By DAEJAH MONTGOMERY

Contributing Writer

HARRODSBURG – Mercer County came out ready for Danville and ready to extend the Admirals’ unfortunate streak.

The Titans used two touchdowns each from Braidin Baughman and Cohen Sanford to open a big lead and went on to defeat Danville 41-0 Friday at Alvis Johnson Field.

Baughman, the former Danville running back who transferred to Mercer this year, scored twice in the first quarter on runs of 30 and 10 yards before leaving the game due to an injury in the second quarter.

Danville’s defense stopped Mercer on several occasions and the Admirals’ defensive line showed improvement with a number of good tackles throughout the game.

“We made an adjustment defensively, but offensively we’re just not executing and once we clean it up, we’ll be ready to move the ball,” Danville coach Frank Parks Jr. said.

On multiple occasions the Admirals’ defense stopped the Titans, but the offense couldn’t capitalize on those stops, managing only short yardage gains as it struggled to advance the ball.

Sanford scored on a 3-yard run near the end of the first half to give Mercer a 20-0 lead, then added a touchdown on a 16-yard run to cap the opening drive of the second half. He finished with 106 rushing yards.

Mercer finished with 188 rushing yards, while Danville had minus-8 rushing yards after struggling with multiple negative yardage plays at the beginning of the game.

Connor Ward and Myron Russell tacked on 4-yard touchdown runs in the fourth quarter for Mercer, which has beaten Danville in three straight seasons and has won its last four games against the Admirals.

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Danville will play a fifth straight game against an opponent from a larger class Friday when it hosts Knox Central.

The Admirals posted their highest point total of last season in a 50-40 loss to Knox. The Panthers (2-2) gave up 40 points or more seven times last season but haven’t allowed more than 29 points so far this season.

The Panthers lost their first two games to Whitley County and South Laurel, then bounced back with wins over Somerset and Huntsville (Tennessee) Scott.

 

Scoring summary

 

Danville 0 0 0 0 – 0

Mercer County 14 6 6 15 – 41

First Quarter

Mercer – Braidin Baughman 30 run (Daniel Butler kick), 9:42.

Mercer – Baughman 10 run (Butler kick), 5:20.

Second Quarter

Mercer – Cohen Sanford 3 run (kick failed), 3:02.

Third Quarter

Mercer – Sanford 16 run (kick failed), 6:39.

Fourth Quarter

Mercer – Connor Ward 4 run (run failed), 8:25.

Mercer – Myron Russell 4 run (Butler kick), 7:59.