Owensboro, Ky. – In their second 6A district game Friday against Daviess County (4-1), the Marshals were hoping to end the winless drought against the Panthers dating back to their last win in 2011. Daviess County, led by 3-star quarterback recruit Joe Humphreys, rolled to a 71-7 win.
The Marshals were missing a couple of key defensive players coming into Friday’s game, including Talon Smothers who ranked ninth in 6A this past week in quarterback sacks (3.5 average). Another Marshal ranking in the top 20 in 6A – Landon Utley was 15th in 6A rushing average per game (72 yards) and 15th in tackles per game (8).
Receiving the opening kick and starting at their own 42 yard line, the Marshals were unable to convert a first down and forced to punt. A nice punt by Logan Parker, set Daviess County up at their own 20. A big gain by senior Max Dees to the Marshals 43 set up their first touchdown – a 24 yard pass from Humphreys to Cole Burch and with the two-point conversion, led 8-0.
With good field position from their own 47, the Marshals drive stalled and they turned the ball back over on a punt. On the first play from scrimmage, Dees scored his second TD of the game on a 53 yard run for a 15-0 lead following Sean Higgs’ extra point.
Quarterback Quinn Smith was intercepted on the Marshals next drive by Mason Boswell and they took the ball the 13 yards for the touchdown – Gunnar Evans running it in and the lead was 22-0 with 6:31 left in the first quarter.
The Marshals moved the chains a couple times on their next drive, but faced fourth and long and opted to punt. Daviess County turned the possession into points, scoring on a 68 yard pass from Humphreys to Decker Renfrow. The Panthers went up 29-0.
The Marshals wasted no time getting on the board on their next possession, scoring on the second play that went 75 yards on a pass from Smith to Logan Reese. The PAT good by Parker – the Marshals trailed 29-7.
Daviess County went on to lead 50-7 at halftime, scoring in the second quarter on a pass from Humphreys to Renfrow after a 50 yard drive, Humphreys to Dees on a nine yard pass and again to Renfrow for a touchdown from midfield.
Humphrey connected with Dees on a 63 yard touchdown pass on their opening possession of the second half to go up 57-7. It was the seventh TD pass of the game for the 6’4” 185 pound senior quarterback.
Jack Ball, in at quarterback for Humphreys, scored on a 26 yard keeper for the Panthers to stretch their lead out to 64-7 at the end of the third quarter.
Daviess County went up 71-7 on a five yard touchdown run by Damarien Garner to finish out the night.
Unofficially, Daviess County had 553 yards of offense, the majority in the air with Humphreys completing 16 of 23 for just over 400 yards. The Marshals finished with 177 yards of offense, nearly 100 of those coming on the ground.
Next week they will host Henderson County (4-1).
Marshall 0 7 0 0 – 7
Daviess 22 28 7 14 – 71