Evan Hampton put his talent on full display, scoring four touchdowns and rushing for 158 yards as Owensboro romped past Graves County for a 42-7 home victory to open district play.
Hampton’s third touchdown of the night was perhaps the most impressive. He broke a tackle, caught himself as he was about to touch the turf, and scampered in from 34 yards out to ice the game.
“That was actually a read play for the QB, and the majority of the times he pulls the ball,” Hampton said. “This time he gave it to me and at the end of the day you just have to make a play. That’s my job. Go out here and play for each other and make a play.”
That touchdown put the game out of reach, putting OHS up 35-7 with 1:51 remaining in the third quarter.
“That was an incredible run,” Owensboro head coach Jay Fallin said. “It was really impressive.”
It was a reflection of how OHS had played for much of the night. The Red Devils needed only a few plays to score on the opening drive, when Hampton ran it in from 10 yards out to give his team an early 7-0 lead.
Graves County appeared ready to answer, methodically driving down the field with running back Denis Marrs picking up multiple first downs. However, the Eagles fumbled on the Owensboro 6-yard line, and momentum switched on a dime.
It took only two plays for quarterback Trevor DeLacey to hit Kingston Dillard streaking across the middle of the field for a 91-yard touchdown for a 14-0 lead with 4:28 remaining in the first quarter.
Facing a third and long on the ensuing drive, Graves County had an open receiver with no one in front of him, but an underthrown pass allowed Kahlil Shemwell to swat it out of the air to force a punt.
OHS then converted a 2nd-and-22 with DeLacey connecting with Chadyn Morris for a 23-yard pickup. A few plays later, Hampton continued to gash the opposing defense, picking up 27 yards and then punching it in from 7 yards out to make it 21-0 with 10:16 left in the second quarter.
The Red Devils quickly got the ball back, and after Morris caught a pass for 27 yards, Hampton scored his third rushing touchdown of the half, this one from 5 yards out to make it 28-0 with 5:22 left in the half.
Attempting to get on the board before halftime, Graves County got within striking distance but turned it over on downs on the Red Devils’ 25.
The Eagles go on the board with the opening drive of the second half. Graves County marched down the field and converted on two straight fourth downs. With 5:57 left in the third quarter, Marrs ran it in from nine yards out to make it 28-7.
“On their only scoring drive, I was still proud of the defense because we made them fight for every inch of it,” Fallin said.
The Red Devils recovered the onside kick attempt, but shortly after DeLacey was picked off on a deep shot. Graves County was unable to capitalize and quickly punted the ball back.
With 1:51 remaining in the third quarter, Hampton scored his fourth touchdown. Graves County punted on the ensuing possession. Less than a minute later, DeLacey found a wide-open Tee Green in the end zone from 5 yards out to make it 42-7 for the final scoring play of the game.
Owensboro finished with 439 yards of total offense, including 195 yards on the ground and 244 in the air. DeLacey finished 10-16 with two touchdowns and an interception. The offense was a perfect 7-7 on third downs.
For Graves County, Marrs finished with 151 rushing yards and a touchdown on 25 carries. Quarterback Kaden Gregory was kept in check, finishing 7/12 for 44 passing yards and adding 15 rushing yards.
“I am really pleased with because we didn’t do a good job of this last year,” Fallin said. “It may not have looked like it tonight due to the score, but their QB is a very effective scrambler when he gets loose in the pocket. I felt we did a really nice job of keeping him bottled up throughout the courses of the game.”
