Gallipolis Steals Logan Share of the SEOAL Title

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Much like 2002, Logan entered week 10 with a chance at not only an SEOAL Championship, but a birth in the Division 1 Region 3 playoffs. Also much like 2002, the Chieftains came up short. Fueled by 4 first half miscues, Gallia Academy raced to a 21-7 halftime lead and never looked back behind inspired running by likely SEOAL POY Donnie Johnson.

Johnson led all rushers from his QB position, toting the pigskin 22 times for 271 yards and 5 TDs. He also completed 3 of 10 passes for 84 yards and another score. All told, Johnson accounted for all but 40 of Gallia Academy's 395 yards. Logan and Gallia Academy traded punts, when the Chiefs put together the first scoring threat of the football game. The Chiefs drove to the Gallia Academy 8 yard line, where Rohr was stopped for no gain on first down. On second down, an errant Corey Spackey pass was intercepted by Johnson, and the Blue Devils were back in control.

The Logan defense answered the call however, and that's when disaster struck for the second time for the Chieftains. Patrick Howe mishandled the Gallia Academy punt, and took over on their own 46 yard line. Johnson proceeded to guide his team down the field, and capped the drive off with a 12-yard TD scamper to put the Blue Devils on top 7-0. After a Logan punt, the Chieftain defense held Gallia Academy on fourth down, and proceeded to block the Blue Devils punt to put them in scoring position. Austin Rohr's 1-yard plunge evened the score with just under 8 minutes until half time.

It didn't take long for Johnson to answer. Gallia regained the lead on a 48-yard Donnie Johnson scramble on a great misdirection play that sucked the Logan defenders in. The Chieftains blocked the extra point, and took over trailing 13-7. Logan put together a descent drive, only to stall after an Austin Rohr fumble. Gallia took over with just under 6 minutes to go in the half, when a deep pass from Johnson was intercepted by Logan's Tory Kratzenburg. Logan appeared to be ready to even the score going into the locker room. However, with just under 1:30 to play, Corey Spackey was intercepted for the second time, this time by Jayme Haggerty, and the Blue Devils were in business. A fourth down Donnie Johnson 65-yard TD run as time expired put the Chiefs in a 2 TD hole, and the subsequent 2-point play made it 21-7 Gallia Academy at the intermission.

Logan came out of the locker room fired up, and chewed a lot of clock behind the running of Austin Rohr. Rohr finished off the drive with a 30-yard TD jaunt, and it appeared as if the Chieftains might be poised for a comeback trailing 21-14. The excitement was shortlived however, as once again Donnie Johnson answered the call. This time he completed a 64-yard scoring strike to Sophomore Shaphen Robinson, and Blue Devils lead was back to two scores at 28-14. But the Chiefs used a couple of passes to the fullbacks and the running of Austin Rohr to drive once more. Austin Rohr's third TD of the evening cut the Blue Devils lead to 28-21, and once again the Chieftains appeared poised for a comeback.

Once again, Donnie Johnson ended those hopes, this time, for the final time. Johnson scrambled 53 yards to the Logan six, and 3 plays later put it in from the one yard line to put the Blue Devils on top 35-21. Johnson's 4th TD broke Logan's back. Logan's next offensie posession was bogged down by penalties, and the ensuing punt all but ended the game. Freshman Jayme Haggerty returned the punt inside the Logan 15 yard-line, and a Donnie Johnson 1-yard plunge put the Blue Devils ahead 41-21.

Gallia Academy intentionally snapped the ball out of the endzone for a safety to end the scoring.

Austin Rohr finished his career in second place on the all-time career rushing yards list. His 2003 season total is good enough for 4th, while his 2002 total will fall to 7th. His 19 TDs this season is good enough for 5th on the all-time single season list. Austin finished Friday night with 222 yards on 37 carries with 3 TDs.

Tory Kratzenburg played a great game for the purple and white, making an amazing acrobatic catch, a huge kick return, an interception on defense, and forcing a fumble.

Logan finishes the season in 3rd place in the SEOAL standings at 4-2. They finish 6-3 overall for the second straight season, and 10th in the Division 1 Region 3 playoff points.

Logan said good-bye to 9 Seniors, Tyler Ackison, Jacob Bookman, Steve Call, Jim Cozad, Jesse Herring, Kasey Kernen, Austin Rohr, Josh Schleup, and Josh Sturgell. They are the last class to have been a part of a league title team and to have played in the playoffs. The finished their career 22-9 over 3 seasons. These Seniors were great leaders and well respected by the underclassmen. They have a lot of reasons to be proud of their performance. They have worn the Purple and White with pride, and will be missed.

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