Category: Logan

Vikings, Bobcats open SOC I slate; Ironton @ Chesapeake, Trimble @ Waterford, Logan @ Athens

By PAUL BOGGS

Photo by Robert Stevens

Symmes Valley vs Green

Don’t look now, but the Symmes Valley Vikings are quietly creeping up the Division VII, Region 27 playoff ladder.

 

They are also aiming – with the Oak Hill Oaks having moved up to the Southern Ohio Conference Division II – to significantly scale the totem pole of the SOC I.

 

But so too are the Green Bobcats – with their numbers and hopes on the rise and coming off their first winning season and state playoff appearance since 1990.

With Northwest now the largest SOC I school for football, and according to many observers the favorite for this season’s division championship, the 4-1 Vikings and 3-2 Bobcats will surely have something to say about that – as they open SOC I action on Friday night in Lawrence County.

 

Kickoff at Symmes Valley High School is set for 7 p.m.

 

The Vikings, whose lone loss was to archrival and Division V Chesapeake, have shut out Fairfield Christian (37-0) before steamrolling Fairview (50-6) and Sciotoville East (47-6) in non-conference clashes the past two weeks.

 

The Vikings vanquished South Gallia 14-12 in the opener, and are currently 10th in the official OHSAA Region 27 computer ratings.

 

The Bobcats are 12th in those same computer rankings, but Green is coming off a bad 26-22 setback at Fairview (Ky.).

 

Green will now likely need to run the table to qualify for a second straight playoff appearance, and it doesn’t help that the three teams it has defeated – Cincinnati Dohn Community (1-4), Manchester (0-5) and Federal Hocking (1-4) – are a combined 2-13.

 

That trio will also unlikely yield anymore possible playoff points.

 

The run-oriented Vikings are considered a heavy favorite, despite the Bobcats winning two of the past three meetings – albeit by a combined 11 points (32-28 in 2016 and 22-15 in 2018).

 

The series is lopsided in Symmes Valley’s favor with only those two victories by the Bobcats – besides Green’s only other win since the turn of century in 2006.

 

Oak Hill has dominated the division for the past decade, as the Vikings split the crown with the Oaks and Mohawks in 2014 – while winning it outright in 2011.

Northwest now wins the numbers game by being a Division V program – with the other five SOC I squads belonging to Region 27.

RankPlayerPositionHeightWeightATTRUYDSTDRECREYDSTD
1Josh Ferguson20215-101751081111113230
2Ethan Patterson20226-001557155073330
3Jack Leith20206-03170904816000
4Luke Leith20216-0116014148451025
5Nick Strow20225-10160351350000

But numbers on the field are with the Vikings, as three backs (Josh Ferguson 51 carries, 426 yards and 4 TD; Jack Leith 46 carries, 236 yards and 4 TD; Eli Patterson 28 carries, 229 yards and 2 TD) have amassed at least 28 carries, 231 yards and two touchdowns.

 

Jack Leith has completed 9-of-14 passes for 156 yards and four TDs, as three players have at least three receptions – with Luke Leith’s three catches all going for scores.

 

Gavan Yates, a starting Symmes Valley offensive lineman, has successfully kicked 13 extra points and one field goal.

 

 Ironton at Chesapeake

Chesapeake vs Ironton

 

In another matchup of 4-1 at 3-2, but also along the lines of David vs. Goliath, Ironton (4-1) invades Chesapeake (3-2) for maintaining front-running status in the Ohio Valley Conference.

 

Kickoff inside Phil Davis Stadium in Chesapeake is set for 7 p.m.

 

The Fighting Tigers, the consensus preseason favorite for the OVC championship along with defending champion Gallia Academy, bounced back from their only loss of the season (16-10 in overtime at Ashland) – with an expected league defeat of South Point (38-2) last week.

 

Ironton is 2-0 in the league, and attempting to make it 5-for-5 against the Panthers in all of their meetings since joining the OVC in 2015.

 

The Fighting Tigers took the league championship in their first two campaigns.

 

The Panthers are 1-1 in the league, having lost 55-27 at Gallia Academy – before  winning a shootout at Coal Grove last week by a final score of 45-38.

 

Ironton, however, is a heavy favorite against the Panthers, which have remained much healthier through the first half of this year.

 

There is also a bevy of state playoff points at stake, as the Tigers (8.95 computer points average) trail only Minford (9.65 CPA) for the top spot in Division V Region 19, but have five more Level-2 points than do the Falcons.

Speaking of Minford, Ironton will benefit from a Wheelersburg victory over the Falcons this week, while Minford is rooting for a Panther upset of the Fighting Tigers.

 

Chesapeake’s only other loss is against the Falcons in week two, as the Panthers (5.6 CPA) currently occupy the eighth and final playoff spot in Region 19.

 

The top eight teams in each region qualify for the playoffs – with the top four squads earning first-round home bouts.

 

Trimble at Waterford

Waterford vs Trimble

So somebody, anybody, finally scored upon the undefeated Trimble Tomcats this season.

 

But while the Tomcats didn’t win that trivial battle, they did win their latest war – defeating the Worthington Christian Warriors 34-6 to move to 5-0.

 

This week, Trimble returns to Tri-Valley Conference Hocking Division play – and tangles with the host Waterford Wildcats, which will arguably be their toughest opponent in the remainder of the regular season.

 

Waterford, with only a lopsided loss against arch-rival but Division VI Fort Frye, stands at 4-1 – and welcomes the defending champion Tomcats for the inside track to the latest TVC-Hocking championship.

 

Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

 

Both clubs are 3-0 in the TVC-Hocking, and while the Wildcats have allowed only 34 points in three conference tilts, the Tomcats – against 3-2 Belpre, 3-2 Meigs Eastern and 1-4 South Gallia – have not surrendered a single solitary one.

 

Waterford will need not only to score against the Tomcats, but they will need to do so several times.

 

They didn’t against Fort Frye in being blanked 49-0, and Trimble – like the Cadets – is considered one of the top Division VI programs in the entire state.

 

Zane Heiss has completed 22-of-54 passes for 496 yards and four touchdowns, as Nick Fouss has caught 14 passes for 372 yards and three scores.

 

Heiss has also been a primary running threat from the quarterback spot, rushing for 335 yards and four TD on 33 carries, while Holden Dailey leads the Wildcats with 369 yards and 10 touchdowns on 36 attempts.

Joe Pantelidis has the most carries for Waterford with 40, and has 290 yards with a trio of touchdowns.

 

Waterford will face Trimble’s vaunted wishbone rushing attack, as Connor Wright will enter Friday’s affair at four carries short of 100 – and already 99 rushing yards shy of exactly 1,000.

 

Wright also has 13 touchdowns.

 

Quarterback Cameron Kittle has rushed for 285 yards on 32 attempts and five trips to paydirt, while completing 15-of-21 passes for 354 yards with seven scores.

 

The Wildcats sit sixth in the Division VII, Region 27 computer ratings, so an upset win would open so many doors for them.

 

Waterford won back-to-back TVC-Hocking titles in 2016 and 2017, following Trimble’s run of three consecutive from 2013 thru 2015.

 

The Tomcats’ last league loss was at Waterford two years ago, as Trimble has captured 13 consecutive conference victories.

 

Trimble (8.8) trails only New Middletown Springfield (9.5) and Fort Frye (9.15) for the top spot in the Region 21 computer ratings.

 

Logan at Athens

Athens vs Logan

Talk about two programs really needing – and even craving – a victory, and against an old enemy at that.

 

That’s the setting for Friday night’s matchup at Rutter Field in The Plains, as longtime rivals Logan and Athens square off in an important and now non-league duel – despite both entering with losing records.

 

Kickoff at Athens High School is set for 7:30 p.m.

 

The Chieftains are 1-4 and the Bulldogs are 2-3 – something seldom seen or even heard of when the Route 33 rivals did battle during their former Southeastern Ohio Athletic League days.

 

Logan, now an independent program playing in Division II, landed its first victory of the season last week – an 18-7 Thursday night special over host Chillicothe.

 

The Chieftains had scored just seven points apiece in each of their previous four bouts, but snapped a school-record 11-game losing streak by stymieing the offensively-struggling Cavaliers.

 

Logan – whose four losses are to teams with a combined 16-4 record – turns its attention to the Bulldogs, which have won two consecutive in this series, which was renewed four years ago.

However, in the two-decade stretch from 1996 thru 2016, Athens lost 14 in a row to Logan, as the Bulldogs departed the SEOAL – and joined the Tri-Valley Conference starting in 2008.

 

It’s been an excellent move for Athens, which has won or shared six TVC-Ohio championships over the past decade, including its first last season since a four-year span from 2011 thru 2014.

 

But the Bulldogs began this season at 0-3, losing to 4-1 Waverly (30-27) and undefeated Jackson (31-26) by a combined eight points – before falling 42-20 at undefeated Parkersburg South in West Virginia.

 

As a result of those non-league losses, Athens must win out if it is to have any shot at qualifying for the Division III, Region 11 playoffs.

 

The Bulldogs, with a computer points average of 4.0, are only 17th in Region 11.

 

This week, Athens’ finesse and spread-the-field formation attack indeed will be tested against the Chieftains’ physicality.

 

Under the direction of first-year head coach Nathan White, junior Joey Moore is thriving at quarterback – having completed 86-of-137 passes for 1,204 yards and 14 touchdowns.

 

Moore is also the Green and Gold’s leading rusher, totaling 377 yards and four TD on 93 carries.

 

At least six Athens receivers have at least six receptions for 113 yards and a touchdown, as Nate Trainer is easily Moore’s top target – with 35 catches for 522 yards and four scores.

 

Look for Logan to try and play ball control, and keep Moore and company confined to the sidelines, as Caden McCarty (105 carries for 437 yards) and quarterback Braeden Spatar (100 carries for 350 yards) spearhead a 1-2 Chieftain rushing attack.

 

McCarty has scored six rushing touchdowns for 36 points – as the Purple and White have only scored 46 points all season.

Spatar has thrown just 51 passes, but has completed 31 of them for 286 yards and one TD, including 14 for 148 yards to Garret Mace.

 

Blue Devils renew rivalry with Big Blacks; Logan @ Jackson, Minford @ Greenup County

By PAUL BOGGS

“The Battle of The Bridge” is indeed back, and this time, it’s extremely interesting.

Gallia Academy vs Point Pleasant WV

After a two-year hiatus, the annual Ohio River rivalry between the Gallia Academy Blue Devils and the Point Pleasant Big Blacks resumes on Friday night – and both teams are looking to remain undefeated.

But, the Blue Devils are already 2-0, while the visiting Big Blacks – believe it or not – have yet to play a game this season.

In addition, it’s a new-look Point Pleasant squad up against an experienced Gallia Academy club  – coming off its stellar 9-2 campaign and already with two shutouts to start this year.

Kickoff is set for Friday night at historic Memorial Field in Gallipolis at 7 p.m.

The Blue Devils blanked Meigs (24-0) and River Valley (38-0) in their first two tilts, as Gallia Academy – the defending Ohio Valley Conference champion – opens OVC play next week.

But the Big Blacks of Class AA in West Virginia are a step – or two – up in competition for these up-and-coming Blue Devils, as Point Pleasant has recently dominated the long-running series that stopped after 2016.

That year, as the current Gallia Academy seniors were just freshmen, the program went 1-9 – and lost at powerful Point Pleasant 61-12.

Those Big Blacks were spearheaded by then-sophomore quarterback Cason Payne, who has now graduated while setting several school records – and earning all-state honors in West Virginia four times.

Payne rushed and passed for 1,000 yards two times each in those four years, as the Big Blacks qualified for the Class AA playoffs in each.

Point Pleasant also graduated Payne’s primary and record-setting wide receiver, Josh Wamsley, while three of his starting offensive linemen are gone as well.

The Big Blacks do return senior offensive linemen Jacob Muncy and Nate Barth, along with 1,000-yard rusher from a year ago and fellow senior Brady Adkins.

Hunter Bush – a junior – takes over under center for Payne, and despite his lack of significant varsity experience is believed to have a strong throwing arm.

The Big Blacks also return nine starters on defense, as Gallia Academy’s athleticism and speed will need to make plays against Point Pleasant’s experience.

But the Blue Devils do have plenty of playmakers, primarily junior James Armstrong and sophomore Donevyn Woodson.

#
24
Name
Donevyn Woodson
Position
2022
Height
5-11
Weight
145
Current Team
Gallia Academy
Leagues
OVC, SEO
Seasons
2019, 2020

 

#
3
Name
James Armstrong
Position
2021
Height
6-00
Weight
190
Current Team
Gallia Academy
Leagues
OVC, SEO
Seasons
2019, 2020
  Against River Valley, Armstrong went off for 174 rushing yards on 19 carries with two touchdowns.

That win marked the ninth consecutive in the regular season for the Blue and White, dating back to week three of last season – a narrow 15-9 loss at Jackson.

The Ironmen occupied this week-three post the past two years, which Point Pleasant held before and now does again.

But by this time usually, the Big Blacks – an independent program in the Mountain State – will have had two games under their belts.

Not this season, though, as Point Pleasant is playing only a nine-game regular-season slate – as the Big Blacks couldn’t find a week-one opener at the end of August.

With West Virgina’s 11-week regular season, they had their scheduled bye for the year last week.

So the Blue Devils do have an advantage in having played twice, as they look to close the gap with the Big Blacks and move to 3-0, while securing a victory for VERY valuable Level 2 playoff points down the road.

Point Pleasant is considered the equivalent of an OHSAA Division II team, and is perceived to be set for another strong season – in spite of only nine scheduled games and replacing Payne.

The Big Blacks own the all-time series by a count of 46-37-5.

 

Logan at Jackson

Jackson vs Logan

After playing – and defeating – former Southeastern Ohio Athletic League charter rival Gallia Academy in this week-three spot the last two years, the Jackson Ironmen host their future season-opening opposition on Friday night.

And, it’s a blast from the past, as that would be another SEOAL charter member – the Logan Chieftains.

Only this time, with the SEOAL now defunct, Logan invades Alumni Stadium in Jackson as a non-league opponent – the first time that has happened since 1924 in the now 96th all-time meeting between the two.

Kickoff in the Apple City is set for 7 p.m.

Logan leads the all-time series 46-45-4, having finished with 26 SEOAL championships to Jackson’s 25.

The two clubs did not meet the last two years, as from 1935 through 2016 they had played continuous with the exception of three times – in 1978 (Logan teachers’ strike) and in 2006 and 2007 (SEOAL split into two divisions).

The all-time series scoring is also close, with Logan leading the Ironmen 1,533-1,452.

However, points in the past few campaigns – including this one – have become a premium for the Chieftains, scoring just seven in each of their losses to Tri-Valley (35-7) and Teays Valley (10-7).

Last week’s loss – which was Logan’s ninth in a row – was especially heartbreaking, as the visiting Vikings won on the strength of only a 24-yard second-quarter field goal and an 88-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to open the second half.

The Chieftains trailed 10-7 and attempted a late game-tying field goal, but Israel Bookman’s 36-yard attempt doinked off the crossbar.

#
24
Name
Caden McCarty
Position
2021
Current Team
Logan
Leagues
SEO
Seasons
2019, 2020
Caden McCarty has scored both of the Chiefs’ touchdowns, rushing for 181 yards on 38 carries, while quarterback Braeden Spatar has rushed for 138 yards on 41 attempts – while completing 11-of-16 passes for 78 yards.

The Ironmen, meanwhile, moved to 2-0 – after holding off Athens 31-26 in that important non-league encounter.

Jackson jumped out to a 19-0 halftime advantage, and actually held a 25-6 lead before the Bulldogs charged back – making it a one-score game with 38 seconds remaining.

The Ironmen offense improved from its sluggish season opener, as Jackson kept the ball on the ground and hammered at Athens with 28 of its 31 first-half plays coming via the run.

For the game, Jayden Spires racked up 123 yards on 24 carries, while Brice Graham gained 85 yards and a hat trick of touchdowns on 21 totes.

The Ironmen defense – especially against the run – was stout in the first half, as the offensively-challenged Chieftains are facing one of the top defensive units in all of Southeastern Ohio.

But look for Logan to bring a physicality that the Ironmen may not have seen against Athens or even Wellston, and if any coach knows Jackson’s Andy Hall well, it’s first-year Logan mentor Mike Eddy.

Eddy, the former four-year Gallia Academy coach, faced off against Hall for four years there – and defeated Jackson in the 2012 regular-season finale.

 

Minford at Greenup County (Ky.)

Greenup County KY vs Minford

The Minford Falcons, for the second week to open this season, put up some  impressive offensive numbers – en route to a 2-0 start.

They aim to compile even more eye-popping statistics this week, but more importantly, earn another win.

That’s because the Falcons face their toughest test to date on Friday night, crossing the river into Greenup County to take on the 2-1 Musketeers.

And, of course, Greenup County standout senior signal-caller Eli Sammons.

A week after rolling Rock Hill 43-12 and amassing 311 total yards, the speed-driven Falcons finished with a massive 544 yards and 24 first downs against Chesapeake, capturing a 54-21 triumph.

#
25
Name
Ty Wiget
Position
2020
Height
5-09
Weight
175
Current Team
Minford
Leagues
SEO, SOC2
Seasons
2019
Ty Wiget, Minford’s standout senior running back, went off for a career-best 301 yards and four scores on only 10 carries – improving upon his 121-yard, two-TD, 14-carry performance against Rock Hill.

#
2
Name
Elijah Vogelsong-Lewis
Height
5-10
Weight
175
Current Team
Minford
Leagues
SEO, SOC2
Seasons
2019, 2020
Elijah Vogelsong-Lewis – the left-handed quarterback – had those exact same rushing stats (14-121) against the Panthers, along with two passing touchdowns on 5-of-6 attempts for 94 yards.

Speaking of quarterbacks, the Minford defense faces the tall, talented and highly-touted Sammons this week.

Sammons stands six-foot, six-inches tall and weighs 200 pounds, and already is a signee with Marshall University.

The Musketeers fell to Raceland 17-14 in their season opener, as the Rams sealed the win with a late Sammons interception.

But Sammons and Greenup gained two wins since, prevailing in a 40-36 shootout at Fleming County (Aug. 30), before rolling Montgomery County with a 54-12 romp.

Against Montgomery, Sammons threw for three touchdowns and rushed for another.

He scored on quarterback sneaks for the Musketeers’ two trips against Raceland, then accounted for five TD against Fleming – three on the ground and two via the air.

The dual-threat Sammons is once again a stark contrast in offensive philosophies, as Minford has faced run-oriented OVC clubs Rock Hill and Chesapeake.

Greenup is equivalent to an OHSAA Division III program, which potentially means valuable playoff points for the Division V Falcons – assuming they fly the ‘W’.

 

 

 

 

 

Eddy looks to create new culture, harness history to repair Chieftain program

Logan has had only two winning seasons in the last nine

By Spencer Waugh LOGANFOOTBALL.com 

 

Since the beginning of August the Logan Chieftains got a private lesson from Logan High School choir director John McClain, invited every living former captain back for a “Captains Appreciation Day,” and started their own Facebook page.

To say Mike Eddy has embraced the culture and history of Logan HS is an understatement. Director McClain gave the team a private lesson to ensure they knew the LHS fight song and Alma Matter. Over fifty former captains returned for the “Captains Appreciation Day.” And the Facebook page has nearly 500 “likes” and “follows” in less than a month.

“We talked so much at the beginning about trying to change the culture, change the attitude, and for these players to set the standard,” Eddy told the Logan Daily News. Eddy explained that coaches control the program – but players control the team. The program is the game plan, the expectations, and the rules. The team creates the attitude, the effort, and the player-to-player leadership and accountability.

While Logan was a disappointing 1-9 last season, they did face arguably the most difficult schedule in school history. Five foes made the playoffs, four others were .500 or above, and the ten opponents combined for an 80-29 record for an unbelievable .734 win percentage. In the postseason, Sheridan reached the DIII regional final while Tri-Valley and Garfield Heights all earned first round victories in DII.

During the last half of last season the Chieftains switched from a spread offense to a veer option attack to try and best utilize the talent in the Chieftain backfield and to help the defense by controlling the game clock. Logan ran the ball on 87-percent of the offensive plays in the team’s final six games.

Overall 11 lettermen return and the Chiefs have 16 seniors on the 43 man roster.

Additionally Eddy, who was named the 31st head coach in Logan’s history in January, put together a veteran coaching staff. Five of the assistants (Jim Huntsberger, Justin Pack, Josh Sturgell, Pat Walsh, and Tim Woodgeard) return from last year and Eddy was able to add former LHS head coach Kelly Wolfe to round out the staff. Wolfe, an LHS Athletic Hall of Famer, had previously been on staff in some capacity from 1991-2012. Wolfe will be the offensive coordinator, coach the quarterbacks, and call plays. Wolfe did the same from 2007-2009 when Logan put up record setting offensive numbers.

Except for Eddy and Huntsberger (who has been on staff since 1990), the rest of the staff are not only LHS alums but former captains as well.

“When we did our recent ‘Captains Appreciation Day,’ I was the only coach left in the room,” Eddy told the Logan Daily News. Huntsberger was helping organize the event.

“Everybody here is invested in the community and they’re invested in the school system,” he added. “These kids and Logan football means a lot to them. They understand how important the football team is to this community.”

When looking at his team that will debut this Friday night in Dresden against Tri-Valley, Eddy hopes to develop enough depth up front and in key positions to be able to limit the number of full time two-way players.

And while everyone knows the kids have to learn new systems and terminology, the coaches are going through the same process.

“It’s easy to get confused – last year we called it this, but now we call it that, and I think that’s the hardest part,” Eddy explained. “The coaches are learning it, and they have to learn it before they can teach it. Then the players have to learn it.”

The Chieftains are on the right track according to Eddy.

On offense, Logan will operate primarily out of the shotgun using read-option and run-pass option (RPOs) while using motion from multiple backs and receivers to create mismatches and keep defenses honest. During the Chiefs’ scrimmages developing balance through the passing game has been a focus.

Senior captain Braeden Spatar (5-10, 180)

#
7
Name
Braeden Spatar
Position
2020
Height
5-10
Weight
180
Current Team
Logan
Leagues
SEO
Seasons
2019
returns to pilot the Chieftain offense after holding off a challenge from junior Ian Frasure (5-10, 150). Spatar completed 55 of 104 passes for 644 yards, but threw only seven touchdowns against nine interceptions in 2018. Spatar was the team’s second leading rusher with 531 yards and three touchdowns on 129 carries.

Caden McCarty (6-0, 170, junior) was expected to work his way into more playing time last season to compliment Preston Yates at tailback, however a knee injury ended the sophomore’s season during the opener with Tri-Valley. McCarty has been a bright spot during preseason scrimmages.

Joining McCarty in the backfield are Jared Justice (6-0, 200, sophomore), Colton Ruff (5-10, 195, senior)

#
28
Name
Colton Ruff
Position
2020
Height
5-10
Weight
195
Current Team
Logan
Leagues
SEO
Seasons
2019
, and Conner Ruff (5-10, 190, senior). Justice worked his way into the backfield rotation last fall as a freshman while the Ruff brothers are three-year returning lettermen. Conner will start the season on the sidelines while recovering from a knee injury.

Outside the tackles, Colten Castle (5-9, 135, senior) and Garrett Mace (5-10, 160, senior) both return at receiver.

Jonny McClelland (6-0, 165, junior) and Traten Poling (6-0, 180, sophomore) will both play in the slot. The duo can be used in both phases of the game – especially on inside slants and on jet sweeps in the run game. Most importantly the pair can be counted on as reliable blockers.

Up front, Eddy and staff have been pleased with the development of the offensive line. Keiton Arledge (6-2, 295, sophomore) has opened some eyes at right tackle while Logan Vincent (6-2, 265, senior) has emerged as a consistent performer at left tackle. Trevor Wyckoff (6-1, 285, senior) and Sam Kisor (5-11, 220, senior) are returning starters at guard. The center is Carson Miller (5-9, 240, senior) who sat out last season to focus on track but has returned and earned the starting job. Quinn Walsh (6-0, 195, junior) can play at all three interior line positions while Dakota Banik (6-1, 270, senior) can fill in at tackle.

Defensively, Logan has struggled to consistently stop or even contain opposing offenses since Dale Amyx retired after the 2009 season. To that end, the Chieftains have recorded only two shut-outs in that time period and several seasons rank among the worst on record in terms of rushing, passing, and total yards allowed.

Turning that around will be a key job for Eddy and his staff.

“It’s getting guys to play disciplined and play inside of a gap scheme” Eddy again told the Logan Daily News. “They have to be under control at all times. That’s probably the biggest challenge, slowing them down a little bit because they want to turn out and get after it.”

From a base defense stand point the Chieftains won’t look drastically different. Logan will line up in a four man front with three linebackers and three defensive backs and the eleventh-man playing more of a hybrid linebacker-safety position called the “adjustor.”

But the results from preseason scrimmages are encouraging. Logan shut-out both Fairfield Union and Marietta in their final two tune-up games.

Up front Nick Anderson (6-1, 210, senior) and Henry Pierce (6-1, 180, junior) are returning starters on the ends. Josh Chapin (5-11, 240, senior) plays on the inside after missing last season and is joined by Banik.

Adding depth are Kisor, Miller, and Mason Linton (5-9, 260, sophomore).

The linebacker unit suffered a blow when Conner Ruff sustained a knee injury during summer basketball. Eddy is hopeful they’ll get him back at some point this season.

Twin brother Colton will be one of the leaders at inside linebacker where Cody Carrell (5-8, 165, junior) appears to have won the second starting spot at inside linebacker. Walsh and Wyatt Jordan (5-8, 220, sophomore) add depth.

At the outside linebacker spots, Spatar and McClelland will likely start. McClelland will play the ‘adjuster” role. Poling and Justice add depth at outside linebacker.

#
3
Name
Garrett Mace
Position
2020
Height
5-10
Weight
160
Current Team
Logan
Leagues
SEO
Seasons
2019

Mace and Castle both return as starters at cornerback while McCarty will be the free safety. McClelland and Frasure are both being groomed to play free safety to ease the workload on McCarty, who is expected to be the primary ballcarrier.

With guys like McClelland playing multiple roles, Eddy highlighted the importance of understanding the scheme. It’s also reliant on coaches being able to correctly teach the scheme to players.

“Maybe not your defensive linemen, but all your linebackers and your secondary players all have to know what everybody’s job is, to know where you’re probably going to get attacked, and where weaknesses and strengths are,” Eddy again told the Logan Daily News.

Israel Bookman (5-10, 130, senior) returns for his third season as placekicker. He has converted 28 of 35 extra points and two of six field goals the last two seasons.

Frasure and Spatar will handle punting chores, which Eddy notes will likely be in a rugby style.

Mace, McClelland, and McCarty are pegged for return duties.

The Chieftains will likely succeed if the team will buy in to Eddy’s program and culture correction exercise.

“I’ve seen them go through a lot of changes in just a couple short months,” Eddy told the Logan Daily News. “They really are trying to do the right things. Even when they screw up, they accept it, they move on, and they try to grow from it; and that’s all we can ask them to do.”

“The biggest thing for them is to not lose sight of winning and what it means to win,” he added. “You don’t want to fall into that trap of just going through the motions or just showing up just to be part of the team. You then lose sight of what winning’s all about and the value in it… if you lose long enough, you begin to hope you’re going to win instead of expecting to win.”

On that note, surviving the first four games will be important. All four opponents are defending league champions. Three of them made the playoffs last season.

Head Coach Mike Eddy

Current Team
Logan
“(Expecting to win), that’s really the difference. We do have some talented football players. We have some pieces to be successful… what we’re dealing with is the mental part of it. Physically, it is what it is. You can’t really change that; we are who we are, but mentally we can be anybody we want to be,” Eddy  explained.

“It’s going to take some guys maybe doing more or giving more than they thought they could. The more times they experience those difficulties, the easier it is to understand how to work through them and how to accomplish them,” Eddy concluded.

Logan 2019 Roster & Stats

#PlayerPositionHeightWeightCMPATTINTPYDSTDATTRUYDSTDRECREYDSTDSacksTacklesINTFGMFGA
2Jonny McClelland20216-01650000083905490050300
3Garrett Mace20205-1016000000000182220017100
5Israel Bookman20205-101300000000000001001
6Jared Justice20226-02000000013481000018000
7Braeden Spatar20205-10180477646344138611400005000
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