as to who was in control from the first whistle to the last.

Head Coach Jason Morris was pleased with his team’s execution, particularly how they focused on the basics: “I’m proud of the way our guys came out and handled business,” Morris said after the game. “We wanted to get off to a strong start, execute on both sides of the ball, and get as many starters rested as possible. I think we did that, and we came out of it healthy for the most part.”

Quarterback Dre’mail Carothers set the tone immediately, guiding the offense down the field on their opening possession. Carothers hit wide receiver Luke Thomas for a 7-yard touchdown, putting the Aces up early. After a quick defensive stop, Owensboro Catholic quickly expanded their lead with running back Jude Evans powering in from 7 yards out for another touchdown.

As the second quarter began, Carothers threw his second touchdown pass of the game—this one a 3-yard strike to Hudson Ebelhar. A missed extra point left the score at 20-0, but it didn’t take long for the Aces to strike again. Carothers connected with Cam Woodward for a 15-yard touchdown before Miles Edge broke loose for a long touchdown run, pushing the lead to 33-0.

Fort Campbell managed to respond with a touchdown of their own, but Owensboro Catholic wasn’t about to let up. Woodward added another touchdown reception, bringing the score to 40-7 as the teams headed into halftime.

The second half started much like the first—quick and decisive. Carothers wasted no time, hitting Xavier Maddox on the very first play from scrimmage for a 47-yard touchdown that stretched the lead to 47-7. From that point forward, the Aces’ second-string offense took over, continuing the dominance. Peyton Morris found Noah Grant for a touchdown, and Carter James capped off the scoring with a 1-yard run to make it 61-7.

While the offense stole the spotlight with its high-powered performance, the defense made its mark as well. Senior cornerback Jude Cecil was a standout, picking off two passes and further cementing his reputation as one of the most underrated playmakers on the team. “Jude has been a force for us all season,” Morris said. “He led us in interceptions last year and continues to do so this year. It was great to see him make those big plays tonight.”

Looking ahead, Owensboro Catholic will host Crittenden County in the second round of the playoffs, a team that advanced after defeating McLean County in the opening round.

“We just need to stay focused on what we can control,” Morris said. “It’s all about making sure we don’t beat ourselves. We tell the kids that if we lose, we want it to be because the other team was better, not because we made mistakes. It’s all about executing the little things on and off the field.”

With a dominant playoff opener in the books, the Aces are firing on all cylinders and are poised for a deep postseason run.