Owensboro Catholic Middle School’s 8th grade football team capped off their 11-0 undefeated season with a division 3 state title. Last season, the team also finished undefeated when they were in 7th grade with an 8-0 record.
The Aces won the Division 3 State Championship match 28-22 against Christian Academy of Louisville. They trailed behind for most of the game being down 8-0 at halftime and down 22-12 at the end of the third quarter.
The team scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter with the game winning touchdown scored with 1:48 on the clock. An interception by the Aces shut down CAL’s final drive and sealed the championship.
Jude Evans scored two of the four touchdowns during the match. Russ Boarman scored in fashion when he returned a kickoff 70 yards to a touchdown. The final and game winning touchdown was scored by Noah Grant.
This marks the first time the 8th grade team has gone undefeated for an entire season. When the team were 7th graders, they also finished undefeated with an 8-0 record that was topped off with a conference championship.
Head coach Hank Harvey said that this season’s success was long in the making before the season started. Along with the staff that consists of Kyle Gorman, Drew Harvey, John David Rudy and Chad Mongold, Harvey worked with the players since Spring to make the most out of this Fall season. They even won the 7v7 State Cup this Summer as well.
“Many of the players have worked with the coaches for three Spring practices and two Summer seasons of passing tournaments,” he said. “Many put the off season work at Owensboro CrossFit besides all the work at practice during Fall season. The 19-2 record this Summer from passing tournaments helped with the team’s confidence.”
Harvey has been head coach for the school for 23 years and is grateful to have ended his first undefeated season at the very top, he said.
“Having been head coach for 23 years and playing in the playoffs since 2010, we’ve only come close several times,” he said. “Finishing undefeated and on top with a great group of kids is all a coach can ask.”
