Controversy filled the ending of the Eagles contest with Christian County last Friday night. In the final play of the game in overtime, the Eagles faced a 4th-and-goal at the 1 yard line trailing 21-14. Sophomore tailback Cody Goatley took the handoff and lunged forward to the end zone, but officials claimed Goatley was stopped just short of the goal line. Shortly after the play, tempers flared between coaches and administrators of both schools in the middle of the field, but the Eagles left with the heartbreaking loss in overtime.
Quarterback Ryan Mathis has had a solid junior season for Graves County; passing for 1,364 yards and 14 touchdowns this season while missing several games to a hamstring injury. Senior running back Gabe Harned leads all rushers with 665 yards rushing on 137 carries and four touchdowns.
The Red Devils enter this season with one of their younger teams they’ve had in awhile. Owensboro dual-threat junior quarterback Ezekeil Brown leads the Red Devils attack offensively. Brown accounts for 907 all-purpose yards and 10 touchdowns for Owensboro this season. Sophomore running back Imonte Owsley leads the rushing attack with 552 rushing yards and nine touchdowns.
The winner of the matchup gets the 3 seed in Class 5A District 1 and will face either Bowling Green or South Warren. The Red Devils and Eagles kick off at 7pm Friday night in Mayfield.
McCracken County (5-4, 3-0) at Muhlenberg County (2-6, 3-0)
In a battle of the MCHS Mustangs, the McCracken County Mustangs travel east to Greenville to take on the Muhlenberg County Mustangs in the season finale.
It has been a tale of two seasons this season for McCracken County. The Mustangs started the year with a 20-19 come from behind win over Paducah Tilghman, but the Mustangs would drop the next four to Clarksville Northeast, Graves County, Mayfield, and Glenbard North (Chicago). However, the Mustangs have bounced back in a big way – winning their next four games, including wrapping up the Class 6A District 1 Championship for the 5th season in a row.
When looking for a reason in the turnaround in the Mustangs’ season, you can pinpoint the explosion in the ground game. During their four game winning streak, McCracken County has rushed for over 225 yards in three of those four contests, and 180 yards rushing in the other contest. McCracken senior running back TaeShawn Allen has shouldered most of those yards; running for over 830 yards in the last four games.
Sophomore quarterback Elijah Wheat has been steady for the Mustangs at quarterback as well. Wheat has passed for 1,234 yards on the season with 13 touchdowns. Sophomore wide receiver Franklin Hayes leads all receivers with 268 yards receiving.
This is the first of two matchups these two teams will play. McCracken County and Muhlenberg County are scheduled to square off at Marquette Stadium in two weeks for the first round of the Class 6A Playoffs.
The Mustangs and the Mustangs kick off
at 7pm Friday night in Greenville.
Friday Night's Local Games
Owensboro at Graves County
Murray at Ballard Memorial
Madisonville at Christian County
Russellville at Crittenden County
Paducah Tilghman at Ft. Campbell
Fulton City at Fulton County
Hopkinsville at Hopkins Central
Calloway County at Logan County
Apollo at Marshall County
McCracken County at Muhlenberg County
Trigg County at Union County
Mayfield at Webster County
