The Danville Blue Devil football team has been terrific since Coach Matt Blum took over last season, and while the team is still working its way through the playoffs, he has been honored with his first Knox Morrow Athletic Conference (KMAC) Coach of the Year Award.
The Danville football is currently 12-0 and in the third round of the state tournamen. The Blue Devils had a perfect 10-0 record in the regular season. They were 7-0 in the conference to take the title, and have won their first two playoff games. His overall record as a head coach for Danville is 22-3 in two seasons. Blum was an assistant coach for two years before becoming Danville’s head coach. He also coached at his alma mater Canal Winchester for three years.
“It feels great to be named KMAC Coach of the year,” said Blum. “However, it really should be a coaching staff of the year award. Our staff has done a great job putting our kids into successful positions this year. They are dedicated men who are great role models for our kids. When you are able to have a staff of 11 guys with seven of those being strictly volunteers it says a lot about the people we have in Danville, which is a fantastic community filled with great people.”
Blum said this is probably the most fun he has had in his seven year coaching career. He complimented his squad on the season they have had, and also the work they put in to win a conference title and go deep into the playoffs.
“The kids are very coachable and they have come to work every day with a great attitude,” Blum said. “They worked hard in the off-season and that is why they are having the success they are having right now.”
Looking back on the regular season, Blum said the most memorable game came against East Knox in a 14-12 win on Oct. 20 in the final game of the regular season. There were plenty of variables that brought about adversity, but he was proud of the Blue Devil squad for pushing through and finding a way to get the victory against a tough KMAC rival.
In what is referred to as the Devil-Dog Classic, Blum dubbed the game “The Mud Bowl” as it was a messy battle between two conference foes. The game was tied 6-6 at the end of four quarters, and while both teams scored a touchdown in overtime, KMAC player of the year Walker Weckesser was able to score on a two point conversion. Josh Byers, who was first team All-KMAC, made a huge play at the goal line to stop the East Knox two-point conversion to seals the victory.
“Obviously with the weather conditions it was really hard to get anything going offensively, but I loved the way our kids responded to adversity and kept fighting to the very end,” Blum said. “Those are the things we preach in our program. Nothing comes easy and we fight for everything we achieve. In the past, Hillsdale last year during our playoff run was a great game that was back and forth. We ended up winning 42-41 and it was a game filled with adjustments from both teams. That will be one I will always remember.”
