It was must-win district game for both Marshall County and Apollo Friday after each team lost their last four games, with a playoff birth on the line on a rainy Western Kentucky night in Owensboro. At the end of four quarters, Apollo earned a spot in the playoffs with a 50-7 win over the Marshals.
Taking the opening kick, the Marshals started at their 35 yard line, but turned the ball over, picked up by Cameron Baker and returned for a touchdown, the two point conversion good for a quick 8-0 Apollo lead.
Apollo’s Quinten Miller recovered a Marshall County fumble and they went on to score on an 18 yard pass to Gage Hayden to take a 14-0 lead following a blocked extra point attempt by the Marshals.
Apollo scored again on a 57 yard drive, the touchdown coming on a 20 yard run by Mariano McKenzie, the extra point attempt blocked again by the Marshals but Apollo would lead 20-0.
The second quarter began with the Marshals looking at third down, picking up the first down on a quarterback keeper by Buchmeier. Tyler Stokes exchanging snaps with Buchmeier, was intercepted by Sam Parm for the Marshals third turnover of the game.
Apollo forced to punt on their next possession, gave the Marshals the ball on the Eagles 42 yard line. Buchmeier over center, was dropped for a loss and they went on to face fourth and long, punting to Apollo for the second time after off-setting personal fouls.
The Marshals took over on downs at Apollo’s 48 yard line late in the second quarter but gave the ball back over to the Eagles on a punt. Two personal fouls on the Marshals gave the Eagles a first down at the 30 yard line with 17 seconds to go. Another unsportsmanlike penalty on the Marshals led to the ejections of Buchmeier and Austin Riley.
Apollo finished out the half with on a touchdown by McKenzie, the 2-point conversion good for a 28-0 lead at halftime.
Apollo started the third quarter from their own 35 yard line and covered the 65 yards, scoring on a 25 yard run by Marvin Ramirez. Ramirez ran in the two point conversion for a 36-0 Apollo lead with 10 minutes to go in the third quarter, enforcing the running clock.
Apollo scored again on a 76 yard drive that resulted in a 30 yard touchdown run by Ramirez, the 2-point conversion good by Ramirez for a 44-0 lead to end the third quarter.
Marshall County’s only points of the game came in the fourth quarter on a 31 yard quarterback keeper by Stokes. The extra point kick good by Talon Smothers to trail 44-7.
Brandon Husk returned the ensuing kick off 88 yards for an Apollo touchdown, the 2-point conversion failed but the 50-7 lead for the Eagles held until the final whistle.
Apollo secures the final spot in the 5A district one playoffs with the win. Marshall County will travel to Spencer County next Friday to finish out the season.