DANVILLE — Danville doesn’t just score at will.
The Blue Devils play fiendish defense, too.
While the high-scoring offense has garnered most of the attention this fall, Danville’s defense has quietly gone about its business.
Through the first four weeks, The Devils are allowing just 8.5 points a game. Danville has held its last three opponents to a combined 13 points and pitched its first shutout of the season in last week’s 40-0 win over Fredericktown.
Danville intercepted five passes against the Freddies, returning two for touchdowns.
“Our defense was the one that kind of jump-started us tonight,” Danville coach Matt Blum said afterward. “They played lights out.”
The defense will face its biggest challenge of the season Friday when Northmor visits Tough Street. The Golden Knights average 44.8 points a game.
“We’ve got to get better,” Blum said.
Northmor (3-1, 1-0) at Danville (4-0, 1-0): The Golden Knights throttled Cardington 44-6 last week, opening a 37-0 halftime lead. Quarterback A.J. Bower is the leading passer in the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference, completing 35-of-62 passes for 726 yards and 11 touchdowns. Running back Carson Campbell ranks among KMAC leaders with 426 rushing yards and six TDs on 54 carries. Hunter Fulk has a team-high 11 receptions for 193 yards and three scores. Defensively, Paul Cramer leads the league with four interceptions, while Fulk has three picks. Ashton Clark and Cameron Goldbach each have three sacks.
Danville thundered to a 40-0 win over Fredericktown in its KMAC opener last week. Running back Cole Delaughder leads the league 481 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 57 carries. Quarterback Walker Weckesser has only attempted 33 passes in four games, but leads the KMAC in completion percentage (22-of-33, 67%) for 309 yards and four TDs. Josh Byers leads the defense with 27 tackles, while Caleb Lucas is tied for the KMAC lead with four sacks. Bryer Boeshart has a pair of punt return touchdowns and has returned a kickoff for a score.
Ashland (2-2, 0-1) at Mount Vernon (1-3, 0-1): The Arrows couldn’t get anything going offensively in last week’s 28-0 loss at New Philadelphia, Ashland’s first shutout since 2008. The Arrows managed just 161 yards of total offense. Quarterback Nathan Bernhard completed 15-of-25 passes for 105 yards. Running back Cayden Spotts accounted for 66 yards, while Austin Downing hauled in a 21-yard reception. Ashland’s defense forced four turnovers as Tyler Sauder came away with a pair of interceptions.
The Yellow Jackets let a double-digit lead slip away in the second half of last week’s 31-17 loss to Lexington. Jonny Askew rushed for 141 yards. His 42-yard touchdown run in the second quarter gave Mount Vernon a 10-0 lead. Quarterback Mason Reynolds added a 2-yard TD run. Defensively, Hunter Looney picked off a pass.
Loudonville (2-2, 1-0) at Centerburg (1-3, 0-1): Loudonville snapped a two-game skid with a 27-20 win over Mount Gilead. Dual-threat quarterback Matt Sprang has completed 44-of-76 passes for 537 yards and five touchdowns and rushed for 330 yards and two TDs on 75 carries. Sprang has a trio of sure-handed receivers at his disposal in Josiah Hershberger, Baylor Weiser and Camdyn Beachy. Hershberger had 13 receptions for 131 yards, while Weiser and Beachy have 11 catches apiece. Weiser lead the defense with 47 tackles while Dilan Wade has 35 stops. Trevor Breneman and Dakota Berry each have three tackles for loss.
Centerburg has dropped three straight after last week’s 35-0 loss to East Knox. Quarterback Jesse Rings has completed 32-of-69 passes for 270 yards and three touchdowns. Trevan Harris ranks among Knox Morrow Athletic Conference leaders with 10 receptions for 97 yards. Rings has a pair of interceptions on defense, while Cam Alloway has a pair of sacks.