CENTRAL — Thanks to D.W. Daniel’s top-ranked defense, the Western 3A title could be staying here for another year.

The Lions entered Friday with the best scoring defense in the state among Class AAA teams, allowing less than 10 points per contest. And led by its defensive front, Daniel stymied Belton-Honea Path’s improved rushing game in a 24-7 victory Friday night at Singleton Field. The win puts Daniel in first-place in Western 3A as the Lions are the only team in the region undefeated.

B-HP struggled to find a rhythm on offense as Daniel forced five B-HP turnovers, and held the Bears to three first downs — one in the first half — with 55 rushing yards on the night.

B-HP’s only score came after Daniel junior Brandon Anderson fumbled at the Lions’ 5-yard line late in the third quarter.

“Their defensive front whipped our offensive front,” B-HP coach Wayne Green said. “I don’t think you could ask for us to play any better defense.”

The Bears missed starting junior defensive backs Tyrone Peters and Jacob Tavernier, who were out with injuries. Tavernier, who suffered a broken bone in his foot last week, leads the team with three interceptions, and is third on the team with 70 tackles.

The Bears’ feature tailback, sophomore Charles Lindsey, had his toughest game of the season. Lindsey, who had 215 yards and seven touchdowns the last two weeks, rushed 10 times for eight yards. Lindsey had five carries that went for no gain or negative yards.

While Daniel’s defense shined, the Bears’ D nearly matched it step for step.

B-HP forced two first-half turnovers inside its 15-yard line.

On Daniel’s opening drive, the Lions failed to gain a yard on three tries at the B-HP 3-yard line, finally settling for a field goal. Daniel had five first-half drives inside the B-HP 20, and scored 10 points off of them.

“I felt like I shot myself in every foot,” Daniel coach Randy Robinson said. “I don’t think we could figure out a way to blow a drive in the red zone.”

But since B-HP didn’t have a first-half drive register more than six plays, the Lions had time to work out their offensive kinks.

After what Green called his team’s best effort in a 35-14 win over Pickens last week, the B-HP coach said this loss was the second worst effort of the season, behind the season-opening loss at Laurens.

“We were just so inept on offense in the first half,” Green said. “We were a little better in the second half, but not a lot better. You can’t expect your defense to stay on the field as much as our guys did tonight, and win.”

That offense got a fortuitous bounce midway through the fourth quarter with Daniel leading 10-7. Forced to punt from its own 22, Daniel (8-0, 3-0 Region 1-AAA) looked to lean on its defense since B-HP (3-5, 2-1) was to received the ball with positive field position.

But Daniel’s punt landed near midfield, and bounced into the leg of junior Ryan Stevenson, who was blocking with his back to the ball, and Daniel recovered the turnover.

“That was probably what sparked the offense right there,” said Daniel junior safety J.P. Hill, who had two of his team’s three interceptions, giving the Lions 19 on the season.

Four plays later, senior quarterback Justin Walker found junior receiver DeAndre Hopkins over the middle for 37 yards on third and 13. That set up Walker’s second rushing touchdown of the game, and put Daniel up 17-7.

“We need games like this because this is what’s going to happen down the road,” Robinson said, “and you’ve got to be ready for this kind of challenge in the playoffs.”