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Game Preview: Meigs-Logan Hoping To Find Some Defense In Week 3 [VIDEO]


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The game of football consists of three different components: offense, defense and special teams.

But in this week’s game between the Meigs Marauders and Logan Chieftains, the game will feature a lot of offense—and not as much defense.

The Marauders (1-1) racked up 79 points—yes 79—in their win against Fairland last week. Meanwhile the Chieftains (0-2) have scored at least 40 in their first two games, but were unable to get the win. It is no question that the offensive production is there, but where has defense been?

Non-existent.

In the first two games, the Marauders have allowed a whopping 115 points while the Chieftains have yielded 87 points to its first two opponents. While Meigs was able to notch a victory after allowing 69 points to Fairland, the Marauders will try to make sure their defensive struggles won’t hinder the outcome this week. 

“We have to do better,” said Meigs head coach Mike Bartrum. “And it all falls back on me as head coach. We have to start making plays on defense and go back to the basics.

“It’s a tough game, I’ve been around it for a long time and I’ve never seen that many missed tackles and that many opportunities to make plays and not making plays, but it comes back to me. I have to do a better job coaching them and putting the kids in the right position to make plays and if we don’t do that this week it will be a long night Friday night because Logan will walk all over us.”

And Logan might have a good chance to grab their first win of 2014 behind junior quarterback Lane Little.

Little offers an undoubtedly worthy air attack and has thrown for 583 yards with eight touchdowns and just one interception in his first two starts, with the bulk of those throws finding senior wide receiver Chance Cox and junior wide receiver Isaiah Smith.

Cox and Smith each have 14 receptions on the year with 204 yards and four touchdowns and 178 yards and three touchdowns, respectively.

The Marauders will have to step up on both sides of the ball without quarterback Cody Bartrum. Bartrum left Week 1 matchup with an injury, and will have to watch from the sidelines again this week, and wide receiver Isaiah English will have to fill his void.

“Isaiah coming in from the receiver spot to jump in there at quarterback and doing what he did the other night, and he’ll have to do that again,” coach Bartrum said. “If he doesn’t, then we’re not going to score. But in football you have to have a team, if you don’t have a team you have nothing. We’re just going to show up and play hard and let the kids play.”

And a big part of that team is running back Michael Davis, who last week scored nine total touchdowns–yes, nine–in the win over Fairland last week, placing him in a tie for the second-most touchdowns in a single game in OHSAA history. 

So from offense, to defense to special teams, only Friday night will tell if either team can put together a complete game.

Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. in Pomeroy.  

'Gridiron Glory' airs every Friday night at 11:30 p.m. on WOUB. You can follow the show on Twitter @gridironglory, like the Gridiron Glory page on Facebook, and follow along on Instagram @woubsports. You can also join the conversation throughout the season by using the hashtag #GridGlory!