Athens dominates over Logan first week of High School football
By: Cassidy McClurg
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LOGAN, Ohio (WOUB) – Athens Bulldogs played Logan Chieftains at Logan Stadium with a promising game. With this being a historically rivalry game, fans watched on the edge of their seats. With a final score of 49-21, with Athens bringing home the trophy.
The first quarter began with Logan receiving the ball for the kickoff. Logan’s Carson Tootle, on the carry, but quickly the quarter was dominated by Athens with an interception on the first play of the game, thanks to Collin Chapman. With Athens on Logan’s 15 yard line, anticipation was built. Athens’ Lucas Pero, landed a touchdown, bringing the heat early on in the game with the first points to the Bulldogs with nine minutes left of the quarter. Athens now has the ball on Logan’s 32-yard line, with Pero running, but an interception for Logan by Coen Hartman, reclaimed the ball.
Second end goal with the ball on the third yard line has Athens’ Tremayne Scott, running, but a penalty stops the momentum. Back-to-back penalties for Athens with third and goal. A touchdown by Pero followed for Athens, ending the first quarter with 14-0.
The second quarter begins with a fumble on the play. Athens’ Scott recovered the ball with the Bulldogs on their own 40-yard line. The ball keeps coming back to Athens, but so do penalties. When penalties came, it seemed Athens received touchdowns because with 10:56 left of the second half, Athens was still in the lead 21-0.
Then the game went silent. Logan’s players started to tense as a fellow player suffered an injury on the 40-yard line. Reassurance caused the team to be uplifted, and the game became flipped once back in. A penalty for Logan followed by a first and goal with seven minutes left of the quarter. A touchdown puts the Chieftains on the board by Tootle. Athens still leads, but Logan’s team starts to turn tables by cutting the lead by 14. Onside kick for Logan by Hunter Pippen, and the ball is recovered by Tootle, putting Logan on their own 49. A huge pass of the ball has Tootle on the 22-yard line with a catch. A decline of a penalty leaves Logan at the Athens’ 22-yard line.
Tootle was on fire by scoring back-to-back touchdowns, catches and runs. He brought attention to the Chieftains before halftime, making the score 28-14. Logan scoring 14 points in just a quarter made the rivalry game seem close.
After half, the Bulldogs dominated over the Chieftains despite the spirit for their injured players’ recovery. Touchdowns for the Bulldogs leave the game looking scary for the Chieftains. The third quarter had Athens punting the ball and receiving a timeout with only four minutes left on the clock. By the end of the third quarter, Athens was in the lead 42-14.
Logan was able to get a touchdown at the beginning of the fourth quarter, putting points back on the board for their home game. A huge play for Logan; first and goal with one minute left of the game, but the final score was a loss for them with Athens coming out on top. Standout players made this game worth the watch. The Bulldogs will play at Unioto next week, while the Chieftains play at Nelsonville-York.