Chiefs Upset High Flying Athens Squad 34-30

The 77th meeting between the Athens Bulldogs and the Logan Chieftains will go down as one of the best in recent history. Not many believed it could top last year's 6-0 Logan win, but in the eyes of many it sure did. Athens high powered offense came into the game averaging well over 500 yards of offense and over 40 points per contest and was led by their outstanding Senior QB Grant Gregory. But in the end it was the Chieftain offense that made the difference, coming to play for the first time in a BIG game since 2001.

Logan started off slow, although they forced a three and out on Athens first posession. But Logan gave the ball right back. On Corey Spackey's first pass attempt, and overthrown ball was snagged by Bulldog safety Grant Gregory. The Bulldogs took advantage of the mistake, and after three plays Gregory found Jeremy Sebring for a 19-yard TD and Wren's PAT made it 7-0. Athens drove once more in the quarter, but the drive was denied when Logan safety Tory Kratzenburg reached across his body and made a jumping interception in the endzone.

The Chiefs didn't waste much time in the second, moving down the field following the interception, and at the 10:48 mark Austin Rohr broke loose for a 34-yard TD run to pull the Chiefs even at 7-7. Athens came right back on their next posession. Another drive stalled inside the 20 yard line, but JR LB Jared Wren booted through his first Field Goal of the season, and putting the Bulldogs on top 10-7. After a couple of punts, Logan would take their first lead of the football game. Once again it was Austin Rohr, this time from 48-yards out and this time Nick Poindexter's PAT made it 14-10 Logan. The Bulldogs would score once more before the half. Logan had the oppertunity to run out the clock before halftime, however after a three and out Athens got the ball with 1 and half minutes to play in the half. An efficient drive brought Athens inside the 15 yard line after a deep pass from Gregory to Ryan Mingus. With just 0:39 seconds left in the half Grant Gregory twisted his way into the endzone from 11 yards out to take a 17-14 lead into the locker room.

Logan struck quick out of the locker room. Austin Rohr took his first second half carry 65-yards into the endzone, and Logan took a 21-17 lead. Logan looked as if they may take over the game after the TD, as the Chieftain defense held the Bulldogs to a 3 and out. But Patrick Howe muffed a punt, and Athens took over on the Logan 33-yard line. Several plays later, Chris Hewitt plowed in from 1-yard out and the Bulldogs had regained the lead 23-21. But Logan would not be denied. The next drive marched 61 yards on 6 plays, and Corey Spackey connected with Justin Coakley for his first TD pass during SEOAL play. The Chieftains attempted a two-point conversion, but were denied, making the score 27-23 at the end of 3 quarters.

Athens took the lead with just over 10 minutes to play behind Chris Hewitt's 13 yard TD scamper. The drive started on the Logan 40 after a series of mishaps. Following a punt by each team, one of the greatest touchdown drives in Amyx' tenure set up the winning score. Taking over with just under 8 minutes to play, Logan marched 74-yards to take the lead with 2:43 to go. The drive featured and amazing 3rd down conversion, in which Spackey connected with Patrick Howe, but Howe made the catch as he slipped. On the next third down, Logan brought in Sophomore Adam Stohs as a second fullback, and the Chieftains used their "Power" formation to drive the rest of the way. Austin Rohr scored on a power sweep and dove into the end-zone from six yards out. The only question left was could the Chiefs hold with over two and half minutes left. Athens put together an amazing final effort, driving 56 yards in under 2 and a half minutes, but the Bulldogs' Sebring was tackled four yards short as time expired. As the clock hit zero, the Logan students flooded the field and the Chieftains had escaped Basil Rutter Field with their 8th straight win over the Route 33 rivals.

Grant Gregory finished a valiant effort 21-39 for 229 yards and one TD and one INT. Many of his incompletions were balls where he was pressured to throw the ball away. Chris Hewitt was the Dogs top ground-gaining, piling up 172 yards and 2 TDs on 24 carries. Sebring had 10 catches for 104 yards and one score.

Austin Rohr played a flawless game for the Chiefs, gaining 253 yards on 25 carries and scoring 4 TDs. Corey Spackey was efficient under center, and take away his first pass and he was near perfect. Spackey was 11-17 for 126 yards, including his first SEOAL TD pass. Patrick Howe (4-41), Justin Coakley (4-41 TD), and BJ Hughes (3-44) all were great targets for Spackey.

With the win the Chieftains moved one step closer to a share of the SEOAL title. With win in their final two home games, Logan would do no worse than a share of the title with the Jackson Ironmen and Gallia Academy Blue Devils.

Friday night the Chieftains will host the Marietta Tigers for homecoming.

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