Danville falls in Final Four in bid for State Title in High School Football

The Danville Blue Devils High School Football team had a wonderful season but fell short of their ultimate goal falling 25-22 to Jeromesville Hillsdale in the State Semifinals in Division 7 Friday Night at Shelby.

The Blue Devils struck first on a 1 yard touchdown run by Cyren Wallace to take a 6-0 lead. Kael Lewis, the Hillsdale quarterback, used to an 8 yard touchdown run to even to score 54 seconds into the second quarter but a blocked extra point kept it tied. The Blue Devils then got a pair of Aidan Burke had a 22 yard touchdown run and Jacob Hackman had a two points conversion to give Danville a 14-6 lead at the 338 mark of the second period. Burke rumbled in again from 12 yards out and he added a two point conversion to increase Danville’s lead to 22-6 with 104 to go in the half. Hillsdale answered with 4 seconds left in the half on an 8 yard touchdown pass from Lewis to Brock Bower to make it 22-12 Danville at half.

After the break it was all Falcons. Lewis threw a 22 yard touchdown pass to Holland Young to get the Falcons within 22-18 with 436 to go in the third quarter. The Blue Devils led 22-18 going to the fourth quarter but at the 1029 mark Lewis ran one in from 3 yards out to give Jeromesville Hillsdale a 25-22 lead which they held onto to win.

One key play came at the 3 minute mark when Danville went for it on 4th and 1 at the Hillsdale 21 yard line and failed to convert and a jump offsides that gave Hillsdale a fresh set of downs late in the game.

Lewis totaled 4 touchdowns (two passing and two rushing) and threw for 237 yards. Burke and Wallace each ran for over 100 yards and 3 touchdown runs.

Danville finishes 12-3, Hillsdale improves to 14-1 and will face Marion Local in the State Championship game in Division 7 Friday Morning at 1030am. Marion Local currently has the nation’s longest winning streak.