DANVILLE – Growing up, Peyton Lester was used to seeing an empty space in East Knox’s trophy case.
As a freshman, he helped the Bulldogs fill that void with a victory over Danville for the Devil-Dog trophy.
Friday, Lester played a big part in keeping that trophy for the fourth straight year. He threw for 187 yards, including a soaring touchdown pass, as East Knox won on the road, 35-21.
“When we got it started, we were just freshmen,” Lester said. “But the upperclassmen in front of us were real role models for us. They used to tell us, ‘This trophy needs to stay in Howard.’ And I think we’ve lived up to that.”
The win gives East Knox a 5-1 record in Knox-Morrow Athletic Conference play. The one loss ties the Bulldogs with Highland, making them co-champions.
Cole Delaughder rushed for 111 yards and three touchdowns Friday. Teammate Shane Knepp rushed for 33 yards on four carries and a touchdown of his own. Their success on the ground opened up the passing game for Lester.
Lester’s highlight came in the fourth quarter, when he threw from the 42-yard line to the end zone, where Blake Bonham jumped over a Danville defender for the ball.
“We decided we can either throw it deep, or we had someone in the slot we could dump it to, and get the first down,” East Knox coach Cody Reese said. “So I’ll take it.”
“Coach Reese used to tell me to put the ball in the air and trust my receivers,” Lester said. “I threw the ball and Blake caught it. He saved me.”
Danville took an early lead on its first drive, scoring on quarterback Max Payne’s three-yard scramble. It was Payne’s first of three touchdowns on the ground.
The Bulldogs (7-3, 5-1 KMAC) responded with a 13-play, 67-yard drive ending on Delaughder’s first score.
Danville (4-6, 3-4) was stopped on fourth down on the following drive, setting up Delaughder’s second touchdown. The Bulldogs never looked back.
The victory was East Knox’s fourth straight in the Devil-Dog saga. Prior to that, Danville had won the trophy 12 straight years, starting with a 3-0 win in 2006. The last time East Knox had won four straight was 1986-89. Danville leads the series all-time, 40-24-1.
The game meant more than just the coveted trophy for both teams. East Knox needed a win to clinch a top-4 spot in Region 27, which would give the Bulldogs a home game in each of the first two playoff rounds. That begins this Saturday in a first-round game against Reedsville Eastern. For the Blue Devils, a victory would have locked up a playoff spot – something they ultimately claimed anyway after the smoke cleared. Danville, the 16 seed, will travel to No. 1 Newark Catholic.
“We mostly controlled our own destiny, so now it’s out of my hands,” Danville coach Cam Smith said. “If it’s out of my control, I don’t worry about it. I’m already stressed.”
In the meantime, the Bulldogs can enjoy their DevilDog trophy for another year. As the team assembled on the field after the game, East Knox athletic director Scott Brickner brought it out to the field as the drizzle that had settled over Danville shined the surface of the prize.
“This is a great feeling,” Lester said. “But, after tomorrow morning, there’s only the playoffs.”
