DANVILLE – A big second half by Danville turned into a 42-21 Sagamore Conference football loss for Southmont Friday.
Turnovers on back-to-back possessions early in the second half turned into Warriors touchdowns, and a 14-12 South halftime lead evaporated.
This was after the Mounties had benefitted from two Danville fumbles in the first half, turning one into a quick score.
South was not able to overcome the deficit, as they fall to 4-2 overall and 2-2 in the conference. The Warriors move to 4-2 on the season and 3-1 in the Sagamore.
“Penalties and turnovers,” Southmont coach Desson Hannum said after the game. “Those were the keys, especially in the second half. We got outplayed in the second half and we didn’t; get enough stops.”
While the Mounties total flags were not overly large, they were all against the offense, and each came at a brutal time in a drive.
Two drives started with penalties, and the other two came on third downs that handcuffed drives.
Combined with the two turnovers, it spelled trouble.
“We had hoped to be the most physical team on the field, and in the first half, I think we were.” Hannum said. “We played hard, we got some first half stops but they possessed the ball in the second half, and eventually, that time of possession makes a difference. We just weren’t as physical as we needed to be at the point of contact (on the line).”
That first half had South fans remembering a win over the Warriors last year, as they held their ground and took advantage of the two muffed punts.
Aaron McMasters also got a first-half interception to stall a Danville drive, and after two Wyatt Woodall scoring runs and a pair of Tyler Petroski conversions, the visitors took the two-point lead into the locker room.
Danville was not to be held out in the second half, however, as they treated their Homecoming crowd to a four touchdown half.
Leading the attack for the home team was freshman quarterback Carter Ward.
Pressed into duty when original starting QB Conner Soper was injured, Ward, in his third game, threw five TD passes to five different receivers. He was an efficient 15-of-22 passing for 271 yards and was picked the one time. He had thrown for 225 yards in the previous two games.
The Warriors were also timely with their offense, converting three times on fourth down, scoring on two.
The Mounties ran the ball well, finishing with 244 yards on 50 carries. Woodall hit the 100-yard mark for the third time this season, going 118 yards on 22 attempts and scoring all three Southmont TDs.
Nolan Boyer ran the ball well also, as the QB finished with 94 net yards, and would have been over 100 if not for one sack that goes against his rushing. The Mounties got to the edges well in the first half as Boyer and Dylan Howell helped South five running plays of 10 yards or more. Howell finished with 28 yards on seven carries.
Boyer was 7-of-20 passing for 77 yards. Kyler McCandless had three grabs to lead the team.
“We played hard, we gave ourselves a chance, especially in the first half,” Hannum said. “It just came down to those turnovers and those penalties.”
The Mounties are back at home next Friday against Western Boone, while the Warriors travel to Frankfort.
