Evan Hampton, Owensboro control 4th quarter in 38-28 win over Madisonville-North Hopkins

The Owensboro Red Devils have gone undefeated in district play after a 38-28 win over district foe Madisonville-North Hopkins. In a back-and-forth shootout, Owensboro pulled away in the fourth quarter to win the district.

“We knew it’d be a fight… they’re always just tough as hell,” Owensboro head coach Jayson Fallin said after the win. “We’re now outright district champs, we get to host some playoff games, it’s big for RPI, this was huge.”

This was Owensboro’s first big test since Owensboro Catholic earlier this season. A 1-3 start after playing three Top 25 teams to begin the season equipped the Red Devils with the tools they needed to continue moving forward and win five consecutive games right before playoffs.

Owensboro pushed the tempo all night long, scoring on their first drive of the game with a pass from quarterback Trevor Delacey to receiver Cayden Ray. The touchdown reception gave the Red Devils an early lead, but Madisonville had a quick answer.

Markezz Hightower was a huge weapon for the Maroons all night, and started causing problems early for Owensboro’s defense. He took it to the house on his feet during Madisonville’s next drive upfield, and tied the score at 7-7.

Later in the first quarter, four-star junior and Kentucky target Evan Hampton took it to the house to give the Red Devils the lead at 14-7. The Owensboro defense held Madisonville on the next drive when the Maroons hit the goal post on a 30-yard field goal attempt, but Madisonville quarterback Kanyon Johnson kept the snap and ran in for a touchdown to tie it up at 14-14.

With under one minute to play before hitting the locker rooms, Delacey tossed it to freshman receiver Kingston Dillard to give the Red Devils a 21-14 lead at halftime.

Kingston Dillard on the catch for another Owensboro TD!! They take the lead with under one minute to play in the second.

Owensboro – 21
Madisonville – 14
1Q, 51.7 sec pic.twitter.com/HmV5TNRJY0

— Piper McCoun (@PiperMcCounKSR) October 26, 2024

Madisonville created momentum for themselves in the third, using Hightower’s power for a rush to the end zone, leveling the score at 21-21. The Maroons intercepted an Owensboro pass, taking it back to the opposite 25-yard line. But, Owensboro recovered a fumble on their own six-yard line, keeping Madisonville at bay.

Then, Hampton ran for 57 yards to the house in a quick recovery and score for the Red Devils to take the lead at 28-21.

“My running back coach said ‘hit it straight,’ so that’s what I was looking for,” Hampton said after the win. “It worked out pretty good for me.”

With seconds left in the third quarter, Hightower made more problems for the Red Devils, scoring on his feet for another Maroons touchdown, tying it up at 28-28.

That would be Madisonville’s final score of the night as Owensboro owned the fourth quarter. The Red Devils reclaimed the lead 31-28 with a field goal to start the fourth.

Then, Hampton would go for one last run to seal the deal for the Red Devils, going up 38-28, the final score of the night.

.@Evanhampton34 for six!!!!!

Owensboro – 31
Madisonville – 28
4Q, 4:10 pic.twitter.com/eknbFnJIWl

— Piper McCoun (@PiperMcCounKSR) October 26, 2024

“This game meant a lot to us through the preparation throughout the course of the week,” Hampton added after the game. “This was everything to us…

“This is a tradition of excellence… high school football at Owensboro means absolutely everything… I wouldn’t wanna be with anybody else, I love being out here with this team. I’m a Red Devil.”