DANVILLE – Thomas Russell had a night to remember, scoring four touchdowns to lead Danville to a 69-42 homecoming victory over the Priceville Bulldogs last Friday night at Smith-Owens Stadium.
Russell and his teamates scored just about every way imaginable against Priceville.
For the night, Russell scored on a 67-yard pass reception from junior Caleb Hill, a 20-yard interception return, a fumble recovery in the end zone and an 11-yard run.
The pass reception was the first of many touchdowns on the evening and after Lawrence Jacko’s extra point, the Hawks were up 7-0.
The drive covered 60 yards in two plays.
Russell added his second touchdown of the evening just two plays later on the interception return, one of four Danville picks for the game.
The extra point by Jacko was good and Danville led 14-0 early in the opening period.
Priceville got on the board on their next drive, going 72 yards in five plays with the score coming on a 29-yard run by Forrest Clemmons.
Nic Bell kicked the PAT, making the score 14-7 in favor of the Hawks midway through the first quarter.
Danville would dominate the rest of the half, outscoring the Bulldogs 35-7 to take a commanding 49-14 lead at the half.
Danville’s touchdowns came on a 51-yard Hill to Evan Cleghorn pass, a 48-yard run by senior Jessie Posey, Russell’s fumble recovery, a 26-yard pass from Hill to Trey Jones and a 2-yard run by Posey. Posey had missed the previous two games with a leg injury and finished the night with 86 yards on nine carries.
Posey would later add a touchdown defensively, picking off a Priceville pass and returning it 46 yards for the final Danville points of the evening.
Priceville’s touchdown came on an 85-yard kick return by John Riley Hawkins.
The Hawks would waste little time getting on the scoreboard in the second half as Hill raced 59 yards on Danville’s first play from scrimmage in the 3rd quarter.
Jacko added the point after and Danville led 56-14 with 11:33 still remaining in the period.
Priceville would add two scores in the third quarter on a 10-yard Ben Patterson-to-Hawkins pass and a 5-yard run by Forrest Clemmons.
Bell kicked the PATs and the third period ended with Danville leading 56-28.
The fourth quarter saw Russell and Posey get Danville’s final points of the evening while Priceville’s touchdowns came on a 36-yard Patterson-to-Tanner Schell pass and a 7-yard run by Patterson.
Danville nearly added an eleventh touchdown but Clint McAbee was tackled inside the Priceville 5 after taking a Bulldog kick and running 93 yards down the left sideline.
Danville’s victory gives the Hawks a 2-3 record on the season while Priceville falls to 0-5.
Several Danville players had big nights offensively. Posey’s 86 yards led all Danville rushers while Hill threw for 242 yards and three touchdowns.
Russell had two catches for 82 yards while Cleghorn (74 yards) and Jones (55 yards) each had three catches. McAbee had 31 yards on four receptions.
Lawrence Jacko also had a big night, kicking nine of 10 extra points.
The Hawks return to region play tomorrow night as they travel to Trinity to take on West Morgan. Priceville will play at Ardmore.