Building on last year’s successful season, the 2021 Danville High School Blue Devils' varsity football team is dedicated to winning the little battles of each game to come away with a "plus-one."
Blue Devils head coach Cam Smith, in his second season at the helm, said, “Our ‘plus-one’ mentality is the idea that there is a turnover battle and a TD battle in each game. If we get a takeaway or a touchdown, that is ‘plus-one.’ If we turn the ball over or give up a TD, that is a ‘minus-one’. We are focused on ending up on the positive side, and that carries over to our relationships on the team and in our work. We always strive to take positive steps.”
The team’s other motto, “It’s a great day to be a Blue Devil,” is another approach and focus. Smith said, “With every win, it is a great day to be a Blue Devil, but we bring that positive approach to all of our work, our relationships with the players, coaches and all we meet. We teach that, and the players have embraced it. It is a very positive attitude that fosters success.”
Last season, Danville finished with a 6-3 record, a significant improvement from its 2-8 mark in 2019. That included a playoff victory over Cardington, 46-20, ending the season with a playoff loss to Newark Catholic, 42-7.
Smith, a 2019 graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University, began his tenure at Danville as a history teacher/defensive and running backs assistant coach, following his mom and two aunts in teaching, while following his father’s coaching regimen.
“My dad was a karate and taekwondo instructor, and he coached me through middle school,” said Smith. After coaching defensive backs and running backs under former Blue Devils head coach Ed Honabarger in 2019, Smith was selected as new head coach following Honabarger’s resignation as Danville’s football coach and principal to take the assistant principal position at West Holmes.
“We had some success that started our turn back-around. Coach Honabarger was extremely successful here, and despite one tough final season, we are building on his legacy as well as on our 2020 season," Smith said. "We take it one step at a time, starting with base work including weight room regimens and play book comprehension. We will build on last year with minor tweaks, but my expectation was high last year and is higher this season because our kids have the confidence gained from last year and they know I believe in them.”
Smith said there was a major hole to fill this year with the graduation of lineman Mason Looney.
“Mason was a force on both sides of the ball," Smith said. "He was strong as an ox and disrupted things on the field. He was a team leader who is hard to replace, and we will have a rotation in place to fill the positions. Our young guys will need to step up, but rotations will allow them to remain fresh in the game on offense and defense. We will try several kids and encourage them to help each other settle into their roles.”
Smith will look for two stand-out juniors to lead the squad this year.
“Kaiden Colopy (wide receiver and free safety) had a good year last year and was selected to First Team in conference and Second Team all-state," Smith said. "We are looking to him to build on that success this year. Aaron Mezie (tight end and defensive end) showed many great glimpses of talent and leadership last season. He has already stepped up and got stronger in the offseason, and his cuts are visibly quicker and faster.”
Smith said he believes his team is better than many outside the program believe.
“I don’t look at rankings, but outside of Danville, I think we are underrated," he said. "I think we will surprise some people who underestimate us. Being tough is a football cliché, but I believe that we have toughness to compensate for being from a small student base, having a smaller roster and being comparatively undersized. I think we are undervalued underdogs and we fight hard game long. Even our wins last year were close, and we tell kids that the expectation is that every game is a hard fight. In the KMAC, all schools are solid schools and are well-coached, staffed by good athletes. There is no easy game, and it takes toughness to pull out each victory.”
Last year, his first as a head coach, was a bit of a trial by fire, particularly the way it began, Smith said.
“Last year was a wake-up call into head coaching, especially when we lost our first game to Centerberg 41-0. That one hurt, as did our 7-6 loss to East Knox in the Devil Dog Game," he said. "They are such a revered rival. To us, we equate that big game to Ohio State vs. Michigan. The communities care. Two small communities that care about their kids, and we know we will have a tough battle ahead. We will work hard and hope we come out on top this year. Our kids play every game tough, but there is that little extra drive for that game. I know the fans will feel and fuel the excitement. The goal is for students, players and fans to leave the game saying, ‘It’s a great day to be a Blue Devil.’”
