Football Preview 2000

L2K. The Year of the Chieftain. This is perhaps the most anticipated football season in the history of Logan High School Football. The Chieftains return the core of a team set to defend their SEOAL championship and return for the second straight playoff appearance. The Chieftains return 3 of 5 offensive linemen, their tight end, and three of the four core wide receivers. The Chiefs graduated the entire backfield, but have solid replacements in Junior Derek Harden at the halfback spot and Senior Jamey Hankison at fullback. Perhaps most important to the success of this football team is the return of all SEOAL quarterback Joe Conrad. Conrad will have to carry the team with his feet, as well as get his brother John involved with his arm. On the defensive side, the Chieftains return all but two starters from a year ago. On the line the Chieftains will go with Jim Bennett and Matt Sigler on the ends, with Trent "Woody" Woodgeard returning at nose tackle. Matt Hall and Colt Thompson will play the remaining defensive line spots. The linebacking core consists of hard-hitting John Conrad, Jamey Hankison, and either Derek Harden or Matt Mong. The defensive backs both return in Travis Keirns and Zach Woltz. The safety spot is questionable because returning starter Jesse Henestofel is out indefinitely with a fractured wrist. Chaz Kline will fill in until Henestofel is able to return. The special teams is questionable with first year kicker Adam Puhl. Puhl will split his time between kicking for the football team and playing soccer.

Logan plays an identical schedule as last year, just flipping the locations. The season starts with a home contest against the Panthers of New Lex. The Panthers were poised for a playoff run last year, with a boost from their victory over Logan, but they fell short in their final contest. The Panthers don't return any key starters. The Chieftains will visit the Buckeyes of Nelsonville in week two. The Buckeyes were thrashed by the Chieftains last season, 42-15. Nelsonville returns their quarterback, and Logan will have to watch out for the young gun. In week three, Logan will visit Zanesville in what could be one of the best games in the state of Ohio. Logan has never won in Zanesville, and last year defeated the Blue Devils for the first time in school history in an overtime battle. The Blue Devils return their whole starting back field, and will be ready for the Chieftains. In week four Warren will come calling on the Reservation. The Warriors challenged for the SEOAL crown, and seem poised to do so again. The road to the SEOAL championship goes through Logan. Week 5 brings the Big Blacks from Point Pleasant, West Virginia. The Blacks had a down year last year, but they have a strong football tradition, and have the best winning percentage in all-time SEOAL play. In week 6 Logan will host archrival Athens. The Bulldogs have been stuck in a rut the last few years. Maybe this will be the year they finally break out? In the seventh week Logan will visit Marietta. The Tigers held Logan to their lowest point total in the SEOAL. Unfortunately for the defense the offense put up a goose egg. The Tigers hope to contend this year, and this will be their biggest test. In week eight, Logan will visit the Blue Devils of Gallia Academy. The Blue Devils had a regional runner-up squad a year ago, and although graduation hit them hard, they have a solid program and will be poised for a league championship run. This could be Logan's stiffest competition for the SEOAL crown. In week nine Logan will butt heads with newfound rival Jackson. Jackson returns the SEOAL leading rusher in TJ Mustard. They also return starting quarterback Ryan Tipton. The Ironmen could also be a really tough opponent. The Chiefs end the season against SEOAL permanent bottom feeder River Valley. The Raiders are stuck in a tunnel with a light at neither end.

The Chieftains seem poised to make another charge for the state playoffs. The looked about two weeks behind in the scrimmage on Friday, and have only one week until the New Lex game, but as with most projects, the last week always counts for two.

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