For the second week in a row, the Danville Hawks won the second half. Unfortunately for the Hawks, it was also the second consecutive week that the first half deficit was too large to overcome as Vinemont defeated Danville 45-26 last Friday night in Vinemont.

Trailing 32-0, Danville got on the board with just 28 seconds left in the first half when senior RB Drake Sapp raced 65 yards for a touchdown. Logan Jaep added the PAT.

Vinemont scored on its first five possessions to take a commanding lead.

Danville wasted little time getting on the scoreboard in the second half. Riley Self took the kickoff and ran 75 yards for the score. Jaep’s PAT made the score 32-14 in favor of Vinemont with 11:49 left in the third period.

Vinemont would take the ball and answer the Hawk touchdown with one of their own as John Michael Dyer scored on a 4 yard run. Following a successful PAT, Vinemont was up 39-14.

Danville would add the final points of the third quarter on a 37-yard run by Hawk junior QB Colton McCay. The PAT failed and Vinemont’s lead was 19 (39-20) midway through the third.

The two teams traded possessions before Vinemont began its last scoring drive of the night late in the third quarter. Stopping the Hawks on downs, the Eagles took possession at their own 44.

Nine consecutive runs and two 5-yard penalties on Danville gave Vinemont a first-and-goal at the Hawk 4. The next play saw Dalton Herfurth get into the end zone. The PAT failed but Vinemont now led 45-20 with 8:45 remaining in the game.

McCay scored his second touchdown of the night on a 14 yard run to make the final score 45-26 in favor of Vinemont. Danville’s touchdown drive covered 72 yards in 9 plays, all runs.  Big plays in the drive included back to back runs totaling 43 by McCay (16 yards) and Sapp (27 yards).

Despite the loss, the Hawks had a great night running the football as they rushed for 316 yards. Sapp led all rushers with 117 yards on nine carries while McCay added 90 yards on eight carries. In addition to his kick return, Self rushed 12 times for 83 yards. The Hawks will open region play Friday when they entertain the Bulldogs of Carbon Hill. Kickoff at Smith-Owens Stadium is set for 7 p.m.