Kost throws two TD passes, and Logan holds off late 2-point conversion run, for 14-12 victory at N-Y

By CRAIG DUNN Sports Editor cdunn@logandaily.com

NELSONVILLE — Folding was not an option for the Logan Chieftains Friday night.

Oh, the Purple & White could have done so on several occasions — including when the Nelsonville-York Buckeyes brought on a 265-pound lineman to attempt a game-tying 2-point conversion midway through the final quarter at Boston Field — but they refused to do so.

And, for the second time this season, the Chiefs were rewarded... this time, with a thrilling 14-12 victory over their neighborhood rivals.

Logan fumbled the ball away three times (including the game-opening kickoff and a couple late fourth-quarter bobbles that could have led to a game-winning score by the Buckeyes), and had a punt blocked... but they did not, would not, fold. They looked adversity squarely in the eyes and backed it down.

By CRAIG DUNN Sports Editor cdunn@logandaily.com

LOGAN — While Billy Burke wasn't around to bear witness, he's well aware of what has transpired the last couple years when the Logan Chieftains and Nelsonville-York Buckeyes hooked up on the football field.

The Purple & White have been thoroughly whipped... and it's not been a pretty sight.

“I think if you look at the last two years’ scores, if that doesn’t cause some chippiness in our team, I really don’t know what would," said Burke, Logan's first-year head coach. "That should evoke some pride in our young men. We don’t feel (those results are) indicative of us — but, by the same token, we have to go out and prove it.

"We can’t just say that it’s not indicative of who we are as players or as a program," he added. "We actually have to go out and get the 'W' and turn things in our favor.”

By SPENCER WAUGH for The Logan Daily News

NELSONVILLE — The Nelsonville-York Buckeyes are playing for history when the Logan Chieftains visit Dave Boston Field on Friday night.

After defeating the Chieftains the last two seasons 42-6 and 50-0, respectively, the Buckeyes can make it three straight versus one of their most bitter rivals.

Nelsonville-York has never won three straight versus the Chieftains since the school opened in 1967, and even the Nelsonville Greyhounds — the Buckeyes’ predecessor in this US-33 rivalry — failed to do so between 1912 and 1966.

By CRAIG DUNN Sports Editor cdunn@logandaily.com

LOGAN — Whenever you listen to former Logan Chieftains speak about their football careers, nearly all of them talk about games against the Athens Bulldogs.

Such is also the case among many Athens grid alumni as well.

Soon, maybe more Chiefs and 'Dogs will be able to do the same. After a long hiatus, the Bulldogs are slated to return to the Logan football schedule.

The two schools have agreed to play beginning in 2015 when they will collide in the season opener.

For generations, Logan-Athens was one of the state's fiercest prep rivalries — in all sports, not just football — and hopefully it will be so again.

It's a game that, quite frankly, should be played... and should never have left the schedule in the first place even after Athens departed the Southeastern Ohio Athletic League for the Tri-Valley Conference after the 2007-08 school year.

By CRAIG DUNN Sports Editor cdunn@logandaily.com

LOGAN — Billy Burke became head coach of the Logan Chieftains by working his way through a arduous interview process.

So, when it came time to choose captains for his first Logan football team, he adapted some of that process into electing them.

Seniors Nick Maniskas, Austin Scarberry and Dennis Smathers were elected by their peers — and the coaching staff — to speak for the Purple & White this fall. A fourth captain joins them on a weekly basis based on merit from the previous week.

"Choosing captains is a process — a lot like applying for, or interviewing for, a job in your professional career," said Burke. "I told the kids they were going through about what I went through when I interviewed and applied for the job."

All varsity players — not just seniors — were welcome to apply.

Evan DeLong’s school-record 101-yard interception return not enough as Logan falls to Redbirds

By CRAIG DUNN Sports Editor cdunn@logandaily.com

LOGAN — For the Loudonville Redbirds, Friday’s two-hour trek from Ashland County to the Hocking Hills was well worth the trip.

The Redbirds were as good a football team as advertised. They thoroughly overwhelmed the Logan Chieftains 31-7 in Logan Chieftain Stadium on a night where there was little for the fans clad in purple and white to cheer about.

“They’re absolutely a pretty good football team, particularly from a defensive perspective,” said Logan coach Billy Burke, whose Chiefs fell to 1-3. “They played right to our weaknesses. They got right after us and we weren’t able to establish an offense.”

By CRAIG DUNN Sports Editor cdunn@logandaily.com

LOGAN — At the outset of their 2013 football season, the Logan Chieftains have played schools their own size (Division II Teays Valley) or larger (Division I Lancaster and Newark) but play only one school their size (DII Zanesville in week eight) the rest of the way.

Don’t mistake smaller for weaker, however.

One of the smallest schools on Logan’s 2013 schedule — Division V Loudonville — may very well be one of the top three or four foes the Purple & White face this season.

Loudonville becomes the third-straight team to make its inaugural football visit to Hocking County Friday night (7:30 p.m. kickoff) when the undefeated Redbirds from Ashland County visit Logan Chieftain Stadium to take on the 1-2 Chieftains.

By CRAIG DUNN Sports Editor cdunn@logandaily.com

LOGAN — Needless to say, injuries have thrown a monkey wrench into the Logan Chieftains’ plans on both sides of the football thus far.

But things could have been far worse, especially had the Chiefs not overcome Newark 32-27 for their first win of the season last week.

Several players are stepping up and filling in on what seems to be a never-ending rotation of different kids having to move into different positions.

Seniors Austin Scarberry, Gabe Smith and Reggie Wesselhoeft and junior Brandon Arnett, to name just a few, had big games last Friday night.

By SPENCER WAUGH for The Logan Daily News

LOUDONVILLE — The Loudonville Redbirds will make the long trek to Hocking County this week expecting to pick up valuable playoff points.

Just the second team from Ashland County to ever appear on a Logan football schedule, Loudonville is a Division V team that made its first playoff appearance in 12 years and finished 8-3 last season. For Loudonville, defeating Division II Logan could make the difference between playing at home in week 11 or having to travel.

Head Coach Justin Todd decided not to rest on the team’s laurels entering the 2013 season. After Bucyrus Wynford shut down the Redbirds’ strong running game in a 24-0 playoff win, Todd decided he need to re-tool the offense to compete at the next level.

The results have been encouraging: Loudonville is 3-0 with wins over Smithville (48-6), Crestview (41-0), and Hillsdale (46-13).

Logan takes 19-0 lead after 25-minute delay in kickoff, then holds on to edge pass-happy Newark, 32-27

By CRAIG DUNN Sports Editor cdunn@logandaily.com

LOGAN — Friday night's Logan-Newark football game in Logan Chieftain Stadium started 25 minutes late because the stadium lights went out.

The visiting Wildcats then stumbled around in the proverbial dark for about eight more minutes after the game began... and the host Chieftains took full advantage.

The Chiefs, who had struggled to score 20 points combined in their first two games, threw 19 on the board in less than eight minutes to take command. Talk about setting the tone for a football game.