The Campbellsville Eagles continued their postseason surge Friday night, rolling past Newport Central Catholic with a commanding 28–0 victory to claim another step forward in the UK HealthCare Class 1A Football Finals. The shutout win not only showcased the Eagles’ explosive offense but also a defensive unit that refused to bend, allowing just 7 rushing yards and 48 passing yards the entire night.
The victory sends Campbellsville into the next round, where they’ll face Kentucky Country Day this Friday at 7 p.m. EST—a rematch of their earlier-season meeting, where the Eagles earned a 27–17 win.
Offensive Breakdown
Senior quarterback Kace Eastridge led the offensive attack with poise and precision. He completed 5 of 11 passes for 74 yards and a touchdown, while also dominating on the ground. Eastridge rushed for 121 yards on 12 carries, including a rushing touchdown, proving to be a dual-threat problem all night.
The Eagles piled up 287 rushing yards behind a balanced ground game:
- Jalen Embry (Jr.): 14 carries, 79 yards
- Shaiden Calhoun (Jr.): 10 carries, 60 yards and a touchdown
- Les Colvin (So.): 5 carries, 27 yards
Colvin also added a spark in the receiving game, hauling in two passes for 59 yards, including a touchdown grab that stretched the Eagles’ lead. Additional receptions came from Embry, Christian Hart, and Gabriel Noyola, each contributing to the 74-yard aerial effort.
Freshman kicker Benjamin Grubesic was perfect on the night, going 4-for-4 on extra points.
Defense Leads the Charge
Campbellsville’s defense was relentless from start to finish, forcing four fumbles, recovering two, and turning one into points. Junior Christian Hart delivered the defensive highlight of the night with a 41-yard fumble recovery touchdown, further burying the Thoroughbreds’ hopes of a comeback.
Senior Cole Kessler and sophomore Julian Smith anchored the defensive front, combining for 21 tackles. Smith recorded an impressive four sacks, while Kessler added two tackles for loss.
Others stepping up defensively included:
- Max Contreras (Jr.) – 8 total tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack
- KeKe Miller (Sr.) – 6 tackles, 1 sack
- Hart (Jr.) – 5 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack
- Bryson Turpin (Sr.) – 3 tackles, 2 TFL
In total, the Eagles tallied 7 sacks, 8 tackles for loss, and held NCC scoreless in a dominant defensive showcase.
Looking Ahead
With momentum on their side and a three-phase performance that highlighted their postseason potential, the Eagles now set their sights on Kentucky Country Day in the next round of the UK HealthCare 1A State Football Finals. Campbellsville has already proven they can beat KCD once this season—and they’ll look to do it again when they clash Friday night at 7 p.m. EST.
The Eagles are playing their best football at the perfect time.
Next stop: another step toward a state title.