MARENGO – Local residents lit the Marengo sky with fireworks after Highland’s Homecoming Game on Friday. Dane Nauman provided the fireworks during the game.
The Highland sophomore finished with 252 yards on 16 carries and scored four touchdowns as the Fighting Scots topped Knox-Morrow Athletic Conference rival Danville, 35-13.
“They (my teammates) keep me up, but I just try to get the win,” said Nauman after the game. “That’s all I care about.”
Nauman waited until late in the first quarter to show his skills. After an interception by Gavin Hankins brought the ball to the Danville 30, Nauman carried the ball twice – once up the middle, once around to the left – to score his first touchdown. He followed that up with touchdown runs of 65 and 54 yards in the second quarter, then scored again on a 6-yard run up the middle in the fourth.
Nauman’s 252-yard performance continues his strong 2021 season. He broke a Highland record two weeks ago with 366 yards against Mount Gilead.
“Dane is a wonderful teammate,” Highland coach Ty Stover said. “He’s more of a leader, not because of his ability to carry a football, but his willingness to work and his ability to lead everybody.”
Highland’s defense, however, deserved at least one-half of the MVP ball Friday. Danville scored on its first drive but didn’t score again until the final play of the game. In between, the Blue Devils managed three drives of 25 or more yards, but all three ended in turnovers.
Highland’s Jay Melchiori started the fireworks with an opening kickoff return that ended at the Danville 15-yard line. Three plays later, Cody Matthews scored from five yards out to give the Scots (4-2, 3-0 KMAC) a 7-0 lead.
Danville (2-4, 1-2) responded with a 28-yard touchdown pass from Max Payne to Spencer Payne. On the play, Max Payne was forced out of the pocket and heaved the ball to the corner of the end zone, where Spencer Payne made a diving catch.
“We settled in. We gave them a short field by accident. But, after that, we settled in,” Stover said.
Danville’s final drive took the last 3:15 of the fourth quarter, ending in a six-yard touchdown scramble by Max Payne.
“If they had fought that hard through the game as they did on that drive, it would have been a much better ballgame,” Danville coach Cameron Smith said. “I think there were a lot of plays we gave up that we typically don’t. I don’t know why that is.”
Highland quarterback Cooper Merckling went 7 for 11 passing for 47 yards.
Max Payne finished 17 of 29 passing, for 178 yards and one touchdown. He was picked off twice.
Highland challenges rival Fredericktown on the road this Friday, while Danville hosts Cardington-Lincoln. The Scots are one of three undefeated teams in the KMAC, along with East Knox and Northmor.
Regarding this Friday's upcoming game, Stover said, “Fredericktown’s got some great athletes, but it’s all about us. It’s about how we approach the game and how we motivate ourselves to get the job done each week.”
