FREDERICKTOWN — The winning streak continues for Danville.
Blue Devils’ coach Matthew Blum saw his team overpower Fredericktown 40-0 Friday night in the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference opener for both schools.
That verdict improved the Blue Devils’ mark to 4-0 on the season, including a 1-0 slate in the KMAC.
“Our defense was the one that kind of jumpstarted us tonight,” Blum said. “They played lights out.
“When you get five interceptions in a game, that’s pretty impressive — and it goes back to our coaching. Our coaches, our secondary coach has [done] a really nice job and did a heck of a job this week.
“We’re just really lucky to have good kids that are going to work hard and do the right things and those results showed tonight.”
Two of those five interceptions were of the pick-6 variety. Junior quarterback and defensive back Jacob Hackman secured two interceptions and one of the pick-6s.
“As soon as I saw someone break, I just drove down and got it,” Hackman said of his 47-yard return.
That theft came with 6:05 left in the half and gave his team an insurmountable 20-0 bulge.
“Our kids just work hard and he’s one of those kids,” Blum said. “We coach them hard. We hold them accountable and you see the results of that tonight.”
Senior defensive lineman Kendall Carter returned another interception 41 yards for his score, earlier in the second period.
‘Our kids are hungry’
Danville running back Cole Delaughder scooted four yards for a TD in the first quarter, and Blue Devils’ quarterback Walker Weckesser added rushing TDs of 29 yards and 4 yards in an explosive first half.
Danville triggered a running clock in the second half, and Bryer Boeshart’s plunge from a yard away made it 40-0 midway through the third period.
There’s unfinished business
Blum said the theme of the season is unfinished business.
“It really drives our kids and they’ve really put in that work and you can see the results right now,” Blum said. “Our kids are hungry. They’re playing with a lot of effort.
“They’re a just a fun group to coach and I’m blessed to be with them every day.”
Still, there are things to address. The Blue Devils had 10 penalties, an area that will get attention this week the coach stated.
“We’ve got to get better,” Blum said. “Some of those are effort penalties and we always want our kids playing hard and playing to the whistle, but we’ve got to clean some of that stuff up.”
Fredericktown coach Will Hartley said it was a game his team needed to put behind it.
“We got to continue to battle. We just started KMAC play and we need to use this as motivation,” Hartley said.
“After a loss like this, you can either lay down and feel sorry for yourself or you can come back stronger the next week. Try and learn from your mistakes, battle through and ensure that you’re not going to have the same type of night that you had tonight.”
Correction: A previous version of the article misspelled Coach Matthew Blum’s last name. The article has been corrected.