Apollo is coming off a loss from the Murray Tigers. Can the Apollo Eagles bounce back and get a W in Santa Clause Indiana (Holiday World)? 

Heritage Hills showcases two big time D1 players with Jett Goldsberry (Ole Miss commit) and Tyler Ruxer (Oklahoma commit). 

Who do you got and what are your thoughts?

Apollo has a tough challenge this week heading to Heritage Hills, the defending 3A Indiana State Champs, and they’re doing it against a program that returns two legit D1 athletes in Goldsberry (Ole Miss commit) and Ruxer (Oklahoma commit). Both guys are dynamic playmakers who impact the game on both sides of the ball, but Heritage Hills is asking a lot from them with about 9 players going both ways. That can wear down a roster, especially if Apollo’s tempo and offensive line improvement can force them to defend long, sustained drives.

Apollo has the firepower to make this a real game. Max Johnson at QB with weapons like Badger, Tutt, Bratcher, Williams, Edge, and a 1-2 punch in the backfield with Milburn and Matting gives the Eagles multiple ways to attack. Apollo also returns a respected secondary that can hopefully eliminate Ruxer's play making ability. I think they have the guys to do it, but I have not seen much tape on H.H. to see how good their skill players are. 

Apollo's special teams also look much improved, which could be an X-factor in flipping field position against a team like Heritage Hills. Tutt took a KR and PR to the house last week, with the PR being called back due to holding. Is Tutt the weapon Apollo needed to replace Niles Board? Do they have other skill players that can make big plays against any given team? Absolutely.... But.... Apollo will have to be perfect on both sides of the ball. They must eliminate turnovers as much as possible. Take away turnovers and big penalties, they beat Murray last Friday.

The two keys will be:

*Whether Apollo’s offensive line can control the trenches and keep the run game going — if they can establish balance and finish drives, they’ll make Heritage Hills pay for stretching their stars so thin.

*Stopping Goldsberry and limiting his explosive run play making ability. The dude is wicked fast and can make plays with his legs and arms, but again, Apollo's secondary has fared will against some talented receivers in 5A last season, IMO. 

Heritage Hills will want to lean on Goldsberry’s legs and the passing game to Ruxer, but if Apollo can limit explosive plays and force sustained drives, their depth and improved OL could swing momentum.

Does anyone else have any info on Heritage Hills? I remember them playing CAL last year and they struggled to get anything going early on. 

Santa Claus High is a top program and >>> Murray…..so I think this is over before it starts.  If Apollo came out as strong as a few were talking last week I might have a different opinion. 

Give Me Santa Clause Patriots 45-14

6 hours ago, Brown said:

Santa Claus High is a top program and >>> Murray…..so I think this is over before it starts.  If Apollo came out as strong as a few were talking last week I might have a different opinion. 

Give Me Santa Clause Patriots 45-14

After our Devils under performed I don't know anymore. I think Apollo can pull off the upset.

Looking at Max Preps and Massey Ratings Heritage Hills should win by 30+. They are ranked in low to mid 30's in Indiana. 

39 minutes ago, TimeWillTell said:

After our Devils under performed I don't know anymore. I think Apollo can pull off the upset.

What does Owensboro losing to X have to do with Heritage Hills and Apollo?  I’m lost.  

 

Heritage Hills 14-1 losing only to CAL and state 3A champs in 2024, ranked #2 in state this year in 4A (a step up)

Apollo 5-6 last year - lost against every good team they played only beating McCracken, Meade, Muhlenburg, Marshall and Daviess.  Had 48 put on them by Murray and about 500 yards of offense.  This team going to beat Heritage Hills in Santa Claus???

Not buying at all.  I guess it could happen but that would be a bigger shocker than OCath beating BG x 5.

Heritage Hills starts the running clock early in the 3rd quarter. 

I will qualify my remarks above by saying this - I think Edge is a phenomenal coach - wanted him at Owensboro when the opening came in (read my comments).  But you need a group of good coaches - not sure Apollo has that - not sure they don’t either - I know nothing about the staff. 

Johnson, Badger and others are really good players and their offense is really good,.  I think they can be competitive against the district teams.  I think O will beat them pretty bad, but we will know more soon.  I think they will beat Graves and be competitive with MNH.  I root for them in this game and any other outside of City County games.  My allegiance is to Owensboro first, DC second and then Catholic and Apollo in no certain order.  

Edge is great coach and great defensive coach as well.  But letting Murray go all night with 500 yards….they’ve got to clean that up or they are in trouble.  If they had flattened Murray then I think they could win.

41 minutes ago, Brown said:

I will qualify my remarks above by saying this - I think Edge is a phenomenal coach - wanted him at Owensboro when the opening came in (read my comments).  But you need a group of good coaches - not sure Apollo has that - not sure they don’t either - I know nothing about the staff. 

Johnson, Badger and others are really good players and their offense is really good,.  I think they can be competitive against the district teams.  I think O will beat them pretty bad, but we will know more soon.  I think they will beat Graves and be competitive with MNH.  I root for them in this game and any other outside of City County games.  My allegiance is to Owensboro first, DC second and then Catholic and Apollo in no certain order.  

Edge is great coach and great defensive coach as well.  But letting Murray go all night with 500 yards….they’ve got to clean that up or they are in trouble.  If they had flattened Murray then I think they could win.

100% agree with all you have said about John. 
 

its hard to break a mindset of mediocrity when it permeates an entire student body. 

3 hours ago, Brown said:

I will qualify my remarks above by saying this - I think Edge is a phenomenal coach - wanted him at Owensboro when the opening came in (read my comments).  But you need a group of good coaches - not sure Apollo has that - not sure they don’t either - I know nothing about the staff. 

Johnson, Badger and others are really good players and their offense is really good,.  I think they can be competitive against the district teams.  I think O will beat them pretty bad, but we will know more soon.  I think they will beat Graves and be competitive with MNH.  I root for them in this game and any other outside of City County games.  My allegiance is to Owensboro first, DC second and then Catholic and Apollo in no certain order.  

Edge is great coach and great defensive coach as well.  But letting Murray go all night with 500 yards….they’ve got to clean that up or they are in trouble.  If they had flattened Murray then I think they could win.

Edge knows how to assemble a staff. Most off his staff are former Apollo players who want to see growth in the program. The staff isn't the issue by any means. 

 

21 hours ago, 1stand3rdNoOuts said:

100% agree with all you have said about John. 
 

its hard to break a mindset of mediocrity when it permeates an entire student body. 

I picked Apollo over Murray as well. I think Murray is going to be a team that plays on Thanksgiving weekend in 3-A. If they stay away from CAL they will play for a title. It's a long SEASON and Apollo needs to get their Kick off Coverage team fixed from what I saw. It gave Murray field position all night. 

If Apollo goes to Heritage Hills and plays with them or beats them I think they will be fine the rest of the year, but they need to show us all that they can do it. 

22-0 Heritage Hills with 3-ish minutes left in the first quarter

Apollo takes the ball to the HH 3 yard line and gives it up on downs

84 yard touchdown pass from Heritage Hills 2 plays later. 

29-0 HH with 47 seconds left in 1st.

Apollo bus will be pulling into the school parking lot at about 9:00pm at this rate.