LOUDONVILLE — Blake Elliott left his mark all over the field Friday night at Redbird Stadium.
The six-foot, 210-pound East Knox running back rumbled for two TDs during the Bulldogs’ 34-0 Week Four victory over Loudonville (0-4).
Elliott scored once in each half on runs of 39 and 46 yards — which is not something he’s necessarily known for, according to East Knox coach Andy Beatty.
“He (Elliot) had a few long runs, but he doesn’t typically break these big long runs,” he said. “He breaks these seven-, eight-, nine-yard runs that just kind of wear you down and this year we’ve seen that.
“When we can get him going and keep him going, everything opens up and everybody else looks a lot better,” Beatty said.
Elliott ‘epitomizes’ East Knox football
Elliot’s gritty performance Friday night was a perfect example of how football is played in Howard, Beatty said.
“He (Elliott) epitomizes what East Knox football is and should be, and I hope always will be,” he said. “He’s a selfless worker. He’ll do anything and everything.”
The senior running back’s efforts spread Friday night to the rest of the Bulldogs, who’s shutout of Loudonville got them back to a .500 record at 2-2, 1-0 in Knox Morrow Athletic Conference play.
After a fumble on its first drive, East Knox opened the scoring when quarterback Jaxon Lester found sophomore receiver Dakota Cooper for a 13-yard TD with four minutes remaining in the first quarter.
Three minutes before halftime, Elliott rushed 39 yards to give the Bulldogs a two-score lead at the break.
“We felt like we left points out there (in the first half),” Beatty said. “We had three or four turnovers in the first half on the end of drives.
“We really wanted to focus on us (in the second half) and really that’s our point of emphasis,” he said.
Loudonville must get stronger
After forcing a stop defensively, the Bulldogs wasted no time adding onto their lead.
Freshman Landon Dawson scored a 54-yard rushing TD three minutes into the third quarter. To begin the fourth, Rush Beatty intercepted Loudonville quarterback Dilan Wade and returned it 30-plus yards for a touchdown.
Elliott scored his second TD of the game on a 46-yard bolt with just under four minutes remaining in the game.
Loudonville coach Ed Honabarger said little mistakes added up for his team Friday night.
Honabarger was introduced as Loudonville’s new football coach and assistant principal in May. He was previously the head coach at Danville for 16 seasons and most recently an assistant at West Holmes.
“We try to correct them (mistakes) in practice and it looks like we’re correcting them, then we get in a game and we still make the same mistakes,” he said.
“They’re going to see that (during film). I think we had several opportunities to score (Friday). We didn’t finish drives.”
Honabarger said the Redbirds’ effort is visibly present, but there’s work to be done fundamentally, mechanically and in the weight room.
“That (lack of strength) makes a world of difference,” he said.
Photo gallery: East Knox at Loudonville
Up next:
— East Knox (2-2) travels to Cardington-Lincoln (2-2) Friday night to continue Knox Morrow Athletic Conference play. The Pirates fell to Fredericktown in Week Four, 45-18.
— Loudonville (0-4) hosts Centerburg (2-2) Friday night to continue Knox Morrow Athletic Conference play. The Trojans fell in Week Four to Northmor, 34-26.
Scoring summary: East Knox 34, Loudonville 0
1st quarter
East Knox — Dakota Cooper 13-yard pass from Jaxon Lester, 7-0
2nd quarter
East Knox — Blake Elliott 39-yard run, 14-0
3rd quarter
East Knox — Landon Dawson 54-yard run, 21-0
4th quarter
East Knox — Rush Beatty interception returned for TD, 28-0
East Knox — Elliott 46-yard run, 34-0
