A pair of costly interceptions was too much to overcome for the Eagles (3-6), dropping a heartbreaker to Madisonville-North Hopkins (7-2) 42-35. Trailing 20-7 early, Apollo stormed back to take a 21-20 halftime lead, but the defense couldn’t keep up in the second half.
Receiving the opening kickoff, the Maroons quickly marched down the field with ease – taking an early 6-0 lead on a 24-yard touchdown run and a failed two-point attempt. Apollo immediately answered on their opening drive, with John Edge throwing a screen pass to Ehmadjai Badger, who took it 30 yards to the house for a 7-6 lead.
Unimpressed, the Maroons retook the lead 12-7 on a three-yard touchdown run. Showing off his explosiveness, Niles Board ran the opening kickoff to the Maroons 35, but Edge threw a pick on the ensuing play.
Taking advantage, Madisonville-North Hopkins extended their lead to 20-7 thanks a two-yard touchdown run from their QB and a successful two-point attempt.
Apollo was unable to respond on their following drive, turning it over on downs at the Maroons 47. Knowing they couldn’t allow the deficit to grow any bigger, the Eagle’s defense forced a three-and-out. On the punt attempt, the punter dropped the snap, with Apollo falling on the football.
Starting at the Maroons 37, Board capped off the drive by scampering into the endzone from two yards out to cut the lead to 20-14 with 1:39 left in the half. Quickly forcing a three and-out before the half ended, Board returned the punt 60 yards to the house as time expired to give his team a 21-20 lead.
Six and a half minutes into the third quarter, the Maroons retook the lead 28-21 thanks to a rushing touchdown. Similar to the first half, Apollo responded in kind to tie it on an Edge touchdown pass to Landen Bratcher.
Less than three minutes into the fourth quarter, the Maroons retook the lead 36-28 after a rushing touchdown and a successful two-point conversion. On the Eagles’ ensuing drive, Edge threw a pick-six to put the Maroons up 14 with 7:01 remaining in the game.
Trailing by two scores, the Eagles marched down the field and cut the lead to seven after Board threw a one-yard touchdown pass to Bratcher. Unfortunately, Apollo would never get the ball back as the Maroons ran out the clock to end the game.
The Eagles are home again next Friday, hosting Marshall County.
