Steve Stonebreaker's second season as head coach of the Danville Admirals begins at 8:00 p.m. when the Ads play host to the Marion County Knights. This year's Pigskin Classic has a new sponsor as Stuart Powell Ford/Mazda replaces the Ghost in Blue Foundation and Community Trust Bank. Last season, Stonebreaker led a big turnaround as the Ads snapped a 23-game losing streak in their first game under his leadership and posted a 9-3 record, eventually eliminated in a close game in the second round of the playoffs against former head coach Clay Clevenger and the Somerset Briar Jumpers. The Admirals are hoping to go further this year, led by highly touted sophomore running back Jayvian Meaux and senior wide receiver Trinden Sellers. The Admirals remain a young team as only 14 of the 42 players on their roster are juniors and seniors.

Ross Brown, leader of the Knights, is also in his second year. The team posted a 7-4 record last year, losing in the first round of the 4A playoffs at Logan County. That was the school's first winning record in ten years and it could have been even better as three of those losses were by a combined seven points. The Knights are more experienced than the Ads, entering the year with a roster loaded with upperclassmen but Brown has said that he worries about the team's lack of depth. Returning quarterback Wyatt Thompson leads a Wing-T offense that has experience on the line with some new players at receiver.

Both teams hope that this game can be the start of a great 2026 campaign that will push them deeper into the playoffs.

NFHS video of this game:

https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/danville-high-school-danville-ky/gamfaf46e5857

ADs 30 Marion County 12

I like the Ads in this game. Their line play was better than I expected when they scrimmaged the much larger South Laurel team. Danville 35-18

Game is going to start soon. AM 1230 WHIR is providing a radio feed for the game: https://us7.maindigitalstream.com/2251/

Ads receive the ball to start the game and take the ball to their 35 yard line.

Marion is able to force a 4th & 1 early on the Ads 44. Not surprisingly, the Ads pitch it to Meaux out of the I-Formation and they move the chains.

There have been a ton of flags on both teams on this first drive. One of them waives off a Meaux touchdown run.

Ads are now down to the Marion County 19 with a 1st & 10.

And Meaux runs it in on the very next play, rolling with a tackle and never having his knee touch. After 31 touchdowns last year, Meaux gets another in his Admiral career and the first of this year's campaign.

Extra point is good by new kicker Juan Garcia.

Danville leads 7-0 with 6:30 left in the 1st quarter

Things get worse for Marion County as they never touch the kickoff and the Admirals recover. It is now 1st and goal for the Ads at the Marion 9.

And Meaux quickly adds yet another score with a run to the outside.

On the extra point, there is a bad snap and a kick by Garcia is not attempted.

Danville now leads 13-0

Marion returns the kickoff this time to their own 26 but the Ads are flagged for a personal foul for roughness, moving the ball to the 41.

Early runs by Marion to the edges go nowhere as the Ads speed is able to styme them and then they get flagged for a false start. On 3rd & 16 the Knights do a playaction pass but the pass is broken up. That forces a Marion punt but it is shanked around the 50. So things are not going well for the Knights in this first quarter. 3:53 to play in the quarter.

Ads waste no time lighting up the scoreboard again as Dillon Cruver hooks up with Trinden Sellers, who takes it to the house for another touchdown.

Garcia's kick is good as it appears that the Ads kicking game has improved a good deal.

Danville now leads 20-0 with 3:43 to play in the first quarter.

Marion returns on the kickoff to the 33. Their first run goes nowhere but a second run goes 11 or so yards for a first down.