Bloom-Carroll defeats Logan Elm 41-20, earns top-spot in the MSL
By: Darayus Sethna
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CARROLL, Ohio (WOUB) — Fans who attended Bloom-Carroll High School on Friday night were in for a treat as their hometown Bulldogs took on the visiting Logan Elm Braves.
Both teams came into Week 8 with identical 6-1 records. Their goals were simple—win and secure the top spot in the MSL.
It was a game where many expected to see dynamic offense performances from both teams, and rightfully so. Logan Elm averaged 31.5 points per game in their last six wins, while the Bulldogs had scored at least 42 points in their last four contests.
With the playoffs just around the corner, no one could have asked for a more salivating matchup.
The cool temperatures and pacing wind forced both teams to utilize the ground game early. But in the final minutes of the opening quarter, all Logan Elm needed was the right arm of quarterback Aaron Walters.
With just over four minutes left, Walters threw up a high-flying floater into the reach of Landon Thompson, giving the Braves a 7-0 advantage.
Despite the rough start, Bulldogs Head Coach Jeremy McKinney and his squad bounced back to end the first quarter. In the closing moments, Bloom-Carroll quarterback Ethan Thanthanavong launched a perfect, arching throw to Brodyn Bishop in the endzone.
Bishop plucked the ball out of the air. The subsequent field goal tied the game at seven.
The second quarter saw the Braves capitalize on an early mistake by the Bulldog offense. With 9:35 left, Bloom-Carroll running back Dylan Armentrout fumbled the football and Logan Elm recovered it at their own 35-yard line.
Logan Elm advanced the ball all the way to Bulldogs’ territory. It was business as usual for Aaron Walters from there. With just over a minute to go, Walters connected with Braylen Baker for a 13-yard touchdown to regain the Braves’ lead at 13-7.
That did not deflate the spirit of Bloom-Carroll outside linebacker Andrew Marshall, who blocked the extra point attempt. It gave his team a much-needed momentum boost.
And that momentum reached its peak at the perfect moment.
With just 46 seconds to go before the intermission, Thanthanavong led another Bulldog charge. It ended with a 25-yard connection to Dylan Armentrout for his first touchdown score of the game.
Despite the score, Bloom-Carroll could not break the 13-13 deadlock after the field goal attempt smashed against the goal post.
The Bulldog offense came out firing on all cylinders after the halftime break. The team scored 28 points and pulled away from Logan Elm as the third quarter waned.
Bloom-Carroll defeated the Braves by a final score of 41-20. With the win, the Bulldogs improve to a 7-1 overall record and sit in first place in the MSL.