LOUDONVILLE — Ed Honabarger will return to Tough Street on Friday, but Loudonville’s first-year coach doesn’t expect anyone to roll out the red carpet for him or his Redbirds.
Honabarger spent 16 seasons on the home sideline at this field, as the head coach at Danville, first from 1999 to 2004 and again from 2010 to 2019. He guided the Blue Devils to regional championships in 1999, 2004, 2015 and 2017, compiling a 132-60 record before stepping down after the 2019 season.
School officials dedicated the Danville fieldhouse in his honor the following spring in a surprise ceremony that drew nearly 100 community members. Honabarger was instrumental in raising the money to build the facility in the early-2000s.
The “Ed Honabarger Fieldhouse” sign that hangs from an outside wall was unveiled during the dedication ceremony.
“They may cover my name with a blanket that night,” Honabarger joked when he accepted the Loudonville job in mid-May. “I’ve still got a lot of friends down there.”
Honabarger’s return to Danville highlights the area’s Week 6 slate of games. Here’s a closer look:
Loudonville (0-5, 0-2) at Danville (3-2, 1-1)
The Redbirds fell to Centerburg 42-7 last week and have been outscored 160-21 in the past four weeks. Quarterback Dilan Wade has completed 46-of-94 passes for 566 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 212 yards and two TDs on 67 carries. Josiah Hershberger leads the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference with 27 catches and 445 receiving yards. Hershberger has a pair of TD catches and has rushed for 93 yards and a score on 18 carries. Hershberger also ranks among KMAC leaders with 57 tackles, including eight tackles for loss. Collin Caley has a pair of interceptions.
The Blue Devils are coming off a 41-6 loss at Northmor. The 35-point loss was Danville’s worst since a 42-7 loss to Newark Catholic in the second round of the 2020 playoffs. Before last week, Danville hadn’t given up more than 21 points in a game. Linebacker Josh Byers leads the KMAC with 78 tackles, including four tackles for loss and two sacks. Caleb Lucas has a team-best eight TFLs and three sacks. Offensively, running back Aidan Burke rans fifth in the KMAC with 484 yards on 84 carries. Quarterback Jacob Hackman has completed 30-of-59 passes for 378 yards and a pair of TDs. Lucas has a team-high seven catches for 107 yards and a touchdown.
Ashland (5-0, 1-0) at Madison (1-4, 1-1)
The Arrows are 5-0 for the first time since 2020 after last week’s 37-20 win over Maple Heights. Quarterback Nathan Bernhard completed only 9-of-22 passes but threw for 256 yards. Bernhard had completions of 55, 50, 39 and 39 yards. Bernhard had a pair of 1-yard TD runs last week, while Killian O’Brien returned an interception 40 yards for a score. For the season, Bernhard has completed 67-of-117 passes for 1,116 yards and 11 touchdowns and rushed for 282 yards and seven TDs on 68 carries. Gabe Baith has a team-high 26 catches, while O’Brien leads the way with 339 receiving yards and four TD catches. Gunner Lacey leads the defense with 54 tackles.
The Rams nearly sprang the upset but gave up a last-second field goal in a 23-21 loss at West Holmes. Quarterback Cam Kuhn completed 16-of-25 passes for 164 yards and a 31-yard touchdown pass to Julian Washington. Ja’Karri Favers scored a pair of touchdown, while Khris Adkins-Tolbert rushed for 70 yards on 22 carries. Madison forced five fumbles.
Hillsdale (5-0, 2-0) at Smithville (4-1, 1-1)
The Falcons pulled out all the stops in last week’s 35-31 win over Dalton, scoring first-half touchdowns on a flea-flicker and a hook-and-ladder. Sophomore quarterback Kael Lewis threw for 361 yards and has completed 56-of-83 passes for 1,007 yards and 13 touchdowns. Running back Owen Sloan has rushed for 518 yards and 10 TDs on 71 carries, while Holland Young has a team-high 21 catches for 406 yards and six TDs. Hayden McFadden has 15 receptions for 307 yards and three scores. Defensively, linebackers Brady Heller and Aiden Hoffman continue to lead the way with 49 and 44 tackles, respectively.
The Smithies are coming off a 19-14 win over Waynedale. Quarterback Trei Durstine rushed for 122 yards and threw for 77 yards including a 53-yard TD, in the victory. Three of Smithville’s four wins are by five points or less.