REVENGE!!!
A year ago Logan became just the second Chieftain football squad to qualify for the State Playoffs. But they got a warm kick in the pants out of the tournament in the first Round from a tough Pickerington Tiger team. Pickerington went on to be State Semi-Finalists. Saturday Logan returned the favor and stunned #1 Pickerington in a Div 1. Reg. 3 Semi-Final. Logan won 28-26 behind the arm, and legs of Joey Conrad. Logan came out and stopped Pickerington cold on their first possession. Logan then proceeded to march down the field, thanks to a huge completion by Joe Conrad to Travis Keirns. The play covered 33 yards. Logan scored on an eight yard TD run by Joey Conrad. Logan then held Pickerington to another three and out, or so it appeared. Logan was called for a questionable roughing the kicker penalty inside their own end zone. That call kept the drive alive, and finally Pickerington quarterback Robert McDavid squeaked through the Logan defense for a 34 yard TD run. Pickerington scored again on their next drive. The drive was capped by a two yard bowling ball-like run by Jeremy Crabtree. Pickerington had become just the second team all year to lead Logan. Logan then moved to their two minute offense. Logan covered 74 yards on 9 plays. Conrad was 6 of 6 on the drive. It was capped off by another Conrad TD run from one yard out. Logan had evened the score before going to the locker room.
Logan got the ball to start the second half, and took advantage of it. Logan drove down the field, and scored as Conrad barreled his way in from 9 yards out to give Logan the lead 21-14. It was Conrad's third TD on the ground. But the Tigers weren't done. They then proceeded to answer, driving deep into Logan territory when McDavid found Sean Tracey for a 3 yard TD pass. Pickerington's Jeff Jablonka would miss the extra point, and Logan led 21-20. Both teams would punt back and fourth, and then disaster struck. Logan's Travis Keirns mishandled a Pickerington punt, and Pickerington had the ball on the Logan 20 yard line. But the Logan defense buckled down and held the Tigers to a field goal attempt. The kick sailed wide left. Logan kept it's cool and answered in the fourth quarter. Logan drove, and Derek Harden trampled in for a 25 yard TD run, putting Logan on top 28-20. The Tigers would not go away though. With just 2 minutes to play. Pickerington drove to the Logan 40 yard line when disaster struck. Matt Mong blitzed the Tiger QB causing a fumble, and the ball was recovered by Jim Bennett. Logan only had to run out the clock. Logan had won itself a trip to Crew Stadium and earned Revenge.
Player of the game for Logan was Joey Conrad who was 16-18 for 192 yards. He also rushed for 59 on 15 carries and three TDs. Conrad completed his first 14 passes. Derek Harden played outstanding gaining 115 yards and adding a TD. Logan's receiving corps played their best game of the season. Logan has earned the right to play Upper Arlington, the 2nd ranked team in the state and 25th nationally. The game will be in Columbus Crew Stadium Saturday at 7:00 p.m.
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