After a tough start to the 2025 football season, the Danville Warriors and head football coach Jayme Comer are looking to bounce back this week with a date against the Cascade Cadets.
In the season opener, the Warriors fell 35-28 on the road against a very good Gibson Southern program, and the loss mimicked the way portions of the 2024 campaign went.
“Last season, we finished 8-2 and captured our third conference title in the past five years. We were also just a few plays away from being 10–0 and competing for a sectional championship. As competitors, that fuels our fire—but we know last year’s results have no direct impact on the season ahead. This is a fresh slate with new challenges and opportunities,” Comer told Indiana Preps.
Danville brings back a roster that features 17 seniors who Comer admits he will lean on for dedication and toughness.
“Standouts include Paxton Trump, Ethan Wooten, Drake Sharp, Malachi Lane, Seth Dennison, Drew Rector, Hutton Simmons, Minh Vu, and Ian Reyes—multi-year starters who will be counted on heavily,” he said.
The Warriors will look to continue to get strong play out of junior quarterback Carter Ward, who Comer said has “extensive game experience and a winning mentality.”
On the defensive side of the ball, the Warriors will lean heavily on junior defensive lineman Porter Prather, as well as junior linebacker Logan Thompson.
“Our goals are simple: WIN in the classroom, WIN in the community, and WIN on the field. We aim to be competing for championships in late October and deep into November, with the ultimate goal of traveling 21 miles and bringing home a 4A State Title. We understand the process must be elite to achieve those goals, and we embrace the challenge ahead,” Comer said.
Returning home this week, Comer and Danville will have an opportunity to showcase some of the premier facilities in the Hoosier State. The visiting Cascade Cadets hope to spoil the home opener.
“Our stadium has been completely redone with new stands, turf, and a state-of-the-art video board. Additionally, we now have two new 10,000+ square foot facilities—one a weight room and the other a locker room—providing the space and resources our athletes need to learn, grow, and compete for state championships,” he said.