#3 Kentuckiana Cavalry Clinch South Crown, Roll Past Minutemen 72-14 After Storm Delay

The #3 Kentuckiana Cavalry (7-2, 4-1 South) officially captured the 2026 MDFL South Division Championship last week, secured the Bluegrass Brawl: Battle for Kentucky trophy, and locked up the No. 3 seed in the upcoming MDFL Playoffs after overwhelming the AC Minutemen (2-7, 1-5 South) in a 72-14 Week 11 rout.

It wasn't even close.

Kentuckiana exploded to a 20-0 lead early in the second quarter before severe thunderstorms forced a delay that lasted more than two hours. Any concern that the momentum would disappear vanished almost immediately once play resumed.

The Cavalry scored seemingly at will after the restart, taking a staggering 50-0 lead into halftime before emptying the bench in the second half. The Minutemen managed touchdowns on their final two possessions of the fourth quarter, but by then the outcome had long since been decided.

Shittu Does It All

Quarterback CJ Shittu once again proved why he's one of the league's most dangerous dual-threat weapons.

While completing 7-of-13 passes for 114 yards and two touchdowns, Shittu was nearly unstoppable on the ground, rushing for 95 yards and a touchdown on just seven carries, averaging 13.6 yards per attempt. His explosive scrambles repeatedly turned broken plays into back-breaking gains, setting the tone for an offense that scored 72 points.

Owens Jr. Continues His Explosive Stretch

If defenses weren't already worried about Lamon Owens Jr., they certainly are now.

The star receiver hauled in 3 receptions for 91 yards and two touchdowns, including a game-long 71-yard scoring strike that immediately reignited the Cavalry offense after the weather delay.

Owens has quietly become one of the hottest receivers in the MDFL, averaging more than two touchdown receptions per game over Kentuckiana's last four contests. Even more impressive, he's now recorded a 20-plus yard reception in six of nine games this season, including each of the last four, continuing to establish himself as the team's premier deep-ball threat.

Defense Creates Instant Offense

Kentuckiana's defense was every bit as dominant as its offense.

The highlight belonged to star cornerback Mikey Richardson, who stepped in front of a pass and raced 83 yards for a pick-six, electrifying the Cavalry sideline and effectively ending any hopes of a Minutemen comeback.

Richardson wasn't done making plays, adding another interception while helping lock down the secondary throughout the afternoon.

The special teams unit joined the scoring party as well with a kickoff return touchdown, turning the game into a complete showcase in every phase.

Up front, Ronell Davis Jr. recorded two sacks, while Joe Norris led the team with five total tackles and forced a fumble. Mike Scott added an interception of his own as the Cavalry defense consistently flipped field position and gave the offense short fields.

Championship Goals Within Reach

Saturday's victory means far more than another tally in the win column.

With one week remaining in the regular season, Kentuckiana has now:

The Cavalry will finish the regular season July 25 against the Gateway Fury before turning their attention toward what is expected to be a first-round home playoff matchup against the No. 6 Midwest Vengeance on August 1.

If Saturday was any indication, Kentuckiana is peaking at exactly the right time.

After a weather delay, a dominant first half, explosive offensive plays, a defensive touchdown, and another complete team performance, the message to the rest of the MDFL was unmistakable:

**The South belongs to the Cavalry — and they're charging into the postseason with championship aspirations.**