Class 5A #1 Owensboro heads to Louisville on Friday night to take on the class 3A #1 CAL Centurions. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. CAL currently leads the series 3-0 with last year's victory being a 35-0 shutout of the Red Devils and 2025 Mr. Football Evan Hampton.

For the visiting Red Devils, after that early season loss to CAL, they went on to win their last 13 contests in route to a convincing 5A state title in Lexington. Last week, Owensboro picked right up where they left off last year with a 24-7 win over St. X. It was the Red Devils first win over the Tigers. This week, they are looking to turn the tables on their opponent once again but appear they will need to do so without starting QB Damarcus Ganaway who might be a game-time decision. If Ganaway is not able to go, the Red Devils will turn to SO QB Tyson Biggs who led them from the mid-2nd quarter on in their victory over St. X. Regardless of who the QB will be on Friday night, they will have multiple weapons at their disposal led by JR WR Kingston Dillard and FR RB Gavin Walker. On the defensive side of the ball, Owensboro is led by SR. LB and UK commit Ty Ashley and SR DL Kobe Pullom who will test the CAL OL.

For the Centurions, they are looking to continue their dominance coming off their 41-0 running clock victory over the very formidable 1A power Pikeville. That win ran CAL's winning streak to a state leading 23 games. CAL is led by JR QB Jackson Burke who also has multiple weapons at his disposal. Those weapons include SR WR Louisville commit Ja'Hyde Brown and SR RB Indiana commit Garyon Hobbs. Of note, there is a possibility that SR WR Gaines Howard returns to the lineup this week. He has yet to play this season, after a great year last season, which saw him go for over 1,000 receiving yards. On defense, the Centurions are solid at all 3 levels, which all bolster D1 prospects (JR DL Kellan Hall, SR LB WKU commit Micah Newsome, as well SR DB Eric Jones, as well as Garyon Hobbs at safety).

These two teams hold the longest current winning streaks in the state of KY. Will it be CAL who runs their streak to 24 or the visiting Red Devils who exact revenge and run their streak to 15?

CAL has the polar opposite offense of St. X and has speed like Owensboro. I'll go with CAL by 14.

Of note, this series will continue for at least 2 more years, which I think it great for both teams.

Last year O was lost first two games…Hampton played hurt in CAL game ran very tentatively and I believe ran 7 times. It wouldn’t have mattered as CAL was a fine oiled machine with phenomenal players even missing some. This year O is also a fine tuned machine and I believe would have been in a real battle as probably 2 of top 4 teams in state, but O is without their captain dual threat QB G’way junior who went out about 11 minutes of the 2nd quarter of X game. O was able to stifle X and won without its QB1 and RB1/SS Tee Green. O is incredibly deep and the backup is a decent QB, that is the one position O couldn’t afford to lose. O has speed everywhere as does CAL it seems. O’s defense will have to step up big time to win this game. The first2 of this series O played admirably well and lost by 14 and 10, while I believe having 2 TDs called back each game. I believe this will be a good game but Os playmakers have to make some noise. Ikniwthey will both be physical, just wish we could play with G’way junior! CAL should be favored 10-14. I’m guessing 21-14 CAL.

@Unrivaled97 great game summary thx!

Great game here! Owensboro played great vs St X and deserved to win. But the Red Devils always play better at home IMO.

This will be a tough challenge. CAL has playmakers all over on both sides of the ball as well and Hall is a difference maker as is Brown and Hobbs.

The loss of Ganaway JR is really significant for O. Is there a known amount of time the O QB will be out?

In the end, I look for CAL to be too much at home, but Owensboro will battle.

CAL 24

O 14

https://www.on3.com/high-school/news/2026-kentucky-high-school-football-top-25-rankings-aug-23/

ON3 released their KY high school rankings after week 1. The Red Devils check in at #2 & the Centurions are #6.

CAL by a bunch.

If Ganaway is out, that puts an awful lot of pressure on the SO backup QB. CAL has a lot of talent in their secondary so that could help neutralize Kingston Dillard and render him ineffective if it's the backup QB trying to throw to him. That would lead Owensboro to rely more heavily on the run and I know the FR RB is extremely talented, but that's a big ask against a team like CAL.

CAL 35

Owensboro 7

Does anyone know if Tee Green for O will be playing in this game? If he is, that will help O's offense out with the injury to Ganaway. Either way, CAL has some of the top players in the whole state and it is extremely hard to win at their place.

I see CAL winning by 21+

This is one of our Pick 5 Contest games:

25 minutes ago, Mr. Giggles said:

Does anyone know if Tee Green for O will be playing in this game? If he is, that will help O's offense out with the injury to Ganaway. Either way, CAL has some of the top players in the whole state and it is extremely hard to win at their place.

I see CAL winning by 21+

Tee Green helps the defense more than the offense. Kindle and Walker are a dynamic duo. Don’t sleep on Biggs. He may not have Ganaways foot speed but the kid can still sling it..

2 hours ago, Devils Fan said:

Tee Green helps the defense more than the offense. Kindle and Walker are a dynamic duo. Don’t sleep on Biggs. He may not have Ganaways foot speed but the kid can still sling it..

Good to know. That defense looked the part on Friday. I guess two pick six's will do that!!!

Ganaway out 6 weeks per Owensboro times. Collarbone. I’d love to see us play CAL with G’way at QB - I’d take Owensboro.

Next man up Mr Biggs.