Sports
Jackson Holds off Fighting Chieftains
< < Back toIt was a brisk Friday night under lights at Logan Chieftains Stadium, yet the home team came out hot with something to prove. After the emotional loss last season to Jackson in the SEOAL opener, the Chiefs tried to use their built up motivation to derail a hot Jackson squad that was 3-0 coming into the game.
After an early fumble by Drew Ervin, Logan took advantage of the turnover with a quick score, giving them an early 7-0 lead. But after the early Chiefs touchdown, it was all Jackson. The momentum turned in favor of Jackson as the Ironmen scored five unanswered touchdowns giving Jackson a 35-7 lead. But just when you thought Logan was down and out they battled back.
The Chiefs scored a late touchdown near the end of the half and botched the extra point. Jackson received to start the second half but Logan’s defense held their high powered offense to a three and out. Punter and star wide reciever Ty McNelly pinned the Chieftains deep in their own zone, but after two short runs Logan struck with the big play they needed desperately. Logan quarterback, Kelly Long, hit Sean Wotring on a slant and Wotring took it to the house for a 92-yard touchdown.
On Jackson’s next possession, Logan’s defense stood them up and the Ironmen were forced to punt. Then, after a high snap, the Chiefs recover the fumble and return it for a touchdown, narrowing the lead to only nine points making it 35-26.
Jackson’s silence was broken as running back Drew Ervin rushed for his third touchdown of the day extending the Ironmen’s lead to 16. From there it was an exchange of interceptions for the opposing quarterbacks, and both offenses stalled.
It wasn’t until later in the second half that both teams added touchdowns, but it was too late for the Chiefs falling short to the Ironmen by a score of 49-32.
Jackson gets their first win in the SEOAL and moves to 4-0 overall. And Logan loses their first conference game of the season, and is now 0-4 on the year. Jackson travels to Warren next Friday while Logan faces another challenge when they head to Boston Field to take on Nelsonville-York.