Big 2nd round matchup the Devils better not overlook. 
 

Who ya got?

@Purple88 I was hoping for a big write-up!!!  

@Tigerpride94 what’s the rankings say on this one?  O victory by how much?

4 minutes ago, Brown said:

@Tigerpride94 what’s the rankings say on this one?  O victory by how much?

Owensboro by 21.

Without trying to sound like an obnoxious fan. I believe this game will be a running clock by the 3rd quarter. Not to take away from GW in the slightest bit. They’re a good team maybe the best team since Howard’s (Superman) team. Which came to Rash in the 2nd round and gave the Devils all they wanted only losing 27-21 in ‘22. But this Devils offense is a much faster hitting offense than they were in ‘22 that can demoralizes running teams once they’re up 2 scores within 5min of the 1st quarter. Taking opponents out of their rhythm and it  snowballs from there. I watched GW against MNH and they're basically the same team. With GW having the slighty better passing attack… Even if GW can slow down the Devils offense can they score on the Devils defense? They only scored 21 on MNH who defense allowed Apollo to score 49. The same Apollo that only scored 14 against the Devils. I know games are won on the field but just off caparables alone this game shouldn’t be close.

Greenwood will be the best team O has played since O’Cath. That said

Devils 42

GW 14

22 minutes ago, Tigerpride94 said:

Owensboro by 21.

I was going to say Devils by 21 so I’ll buy that T94 ranking prediction!  @Devils Fan I think you are correct.  I’m not sure about a running clock, but watching most of the MNH/Gwood game, I think Gwood will grind it out and take all time every play before they snap the ball.  They do have a good defense and are a top 10 team. Both RB’s are good.  They have a chance if they created 2-3 turnovers that create short fields.  Their secondary is going to be tested and their run defense too.  Run defense is very good, but they were able to put 7-8 guys playing the run against the Maroons.  Against O you can’t do that.  I guess you can try.  The game at Rash - O crowd will be pumped up - this is a top 10 matchup and everyone knows Gwood is a very good team.  You don’t hear about the O defense, but it is one of the best in 5A - lots of talent on that side of the ball.  High water mark for O is a running clock in the 2nd half and shut down Greenwood to 7 points or fewer.  Low water mark is turnovers, mistakes, penalties and Gwood gets a win.  I’d say the game will lie somewhere like 35-14 Devils.

Greenwood has only won one second round game in the program's history (1-6), and they're 0-12 all-time against Owensboro.  I don't see those numbers improving here.

14 hours ago, Brown said:

@Purple88 I was hoping for a big write-up!!!  

Well for you Brown, I will give you my Drive-Thru Special!

Owensboro Red Devils

The Red Devils are about a month away from the year anniversary where Coach Jay Fallin stepped down.  From there we were treated with a 40-page BGP thread on who and when the new coach would be.  Coach Demarcus Ganaway Sr was selected and since that selection he has come to Frederica Street and done a Super job.  All the news I hear is positive coming from O.  Yes, they were overmatched vs St X and CAL, but just about everyone else is too.  They then got over the hump vs a very good OCath team (34-21) and from there the machine has just been rolling along.  In their 7 games after Catholic, they have scored no fewer than 42 points per game with 4 of those games scoring 60 points.  FOUR!  Of those 4 teams, Owensboro was the ONLY team to score that many points on them this season.  With that said, they have not played a team that "could" beat them since September 12.  That's 2 months ago.  That's the only down side I see.  The rest is great for "maybe" Owensboro's best chance at a State Title since 2020.  They are #2 in RPI meaning they wouldn't play on the road till the State Finals.  That ranking also means this is their last "test" until the semi-finals IMO.  Lot of momentum.

Hampton, Ganaway Jr., and Dillard form a great offensive engine the Red Devils have ridden to Week 2.

Greenwood Gators

Coach William Howard has built a strong football culture at Greenwood.  They have great numbers for a 5A team, and this 2025 team has for me outperformed where I thought they would be.  Their offensive line is physical.  Their defensive front 7 is on par with any defensive front 7 in 5A.  SR RBs Davis Chaney and Nathan Self are really good ball carriers, and they have gained over 1,300 yards and 20 TDs between them.  They are not near the offensive engine that Owensboro is, but they are methodical and good at working within their system and it brought them within 3 points of Bowling Green, something they have NEVER done before and has them here in Round 2 looking for the upset.

Game Items

This is an interesting game.  Owensboro is the heavy favorite.  And NEVER discount what @DragonFire says in these type games!  Zero and 12 is a HARD number to overlook.  And I don't.

But I didn't against BG either and Greenwood nearly shocked the State that night.  In that BG game, Greenwood was helped by some holding penalties on BG to negate some early scores.  In this Owensboro game, Greenwood needs the same thing and turnovers in their favor to keep them in this game.  If they get that, and the game settles into a tight battle, the longer it goes the more dangerous Greenwood becomes.  And they won't quit.  That along with confidence makes them dangerous here.

The first quarter is ULTRA-critical for Greenwood!  If they can hang around like they did at Bowling Green, then the Gators hopes improve.  If they get behind early, it's likely a really long game for the men in Green!

Good luck to both teams!

I think Greenwood can make things for OHS but I still have O pulling away in the 2nd half by 2-3 scores.

Edited November 10, 2025Nov 10 by theguru

If Owensboro really is the best team in 5A this season, like many people think and claim, this is the kind of game where they HAVE to come out and prove it. I know it is the playoffs and you just have to "survive and advance", but this can be a statement game. Get a running clock in this one and send a message to the rest of 5A! Someone mentioned 42 - 14 and that sound about right to me!

Good luck to both teams and hope everyone stays healthy!

Folks claiming OHS is the best in 5A may want to watch some tape of Cooper, Scott Co., Woodford Co., etc….Lack of size along the lines for Owensboro is a major concern IMO.

2 hours ago, Ordell said:

Folks claiming OHS is the best in 5A may want to watch some tape of Cooper, Scott Co., Woodford Co., etc….Lack of size along the lines for Owensboro is a major concern IMO.

I agree but that was the case against MNH, OC, Henderson and pretty much anybody else we’ve played. One of the biggest improvements from Ganaway Jr is that he gets rid of the ball pretty quick. 

24 minutes ago, Devils Fan said:

I agree but that was the case against MNH, OC, Henderson and pretty much anybody else we’ve played. One of the biggest improvements from Ganaway Jr is that he gets rid of the ball pretty quick. 

I agree things have gotten better with the way Ganaway Jr is used at QB. But I don’t think MNH, OC, or Henderson are as good, or as big, upfront as Scott Co., Cooper, or Woodford Co. is. Hopefully we get to see how the Red Devil’s match up with some of these teams in another 2-3 weeks.

50 minutes ago, Ordell said:

I agree things have gotten better with the way Ganaway Jr is used at QB. But I don’t think MNH, OC, or Henderson are as good, or as big, upfront as Scott Co., Cooper, or Woodford Co. is. Hopefully we get to see how the Red Devil’s match up with some of these teams in another 2-3 weeks.

After Friday Night you won't have to worry about one of these!

I will follow up and say - I believe this is the best all-around Owensboro team since the last state championship team.  Not the best O-line but a really solid one.  Best RB since Justin Miller, best WR I’ve ever seen and the best QB I’ve ever seen (yes over Wimsatt) - this is in comparison to other Owensboro players over the past 40 years. Very solid group at WR with a number that can make tough catches - Bryant, Dillard, Morris, Shemwell x 2, Fountain, Ashley at TE.  Muster one of the best O & D-lineman I’ve seen in a Devil uni.  Solid and very fast D line with Clark, James, Muster and now add Pullom into the mix (All Evansville Metro last year) - he’ll be available round 3.  D-line James and Clark are 4.6 guys off the edge and I’m sure Pullom is right there as well.  GREAT LB core with Conrad, D1 guy Ashley and Hampton (Eli), Kindle/Burk - very fast and tough group.  Secondary is really good and one of the best I’ve seen with Green and Roney (Ohio transfer game 3) and I believe Carr and Shemwell at Corner.  RB Hampton, green, Kindle.  

Defense gave up 7 to Apollo, 7 to MNH on a fluke, 21 to Catholic, but only 7 until the final couple of minutes (fumble by RB2 set them up in the red zone on the first and about 60 yards in penalties the other).  Whether or not they are number 1 remains to be seen, but the teams passes the “best of” eye-test for me.  I THINK this team is better all-around than the 2020, 2014,1999 and 2000 runner-ups.  So does that mean they can beat greenwood, then Fairdale, then Atherton, BG, Cooper, then Scott or Woodford in the finals….I would think they can, but those are all tough teams.  Our new coach is changing the culture and O attacks you on your weakness and how you play us.  Phenomenal job for the coaches too.

I don’t’ think Devils fans would trade teams with anyone, but let’s beat Greenwood first.  I’ll take a 7 point win it doesn’t matter.  Win and move on.