Danville still perfect with win
By By Paul Wilson, For the Hartselle Enquirer
DANVILLE - What do Danville’s Tyler Beck and Auburn’s Kodi Burns have in common?
Several things.
They both wear no. 18, both are former quarterbacks turned wide receivers, and both have a very important role in their respective team’s offense.
The biggest difference in the two? Burns can’t play defense like Beck can. It was Beck’s interception in the end zone which set up Danville’s game-winning drive in their 27-20 victory over the Good Hope Raiders last Friday night at Smith-Owens Stadium in Danville.
After tying the game 20-20 early in the fourth, the Good Hope Raiders picked off a Danville pass and drove 53 yards in nine plays to give themselves a 1st-and-10 at the Danville 12.
Two plays later, Scott Motes lofted a pass into the Hawk end zone where Beck made the first of his two interceptions of the evening.
Danville moved 90 yards in nine plays, scoring on a 23-yard Hill to Beck pass with 1:52 left in the game.
Mario Cortez kicked the extra point to make the score 27-20 in favor of the Hawks.
Hill was especially sharp on the drive going 4-for-5 for 70 yards.
Key plays in the drive for Danville included passes of 13 yards to Levi George and 12 yards to Jesse Posey.
Each converted a 3rd-and-long situation allowing the Hawks to keep their drive alive.
Good Hope had the ball twice in the last two minutes but each possession ended in a turnover - including Beck’s second interception - and Danville had the Class 3A, Region 7 win.
Just as a Hill-to-Beck pass ended the night’s scoring, the same duo helped get the scoring started connecting on a 3-yard pass. The point after failed, but with 1:05 left in the opening quarter, Danville had a 6-0 lead.
Good Hope scored on its next possession on a 2-yard run by Taylor Hollis to tie the game at 6-6.
Danville answered the Good Hope score with George getting the touchdown on a 15-yard run, giving the Hawks a 12-6 lead midway through the second quarter.
Good Hope drove inside the Danville 5-yard line on its next possession, but a defensive stand by the Hawks kept the Raiders out of the end zone.
Good Hope took advantage of a Danville fumble and quickly scored on a 16-yard pass from Motes to Joseph Brown. The Raiders added the extra point for a 13-12 lead at the half.
Danville had the only score of the third quarter with Hill running it in from five yards out to cap an 11-play, 84-yard drive.
Key plays in the drive included an 11-yard pass from Hill to Posey to convert a third-and-4 play and a 30-yard run by Hill on fourth-and-2.
Hill led Danville with 89 yards rushing on 13 carries, while George added 83 yards on 16 carries.
Beck led all receivers with five catches for 60 yards and two touchdowns.
With the win, Danville moves to 3-0 overall and 2-0 in the region. The Hawks will travel to Walker County tomorrow to play the Carbon Hill Bulldogs.
