DANVILLE — The quick-strike Blue Devils slowed things down last week.
Known for its ability to score in a hurry, Danville had four touchdown drives of 10 or more plays in a 32-21 win over Northmor.
The change in style was necessary against a Northmor team capable of matching Danville score-for-score. The Golden Knights were averaging 44.8 points a game though the first four weeks of the season.
“We feel comfortable being able to play a lot of players,” Danville coach Matt Blum said afterward. “I’m really happy at our offensive production and what we’re able to do.”
Danville (5-0, 2-0) at Loudonville (2-3, 1-1): The Blue Devils faced its stiffest challenge of the season last week and came away with a 32-21 win over Northmor. Cole Delaughder leads the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference in rushing with 658 yards and eight touchdowns on 85 carries. Quarterback Walker Weckesser has completed 31-of-52 passes for 420 yards and five touchdowns and rushed for 285 yards and eight TDs on 25 carries. Bryer Boeshart has team-high seven catches for 103 yards and a TD. Josh Byers leads the defense with 38 tackles while Caleb Lucas is tied for the KMAC lead with four sacks.
The Redbirds fell to Centerburg 37-15 last week, but boast one of the top passing attacks in the KMAC. Quarterback Mathew Sprang has completed 55-of-101 passes for 665 yards and six touchdowns and rushed for 405 yards and two TDs on 96 carries. Baylor Weiser ranks among KMAC leaders with 17 catches for 245 yards and three touchdowns. Josiah Hershberger has 14 catches for 146 yards and three TDs. Weiser has a team-high 54 tackles and five tackles for loss.
Mount Vernon (1-4, 0-2) at New Philadelphia (3-2, 2-1): The Yellow Jackets led early but couldn’t hold on in last week’s 31-14 loss. Mavrik Gregory scored on a 6-yard touchdown run and Jake Taylor tossed an 8-yard TD pass to Hayden Higgins in the third. Mount Vernon had 225 yards of total offense, but was just 1-of-9 on third down.
The Quakers fell behind early and never recovered in last week’s 35-14 loss at Mansfield Senior. Quarterback Keaton Fausel rushed for 97 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries and running back Etnie Richardson added 95 yards and a score on 20 attempts. Linebacker Zach Rothrock had 13 tackles against the Tygers.
East Knox (3-2, 2-0) at Mount Gilead (2-3, 0-2): The Bulldogs cruised to a 32-0 win over Cardington last week and are tied atop the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference standings with Danville. Blake Elliott ranks second in the KMAC in rushing with 556 yards and eight touchdowns on 69 carries, while Aaron White has 275 yards and a score on 50 carries. Bracen Davis ranks second in the KMAC with 18 receptions and 250 yards. Quarterback Jax Lester has completed 38-of-75 passes for 542 yards and four touchdowns. Elliott is the KMAC’s second leading tackler with 61 stops. Bryar Householder is tied for the KMAC lead with four sacks.
Mount Gilead fell to Fredericktown 26-7 last week. Quarterback Cole Frick has rushed for a team-high 379 yards and three touchdowns on 79 carries while completing 26-of-59 passes for 405 yards and two scores. Running back Eliot Jones has 295 yards and three TDs on 56 carries. Cam Vickers and Gabe Simpson are tied for the team lead with nine catches apiece. Logan High has eight grabs for a team-high 201 yards and a TD. Vickers leads the conference with 62 tackles and 11 tackles for loss. Vickers and Shane Carpenter each have four sacks.
Highland (4-1, 1-1) at Shelby (4-1, 2-0): The Fighting Scots bounced back from a disappointing Week 4 loss to Pleasant with a resounding 47-14 win over Marion Harding last week. Dane Nauman rushed for 197 yards and three touchdowns on 25 carries, while Sam Hernandez added 97 yards and a TD on 15 carries. Quarterback Kolton Stover ran for a first-quarter touchdown and tossed a 59-yard TD pass to Kadyn Reichenbach. Zach Church returned an interception for a TD. Nauman leads the MOAC with 913 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on 104 carries. Hernandez leads the MOAC with four interceptions, while Ladon Hayes has a team-high 34 tackles.
Skyler Winters rushed for 275 yards and five touchdowns in last week’s 62-26 win over Galion. Sophomore quarterback Brayden DeVito threw for 248 yards and two TDs, a 10-yarder to Casey Lantz in the first quarter and a 10-yarder to Nic Eyster in the fourth. DeVito also caught a 60-yard TD pass from Issaiah Ramsey. DeVito has completed 78-of-117 passes for a MOAC-leading 1,498 yards and 14 touchdowns. Ramsey has 28 catches for conference-leading 579 yards and five TDs. Defensively, Cohen Sturts has a team-high 27.5 tackles while Isaiah Beck has 23.5 tackles and a team-best seven tackles for loss.