Sports
Logan Wins The Battle of Route 33
By: Brad Friedman
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In the crisp air of Dave Boston Field, the Logan Chieftains (2-3, 0-0) muscled their way to a 14-12 victory over Nelsonville-York (2-3, 0-0).
Both squads came into Friday night’s game hoping to finish off their non-conference schedules on a high note.
Logan’s search for win number two got off to a rocky start when they muffed the opening kick return, giving the Buckeyes the rock on the Logan 33-yard line. The Chieftains’ defense stood strong, though, forcing a 4-and-out.
Logan’s ensuing drive had some steam, led by Chieftain running back Isaac Schmeltzer, but the drive stalled. Nelsonville-York received a huge momentum-builder when they blocked the Chieftains’ punt, giving them the ball on the Logan 37-yard line.
Quarterback Colton Adams made big plays for the Buckeyes in the next drive, including a fourth-and-9 play where he found Jeremy Warren to keep the drive alive. He then connected with Cannon Kilbarger for a 15-yard gain, placing the ball at the 1-yard line.
Adams finished off the drive with a quarterback sneak, putting the Buckeyes up, 6-0. Nelsonville-York failed to convert on the two-point conversion, keeping the Chieftains within six.
And Logan wasted no time in responding.
After a few Schmeltzer runs, Logan quarterback Nick Kost aired it out to Nick Cocks for a 44-yard touchdown, putting the Chieftains up, 7-6.
On Logan’s first drive of the second half, Kost and Schmeltzer rushed for a combined 60 yards, bringing the ball down to the Nelsonville-York 6-yard line. On fourth-and-3, Kost threw a Tim Tebow-like jump pass over the line to receiver Kevin Fisher, putting the Chieftains up, 14-6.
With 5:38 left in the fourth quarter, Nelsonville-York’s Noah Andrews scampered into the end zone for a 2-yard touchdown, but an unsuccessful two-point conversion kept Logan’s lead at 14-12.
The Buckeyes had one final drive to win the game in Logan territory with under a minute to play, but with 19 ticks left on the clock, Adams’ pass was picked off by Brandon Arnett, sealing the win for the visiting Chieftains.
Adams finished the night with 134 yards through the air on 18-of-25 passing. Warren had 11 receptions and 110 yards for the Buckeyes.
Kost finished with 148 all-purpose yards, including two touchdown tosses for Logan, and Schmeltzer finished the night with 99 yards on 21 carries.
The Buckeyes roll into TVC-Ohio play next Friday when they travel to Meigs. The Chieftains begin SEOAL play next Friday when they welcome Portsmouth.