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It's not the most important game of the season for Danville, but it's not too far down the list.

The Admirals’ regular-season finale Friday at Frankfort will have no effect on their playoff position, but Danville coach Sam Harp said it could certainly affect his Admirals’ playoff performance.

He cited three reasons why a seemingly meaningless game is so important to Danville:

* The Admirals (3-6) finally have some momentum thanks to consecutive wins over Fort Knox and Washington County, the team's first back-to-back wins since late last season.

"It'd be nice to have that momentum going into the playoffs," Harp said.

* Harp said their 61-0 win over Washington was more impressive than their other two wins this season, not because of the lopsided score but because it was the first time the team had played well from start to finish.

"The light came on for our kids finally last week. Now we'd like to see it stay on," he said. "It was putting it together for four quarters. And I think it was everybody. They all came out with that (mindset). And we got a few breaks in the game, and that hadn't been happening, either."

* Harp said the Admirals owe Frankfort one after losing to the Panthers in three of the last four years.

"They've had our number the last three or four years," he said.

The series developed into something of a rivalry while the two teams were in the same district, though that didn't really happen until 2004, when Danville, which had beaten Frankfort 68-8 the previous year, escaped Sower Field with a 22-14 win.

The Panthers broke through with a 33-13 win in 2005, and they have two straight wins over the Admirals, 20-19 in 2007 and 35-31 in 2008.

"It's kind of been a rivalry since they've been able to beat us," Harp said.

The Admirals will face a team that has won six straight games and is rated among the best teams in Class A.

"They're well-coached, and they're very athletic," Harp said.

More importantly, the Panthers have survived the loss of their best player, senior running back Quan Weaver, a Louisville signee, to a season-ending knee injury in their first game.

"I just think it's probably a case where people have stepped up. They haven't changed what they've been doing," Harp said.

Harp said the void has been filled by Zack Mason, a 5-10, 165-pound junior — "he runs very well and has elusive speed" — and Marcus Washington, a 5-11, 165-pound senior — "he can flat-out fly."

"They use those kids in there a lot. They just do the tailback slot by committee now instead of by Weaver, and they're doing good," he said.

Frankfort (7-2) has scored 30 points or more in five of its nine games. The Panthers are coming off a 48-0 win over Trimble County, their third shutout in four games.

Good size, lots of skills

"Defensively, they're scrappy and they fly to the ball," Harp said. "They have a lot of guys that play both sides of the ball like we do. They're not real big defensively, although they do have good size, and they have a lot of skills."

Harp also said the Panthers have a typically fast team.

"They have more speed than we do usually," he said.

The Washington win was Danville's first shutout of the season. The Admirals have still been outscored by an average of four points per game, although they have outgained their opponents by about 46 yards per game (327 yards to 281).

Devin Lynn leads the Danville defense with 42 1/2 tackles, including 11 tackles for losses, and two forced fumbles.

Six different players scored offensive touchdowns for the Admirals last week. Will Dunn and Patrick Brand scored two each and combined to rush for 161 yards. They and Lynn have rushed for a combined 1,601 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Devonta Alcorn has thrown for 797 yards and seven TDs. Cameron Burgess and Iman Jones are tied for the team receiving lead with 11 catches each.

Harp said the Admirals are finally dealing with the flu bug. Fourteen players missed Monday's practice because they were sick.

"It finally hit over here," he said.

Danville at Frankfort

7:30 p.m. Friday, Frankfort

RADIO/WEBCAST

WHIR-AM (1230)

www.hometownlive.net

RECORDS

Admirals: 3-6

Panthers: 7-2

LAST MEETING (2008)

Frankfort 35-31

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