Owensboro Red Devils ?

How it started….

“MNH, Apollo, GRAVES could all be losses - could be worst team since 2017.”

“The OL play for Owensboro will need to improve greatly if they have any hope of playing on Thanksgiving weekend or beyond.”

How it ended….

 

? Evan Hampton (RB, Mr. ?) | Eli Hampton (LB) | JW Muster (OL/DL) | Jaxon James (LB) | Landon Clark (DE) | Drew Johnson (OL)

? DaMarcus Ganaway (QB) | Kingston Dillard (WR) | Ty Ashley (LB) | Mikai Kindle (LB) | Tee Green (RB/DB) | Kalil Shemwell (DB/KR)

?: Owensboro's 2025 Stat Sheet

A season that began with a whimper, ended in a blaze of glory. Owensboro was the center of the football universe after sweeping top team and individual honors within a span of a couple of weeks.

Losing Mr. Football and most of his lead blockers would set back 99% of teams the following season. The Red Devils may be a one percenter with the return of one of the state's top pitch and catch combos leading the offense and most of the defensive and special teams standouts from the state finals, including Ty Ashley, a DI prospect at linebacker.

Last year's state title was four decades in the making, but the pieces are there for an immediate follow-up.

Ty Ashley(LB), Kolby Pullom(DE), Trey Shemwell(CB), Tee Green(Safety), Amare Roney(Safety), Mikai Kindel(OLB), Braden Burke(OLB), & Daveon Hinton(CB) should form a very solid nucleus on defense in 2026. 

5 hours ago, Ordell said:

Ty Ashley(LB), Kolby Pullom(DE), Trey Shemwell(CB), Tee Green(Safety), Amare Roney(Safety), Mikai Kindel(OLB), Braden Burke(OLB), & Daveon Hinton(CB) should form a very solid nucleus on defense in 2026. 

Defense will likely carry the team through pre-season and first couple of games while the Oline learns to gel together. Mid season Devils should be rolling… Wonder what the schedule is going to look like non district.

4 hours ago, Devils Fan said:

Defense will likely carry the team through pre-season and first couple of games while the Oline learns to gel together. Mid season Devils should be rolling… Wonder what the schedule is going to look like non district.

I would think the schedule would be the same as last year. And like last year I wouldn’t be surprised if the Red Devils start off 0-2 with St. X at Rash and then on the road at CAL.  

2 hours ago, Ordell said:

I would think the schedule would be the same as last year. And like last year I wouldn’t be surprised if the Red Devils start off 0-2 with St. X at Rash and then on the road at CAL.  

StX might be a win. 
CAL will be a loss for now. 
 

We have to get more linemen. This offseason will be extremely important. 

32 minutes ago, TimeWillTell said:

StX might be a win. 
CAL will be a loss for now. 
 

We have to get more linemen. This offseason will be extremely important. 

I guess anything is possible. And I might feel different if it was the last game of the year. But one thing about St. X is regardless of what they lose, or who coaches them, they will have size and 100+ kids on the sideline. 

43 minutes ago, TimeWillTell said:

StX might be a win. 
CAL will be a loss for now. 
 

We have to get more linemen. This offseason will be extremely important. 

Do you know what the back up OL players looked like this year? 

Sophomore (rising junior) Keaton Land, a two year starter on the OL, will be the only returning person on the OL.  The freshmen (rising sophomores) on the OL have great size.  A couple of them got a decent amount of varsity reps in the running clock games.  Definitely will be interesting to see how long it will take the new group on the OL to form a cohesive unit.

9 hours ago, Ordell said:

I would think the schedule would be the same as last year. And like last year I wouldn’t be surprised if the Red Devils start off 0-2 with St. X at Rash and then on the road at CAL.  

New coach at X along with no Harbin. Hopefully we can give X a game. CAL definitely sounds like a long shot.

Any potential contributors walking the hallways??

Going into the 2026 season, Owensboro High School football finds itself at a crossroads between transition and championship opportunity. The Red Devils are saying goodbye to Evan Hampton, the Kentucky High School Mr. Football winner whose production and presence defined the offense. Losing a player of that magnitude changes everything, and Owensboro will not attempt to replace him with a single star. Instead, the identity of the team evolves.

That evolution begins with Demarcus Ganaway Jr., who returns at quarterback and becomes the clear centerpiece of the offense. With Ganaway leading the way, Owensboro still has the ability to pressure defenses in multiple ways. His dual-threat skill set allows the Red Devils to lean into quarterback-driven concepts, using RPOs, designed runs, and tempo to keep defenses off balance while the rest of the offense grows into its role.

On the outside, Kingston Dillard and Ayden Fountain give Owensboro proven weapons in the passing game. Dillard emerges as the go-to playmaker, capable of stretching the field and flipping momentum, while Fountain provides reliability and consistency as a possession receiver. Tee Green, contributing on both sides of the ball as a running back and free safety, becomes a vital piece of the puzzle. He may not replace Hampton’s production, but his versatility allows the offense to manufacture touches and create mismatches.

The single biggest variable on this team is the offensive line. With Keaton Land the only returning starter up front, Owensboro’s championship hopes hinge on how quickly that unit develops. If the line matures and finds cohesion by midseason, the offense has enough talent and leadership to be explosive. If it struggles, the margin for error narrows significantly.

Defensively, Owensboro looks built to win at a high level. Ty Ashley sets the tone at linebacker with physicality and leadership, while Trey Pullom brings edge pressure and disruption up front. Braden Birk adds athleticism on the outside, and the secondary is anchored by Tre Shemwell’s experience and Tee Green’s range at free safety. This is a defense capable of controlling games and carrying the team when the offense is still finding its rhythm.

Taken together, Owensboro enters 2026 as a legitimate state championship contender. The pieces are in place — a veteran quarterback, explosive skill players, and a fast, physical defense. Whether the Red Devils hoist a state title will ultimately depend on the development of the offensive line. If that group comes together, Owensboro has everything it needs to win the 2026 State Championship.

On 12/21/2025 at 7:18 PM, Ordell said:

Ty Ashley(LB), Kolby Pullom(DE), Trey Shemwell(CB), Tee Green(Safety), Amare Roney(Safety), Mikai Kindel(OLB), Braden Burke(OLB), & Daveon Hinton(CB) should form a very solid nucleus on defense in 2026. 

Will there be a rotation at RB or Safety for Tee? I know we have a freshman RB in Gavin Walker coming up. 

I would say Tee Green starts at running back. With rising junior Makai Kindel and rising freshman Gavin Walker getting some carries. At safety rising Sophomore Khalil Shemwell should get a lot of snaps. He started a few games at safety earlier this year until Roney was ruled eligible. Shemwell may also get some looks at running back. He was explosive in late game situations at Wide Receiver but his dad, Yorel Shemwell, was one of the best running backs in OHS history. His grandfather, Ron Hamilton, was one of the best running backs in Owensboro Catholic history. I also would not be surprised if Shemwell runs in the 11.0 second range in the hundred meters in track this spring. Kid has some wheels!

10 hours ago, Ordell said:

I would say Tee Green starts at running back. With rising junior Makai Kindel and rising freshman Gavin Walker getting some carries. At safety rising Sophomore Khalil Shemwell should get a lot of snaps. He started a few games at safety earlier this year until Roney was ruled eligible. Shemwell may also get some looks at running back. He was explosive in late game situations at Wide Receiver but his dad, Yorel Shemwell, was one of the best running backs in OHS history. His grandfather, Ron Hamilton, was one of the best running backs in Owensboro Catholic history. I also would not be surprised if Shemwell runs in the 11.0 second range in the hundred meters in track this spring. Kid has some wheels!

Yorel Shemwell was a dude at RB.  There are 2 shemwell’s on the team.  The older Shemwell played CB and a little WR.  The freshman played some WR and housed a few during the season.  Both are great players.

As far as RB, we will need to do it by committee.  The main reason O was so explosive was Hampton.  That allowed G’Way and the WR’s to flourish - and vice versa for Hampton.  Green is a shifty back but no where near the flat out speed of Hampton.  He’s more of a shifty thunder style like Mr. Barksdale a few years ago (RIP).  Green will not house it against the better defenses like Hampton did, but he is more than capable of getting the tough yards.  That said, I think the speed running backs will be Kindle and mix in freshman Walker - the UA all American as an 8th grader, and Waddy the Sophomore.  I expect Kindle to be the lead back and mix in Green, Waddy, and Walker.  Green is needed at safety similar to Ty Bryant for Freddie D a few years back.  WR speedsters Dillard, Shemwell x 2 will be tough.  Fountain and Bryant are very capable too.  Lots of athleticism in the skill positions.  G’way Jr with jets too.

Coaches will have to make tough decisions about who plays where.  I think Ganaway has shown he will play the best and what’s best for the entire team not who is in line where.  That said, Kindle is needed at OLB also - he’s phenomenal there.  

Bump.