The Danville Hawks were looking for their first three-game win streak to open the season since 2015 when the Colbert Heights Wildcats came to town.
The Hawks started 3-0 in 2015 with wins over Cold Springs, Vinemont and Carbon Hill.
Danville fell behind in the first half for the second consecutive week as the Wildcats’ John Cheatham hit a 33-yard field goal in the second quarter to give Colbert Heights a 3-0 lead.
The Hawks answered right back with their first scoring drive of the game when quarterback Gage Taylor connected with Grayson Glenn on a nine-yard touchdown pass with 1:22 left in the first half. The Danville lead was 6-3 after a missed extra point.
Danville extended their lead to 14-3 right before the end of the first half when Carson Cox intercepted a Wildcats pass and returned it 38 yards for a score with six seconds left in the half.
Carson Crowe scored his first career touchdown on a six-yard run with 6:53 left in the third quarter. The scoring drive was set up by the first of two Glenn fumble recoveries.
Tanner Colburn capped the scoring for the Hawks with a five-yard run with 1:46 left in the game.
Glenn’s second fumble recovery of the game led to Colburn’s score.
Taylor finished the game 7-of-13 passing for 124 and a touchdown while rushing for 68 yards on nine carries. Colburn had 42 yards and a score on 19 carries, while Bo Huff added 43 yards on 14 carries. Kohl Randolph had three receptions for 82 yards, while Glenn had three for 23 yards and a score.
Danville (3-0, 1-0) will host Lauderdale County (3-0, 1-0) in a battle of the top two teams in 3A Region 8 on Friday.
3A Region 8 Scores
Lauderdale Co. 24, East Lawrence 6
Phil Campbell 55, Elkmont 8