Christian Academy of Louisville at Owensboro Predictions/Updates

[Unrivaled97]

The defending 3A state champions, Christian Academy of Louisville (CAL) invades Rash Stadium to take on the Owensboro Red Devils.  CAL won last year's contest in Louisville, 28-14.  CAL has a new signal caller this year, but still a familiar name.  Conner Hodge takes over for his brother, Cole Hodge, as QB1.  Hodge will have a lot of weapons at his disposal with the likes of Ja'Hyde Brown, Trey Cotton, Man Robinson & Garyon Hobbs to name a few.  However, CAL may be without their leading returning rusher from last year, Jeffrey Vazzana, who exited the South Oldham scrimmage after the 1st series with what appeared to be a serious shoulder injury.  Hobbs will help anchor the defense.

On the flip side, Owensboro will rely heavily on Division 1 recruit Evan Hampton at RB/WR after the offseason departure, from both graduation and transfers, of multiple key players from their 5A state semi-final run last year.  On the other side of the ball, returning LB Elijah Hampton will help hold down the defense.  No doubt, Owensboro will be well prepared for this early season contest with scrimmages against defending 2A state champs Mayfield and 4A state champs Boyle County.  In fact, Owensboro plays four straight games (2 scrimmages & 2 regular season contests) against defending state champions.

If early season scrimmages are any indication, we could see any type of game this year between these two opponents.  Both teams exit their scrimmages with questions surrounding their offense.  Both teams will have multiple, talented players at the skill positions, but as is usually the case, this game will come down to who wins in the trenches.  This is a huge question mark for CAL as is the same for Owensboro.

Can CAL travel to Rash Stadium and pull out the victory on their way to a potential 3 peat as 3A state champions?

Will Owensboro exact revenge from last year and defend their home turf with a win over CAL?

[BillNye]

If Delacey can limit mistakes along with O getting off the field with some timely stops, then I think they have a decent shot to win the game.

I think CAL holds them off, but I expect the Devils to get better as the season progresses.

CAL 24-14

[Purple88]

Really interesting game; BUT there is not bigger home field advantage (perhaps Mayfield) than Rash Stadium.  Owensboro just plays better there.  If they win the turnover battle, I could see O winning this game.

I expect CAL to win, but I'll take O in an early season upset before CAL can get everything set up.

O 24

CAL 21

[theguru]

2 minutes ago, Purple88 said:

Really interesting game; BUT there is not bigger home field advantage (perhaps Mayfield) than Rash Stadium.  Owensboro just plays better there.  If they win the turnover battle, I could see O winning this game.

I expect CAL to win, but I'll take O in an early season upset before CAL can get everything set up.

O 24

CAL 21

Wow!!

[Unrivaled97]

Overall, I like CAL's speed on defense.  I'm a big fan of Garyon Hobbs.  CAL's offense was able to score points in the scrimmages, but I wouldn't say they were overly efficient.  A lot of those scores were off of or setup by a big play and weren't of the "drive the ball down the field" type variety.  However, mostly in those scrimmages, it appeared they were focused on allowing Conner Hodge to try and throw the ball and not use his legs, which I completely understand.  Scrimmages are for working on where you're deficient.  I think once his running becomes more a part of the offense, CAL will have more success and not have to rely on the big play as much.  We shall see.  In addition, CAL's OL has got to start creating some movement and working edges.  There are too many heads-up stalemates at the LOS.  It doesn't help to create lanes.  I think this should be a very competitive game, especially with Owensboro being at home.  I think CAL's team speed on defense will help to bottle up Evan Hampton so I'm going with CAL 31-21.

[Brown]

O had 2 TD’s called back last year.  Played better as the game wore on.  

[DevilMayCare]

1 hour ago, Unrivaled97 said:

I think CAL's team speed on defense will help to bottle up Evan Hampton so I'm going with CAL 31-21.

If they bottle up Hampton, I don't even see 21 points for Owensboro. I would anticipate O trying to get him the ball in a wide variety of ways. That'll be an interesting chess match.

I like CAL here, and I'm prepared for an uneven - maybe even ugly - game as both teams try to figure things out.

[Hearsay]

I'm going to go with Owensboro in the upset.  Having watched and tracked CAL the past couple seasons, and then preseason this year, the firepower just does not seem the same.  I could be wrong.  They can print my post and use it as bulletin board material if they like.

[VF111]

If speed is the weapon you want to use against Owensboro, I have some bad news for some folks... 

[MBKT]

1 hour ago, Hearsay said:

I'm going to go with Owensboro in the upset.  Having watched and tracked CAL the past couple seasons, and then preseason this year, the firepower just does not seem the same.  I could be wrong.  They can print my post and use it as bulletin board material if they like.

If any top high school team in Kentucky is paying attention to those of us posting on BGP and using it as “bulletin board material”, that team has issues. 

[SLINK]

Owensboro 23-20.

[Devils Fan]

There’s a kid for Owensboro that most on this forum don’t know yet because hes just a freshman. #15 Dillard has big play capability everytime he touches the ball and the speed to take it to the house everytime. Don’t know what level of involvement he will have this early in the season but keep an eye out as he could potentially be an X factor in this game…. Scored in both scrimmage games

[Brown]

8 hours ago, Devils Fan said:

There’s a kid for Owensboro that most on this forum don’t know yet because hes just a freshman. #15 Dillard has big play capability everytime he touches the ball and the speed to take it to the house everytime. Don’t know what level of involvement he will have this early in the season but keep an eye out as he could potentially be an X factor in this game…. Scored in both scrimmage games

He comes from good athletic stock.  He scored a TD vs. Mayfield - great catch.  He scored a great TD vs. Boyle (albeit I think there was a mixture of 1s, 2s and 3's in at the time.  But if you watch that on X, it was a remarkable TD.  I'm pretty sure Dillard was 2nd in the 100 meters (and 200) meters at 8th grade state last year.

[Brown]

O should gave #1 WR Morris back as well -hasn’t played in either scrimmage.  Led the team in Receiving TD’s last year.  Had 62 yards and a TD vs CAL in 2023.

[JD5692]

59 minutes ago, Brown said:

O should gave #1 WR Morris back as well -hasn’t played in either scrimmage.  Led the team in Receiving TD’s last year.  Had 62 yards and a TD vs CAL in 2023.

Is he going to be back from his injury this soon? Rumor was he would miss a lot of time