DANVILLE — The final road trip of the season is the longest for the Danville football team, but it could bring some long overdue success.
The Vikings (1-6 overall, 1-5 in Big 12) will travel to Peoria Richwoods (2-5 overall, 2-5 in Big 12).
Danville is coming off a 41-0 loss to Normal Community last week and head coach Marcus Forrest still saw improvements against the best of the Big 12.
“Friday was nothing that was unexpected in playing a good team, but what they have done is bounce back and being improved,” Forrest said. “We just wanted to make sure we improve weekly. We saw it on film Monday where as things may look dire in the game, you see a few mistakes that led to offensive and defensive plays not to be made. Four-five weeks ago, I said that we are waiting for things to click and they are starting to, but the fact they are still around and ready to improve is what we are excited about.”
Practices this week have been different with fall break at DHS. The Vikings have been practicing in the morning to have time to relax for the rest of the day.
“Being able to get out, practice and get our work done and get our players and coaches to relax and engage ourselves with our families is great,” Forrest said. “It is great to get out with no distractions and we get the work in and get it early. One of the struggles we have is kids that have issues because of travel, but I think we have given them the time and preparation to get ready.”
With no school on Friday, a trip to Peoria will be a little easier as the usual time crunch to get ready after school is gone.
“This being the only Peoria trip, it is one of the ones where it is easier with not going to school, but it will be a good experience for those who have not made a trip,” Forrest said. “We are going to look forward to it, but when you get older, it doesn’t hit the same, so once we get it over with we are going to be happy.”
Richwoods is coming off a win over Urbana in a game that included a fight between the two teams that suspended play in the first half. The game was ruled a forfeit win for the Knights on Tuesday by the IHSA and five players from Richwoods will not be playing on Friday because they were ejected from the Urbana game.
As a group, they are an athletic team and they play hard. We are similar in many aspects as a young, physical team and they are scrappy,” Forrest said. “They play with a chip on their shoulder and they play physical and some people don’t react to that well. It is not a matter of playing dirty, but we are going to play hard. We are going to be prepared for their physical play and since we prepare for that all season, it shouldn’t be different.
“I am going under the assumption that there will be enough for them. We don’t have an idea of what kids were going to be suspended but we are going to play like they are having a full team.”
The game starts at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on WDAN-AM 1490.