MIKE MARSEE

Contributing writer

As sweet as Danville’s victory was last week, a win this week might be even sweeter.

As a result, Coach Mark Peach doesn’t want the Admirals to dwell too long on a win over Somerset that ended a four-game losing streak, but rather to look at what would be possible with another district win Friday at Washington County.

“I’ve already been telling them the next step in the process, if we’re able to win this Friday, is we get to play in a district championship game next Friday at home on senior night,” Peach said.

A Danville team left shorthanded by injuries and suspensions turned in perhaps its best performance of the season to turn back Somerset in its District 2A-4 opener on Oct. 7.

“It was probably the best overall four-quarter football game we’ve played all year,” Peach said.

The headliner for the Admirals was DeMauriah Brown, who rushed for 286 yards and five touchdowns in his second start at quarterback.

“I thought he did some really nice things for us,” Peach said. “You give him another week working at the position, and he’s just going to keep getting better.”

It was also a big night for the Danville defense, which spotted Somerset the first score of the game, but didn’t allow another point until after the Admirals had scored 35 unanswered.

“They got … in scoring position another couple of times, and we were able to hold them out defensively,” Peach said.

Peach said Danville (3-4, 1-0 district) performed well in all phases of the game, and the Admirals will have to do so again to defeat Washington (3-4, 0-1).

“We have to try to regroup and get ready for the next challenge, because Washington County is very much improved,” he said.

The Commanders have won three games in each of the past two seasons and have equaled that total this season with victories over Thomas Nelson, Marion County and Eminence. They led Lexington Christian 7-0 after one quarter in their first district game last week before being outscored 56-14 over the final three periods.

Washington has scored more than 21 points only once this season, but has one of the top five passers in Class 2A in quarterback Beau Baker, who has thrown for 1,357 yards and 10 touchdowns.

“He can throw short or intermediate, and now he can stretch it on down the field, and he puts a nice touch on the ball,” Peach said. “And they’ve got good receivers who are usually on opposite sides.”

Both Noah Reynolds and Jack Pettus have 31 catches. Reynolds has 545 yards and two TDs; Pettus has 500 yards and five TDs.

“You’ve got to pick your spots,” Peach said. “There are times you need to cover and times you need to pressure. We’ll try to do a little bit of both and try to be sound fundamentally.”