This week features a Top 10 BluegrassPreps showdown. McLean County will put there 3-0 record on the line against 3-0 Owensboro Catholic. This showdown also could be the for the #1 seed in the district. Who wins this matchup? Does McLean County make it two in a row? Does Owensboro Catholic avenge its playoff loss from last season?


 

I’m rooting for McLean.

The two game series between these two teams last year took a hard left turn between the first and second games.

When the Cougars and Aces met in last year's regular season contest, the night's events played out about how most of us expected. OCath quarterback Drew Hartz continued his assault on the school record books with over 400 yards passing and seven touchdowns as the Aces offense did as it pleased in the 55-21 OCath win. The playoff rematch would surely unfold in a similar fashion, right?

Well, a funny thing happened on the way to a district championship…

McLean County dug deep into its playbook and dusted off a few trick plays. Three separate halfback passes all went for big yardage, including one for a score. The Cougars also turned the Aces over three times in a wild 37-36 final that delivered a district title for McLean and shook up the playoff bracket in 2A.

McLean's identity hasn't changed this season. They still prefer to do their damage on the ground, averaging 352 rushing yards per game. Owensboro Catholic has let up on the accelerator of last year's high octane aerial attack and taken a more balanced approach on offense this season. One thing the two teams have in common, is matching 3-0 records. Someone's 0 has to go, and a spot in next week's rankings is likely on the line as well.

Either McLean County will show that last year's playoff win was no fluke, or the Aces will restore order to a district they had previously dominated for the past decade.

Should be a good one in Owensboro on Friday.

 

I really liked what McLean was doing by the end of the season last year.   I think they gained a lot of confidence with the run they made.   I'll take McLean to pull this one out 28-27. 

Big game right here.

 

McLean should have the experience edge, but OCath has looked a little sharper so far this season on Defense.

Mclean is about as well coached of a program as you're going to find.  I'm shocked a big school hasn't came calling for Zach Wagner.  Dude took a winless program for a few years and has turned it into a winner.  The Cougars seem to be struggling a little bit against the pass but their run defense should be solid with returning LB Andrew Munster.  I expect the game plan to be the same.  Runs for 3-4 yards per carry to limit the Aces offense.  They have continued those trick play passes this season with RB Connor Baldwin.  He has 4TD passes to big target Brady Dame.  Dame has some small college potential(possibly Craig Yeast and KWC).

Kudos to Jason Morris for changing the identity of the Owensboro Catholic Aces in a very short period of time.  To graduate 90% of your offense in Drew Hartz and Hagan Edge and not miss a beat is impressive.  Lincoln Clancy brings a little more Fran Tarkington/Johnny Manzel to the position.  Braden Mundy will be the best athlete on the field on most nights for Catholic.  This team is also overcoming the tragic loss of a key teammate in a terrible auto accident over the summer that also cost stud LB Buckman his season.  

I lean Catholic in this game, simply because of the tradition but never count out Zach Wagner.  Mclean will need to be better on defense to make it two in a row and I'm just not sure they will have an answer for Braden Mundy.

OCath 42 - Mclean 28

McClean played great to eek out a victory last time.  Don’t think that will happen again.McLean will be in the game in the 3rd quarter but too much Mundy.

 

Aces 42-21