MIKE MARSEE

Contributing writer

It was a short week, but still a productive one for Danville.

With no opponent on the schedule last week, the Admirals used the open date to improve themselves as they head into the second half of the regular season.

Coach Mark Peach said they got a great deal done in just three days of practice before turning their focus to their final pre-district game Friday at Bullitt East.

“I was pleased with what we got done,” Peach said. “We just worked on a lot of fundamentals, blocking and tackling, and we put in some things schematically.”

Peach said there was plenty for Danville (2-3) to work on during its bye week, but he said it was also important for the players to have some down time.

“I like to give the guys off Monday and Friday (during the bye week) to give them two three-day weekends, and we had three good days of work,” he said.

The Admirals took a three-game losing streak into the bye week after a 2-0 start, and Peach said they looked at both the good and the bad during last week’s practices.

“We’re always looking at what we do well and what we need to work on . . . and it’s the perfect time to try new things,” he said.

It comes as no surprise that ball security has been an area of emphasis in practice after four fumbles on consecutive possessions doomed Danville in a 41-21 loss to Atherton on Sept. 16.

“There’s some areas we’re looking at that we need to do better in. Obviously, ball security is one of them,” Peach said.

Danville has allowed 41 points in two of its last three games, and its defense will be tested Friday by the only Class 6A team on its schedule.

Bullitt East (4-1) ranks third in scoring among 6A teams with 39.6 points per game, first in passing with 231 yards per game and eighth in rushing with 171 yards per game.

The Chargers are led by Keegan Kendrick, a 2014 Boyle County graduate who is in his first year as a head coach after spending the past three seasons as Bullitt East’s offensive coordinator.

“I don’t know him personally, but he’s done a great job,” Peach said.

Coming off its first winning season in seven years, Bullitt East has more than 90 players in its program, including 24 seniors, and Peach said Kendrick has made virtually no changes to the system employed by previous coach Ethan Atchley.

“They’re outstanding,” Peach said.

Quarterback Travis Egan, the grandson of longtime coach Mike Egan, ranks in the top 10 in the state in passing with 1,121 yards and 13 touchdowns. Leading receiver Nolan Davenport has 25 catches for 436 yards and five TDs, and running back Mason Gauthier has rushed for 510 yards and four TDs.

Bullitt East has won four straight games since a season-opening loss to Spencer County, most recently beating Meade County 42-28.

Danville is led on offense by Demauriah Brown, who has 638 rushing yards, 67 receiving yards and nine touchdowns, including one on special teams. Xzavion Brown is the Admirals’ leading tackler at the midpoint of the season with 49 tackles, and Richard Norris has five tackles for loss.

Around the area

A look at other local games Friday:

Mercer County (2-4, 0-1 3A-4) at Western Hills (1-4, 0-0 3A-4)

Mercer heads north to Western Hills as it looks to bounce back from a lopsided loss in its district opener.

Western Hills, whose only win was over Garrard County, has averaged 57.3 points allowed in their four losses.

The Titans, who lost to Christian Academy 51-7 last week, have beaten the Wolverines in each of the past three seasons.

Garrard County (1-4, 0-0 3A-5) at McCreary Central (2-4, 0-1 3A-5)

Coming off its first win of the season and a bye week, Garrard opens its District 3A-5 schedule at McCreary.

The Golden Lions are 2-0 against the Raiders since they were placed in the same district in 2019.

McCreary has lost three straight games to Pineville, Wayne County and Bell County.