Danville (9-2) didn’t waste much time disposing of the Windham Bombers 41-18 to advance to the regional quarterfinals of the 2022 OHSAA Division VII, Region 25 playoffs, Friday night against Hillsdale (7-4).
Results were not available at press time and will be run in next Wednesday's edition.
The win left Danville as the only local team still alive in the OHSAA football playoffs.
Against Windham, the Blue Devils took a 41-6 lead at the half and held the Bombers to 12 fourth-quarter points. Because Danville was ahead by 35 points, much of the second half was played with a running clock.
“We got off to a fast start on both sides of the ball,” Danville coach Matt Blum said. “Defensively, we forced a three-and-out on the first possession and scored on our first drive.”
In very similar circumstances, Danville's next opponent, Hillsdale, scored 41 points in the first half and played the entire second half of its playoff opener with a running clock as well. The sixth-seeded Falcons trounced Conotton Valley 62-24.
Both Danville and Hillsdale are the smallest schools in their respective conferences and play non-conference schedules against playoff contenders. Danville is the only Division VII school in the eight-team Knox-Morrow Athletic Conference, while Hillsdale shares the same distinction in the Wayne County Athletic League.
Danville’s reliance on a strong running game and aggressive defense has propelled it throughout the season. The Blue Devils average 26 ppg while allowing 13 ppg.
Offensively, Danville is led by a pair of all-conference performers. Senior Max Payne has rushed for 1,066 yards (seventh best in the KMAC), accounted for 1,290 total yards in total offense and scored 14 touchdowns. Junior quarterback Walker Weckesser has passed for 1,183 yards (fourth in the KMAC) with 15 touchdowns and only four interceptions and has accounted for 1,577 total yards and 21 total touchdowns on the season.
Defensively, the Blue Devils rely on a quartet of seniors. Linebacker Levi Lyons leads the team with 110 tackles (No. 1 in the KMAC); linebacker Ryan Lucas added 88 tackles (No. 3 in the KMAC) and eight sacks; defensive back Kaiden Colopy has 47 tackles and five interceptions; and defensive end Dillon Looney has 41 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and 4 1/2 sacks.
Hillsdale respects Danville’s versatility and rugged style of play.
“They are physical and have multiple players who are playmakers,” Falcon coach Trevor Cline said.“ We need to match their physicality and take care of the football, and we will be able to put ourselves in a position to compete with them.”
The Falcons mirror Danville’s point production and defensive effectiveness, scoring 28 ppg while holding opponents to 18 ppg.
Quarterback Jake Hoverstock led the Hillsdale offense through the air and on the ground during the regular season.
“They have a really good quarterback running the option offense and can hurt a defense in multiple ways,” Blum said. "We will have to play sound and disciplined football.”
Hoverstock accounted for over 2,000 total yards and 24 touchdowns, 11 through the air and 13 on the ground.
The Falcon defense is led by Braylen Jarvis with 64 tackles and three interceptions, Jax Rogers added 60 tackles, while David Parker made 52 tackles and three sacks.
“They have some really good defensive ends and inside linebackers, which makes it challenging for opponents run games to get going,” Blum said. “We have to play physically on both sides of the ball to win this football game.”
