By Daejah Montgomery

Contributing Writer

A single score wasn’t nearly enough, but there were other indications that Danville took a step forward Friday.

The Admirals showed enhancement Friday night against Leslie County as they put in more effort than in previous games this season and got more to show for it.

Although they lost to Leslie 36-3 in their district opener at Andy Frye Stadium, the Admirals scored for the first time in six weeks and moved the ball at times in a way they had not during that stretch.

Danville (0-7, 0-1 District 2A-6) compiled 176 yards on offense, its highest total since it had 262 in its season opener against East Jessamine.

Kaleb Wilcher gave the Admirals their only points late in the game, kicking a 30-yard field goal in the fourth quarter that ended a run of 19 consecutive scoreless periods.

The Admirals ran for 103 yards, led by Jutayvion Beasley with 76 yards on seven carries. K.J. Dismeaux added 28 yards on nine attempts.

Leslie (5-2, 1-0) scored twice in each of the first two periods to pull away and added a touchdown in the third quarter to trigger the running clock.

The Eagles scored on their third play on a 59-yard run by Jayden Hacker. The Admirals gained some yardage on their first series, including 14 yards on a carry by Beasley, but they lost the ball on a fumble and the Eagles quickly advanced to the Danville 7-yard line and scored from there on a run by Tanner Estep.

Danville’s next series ended with a punt, but the Admirals got the ball back when Marquis Elmore intercepted a pass from Landry Collett to end the first quarter.

After Dismeaux ran the ball 12 yards for a first down, Beasley showed his determination, first with a 9-yard run and then with a 14-yard gain for another first down.

Leslie forced a punt, however, and Collett got a rushing touchdown on the ensuing series to make it 22-0.

The Eagles gained five first downs in a row late in the first half, scoring on a 9-yard run by Tanner Sizemore in the final seconds of the second quarter to take a 28-0 halftime lead.

Danville’s attempt to run the ball at the start of the third quarter when Leslie recovered a fumble.

The Eagles got the ball at the Admirals’ 3-yard line and Sizemore got his second touchdown of the night to bring the score to 36-0.

Danville ran the ball once again, gaining a first down after Elmore, who split time at quarterback with Naythan Doyle, threw a 22-yard pass to Gavin Walker. After that, the Eagles intercepted a pass from Trinden Sellers near the end of the third quarter.

Danville recovered an onside kick after Wilcher’s field goal but was unable to score again.

Elmore threw for 42 yards and Doyle threw for 31, giving Danville 73 total passing yards.

Leslie had 244 total yards, including 168 passing yards.

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Danville plays longtime rival Somerset this Friday in the final game in its temporary home at Centre College.

The game will be the first in Danville for former coach Clay Clevenger since he was fired by the school after the 2020 season. Clevenger, who played at Danville from 1992-95 and coached the Admirals from 2013-20, is in his second year as coach at Somerset.

Somerset (4-3, 1-0) is ranked No. 8 in Class 2A in the statewide media poll and defeated Breathitt County 42-21 in its district opener last week.