League-champion Chieftains land seven players on all-conference squad

By CRAIG DUNN Sports Editor [email protected]

LOGAN — Running back Isaac Schmeltzer of the Logan Chieftains, who averaged 163 yards and 21 points per conference game, has been named the 2013 Southeastern Ohio Athletic League football Player of the Year.

First-year Logan coach Billy Burke was named Coach of the Year after the Purple & White swept all four of their conference foes to claim the league championship for the first time since 2009.

The All-SEOAL team, voted upon recently by league coaches, was announced today.

In all, the Chiefs are represented on the 2013 All-SEOAL team by Burke and nine players, seven of whom were named to the 23-player team and two others tabbed as honorable mention.

All are seniors with one exception.

By CRAIG DUNN Sports Editor [email protected]

LOGAN — Several Logan Chieftains have been awarded Associated Press All-Southeast District honors for the recent 2013 football season.

First-year head coach Billy Burke was named Division II Coach of the Year while senior running back Isaac Schmeltzer and sophomore linebacker Bryce McBride were tabbed first team all-district on offense and defense, respectively.

In addition, seniors Nick Kost, Brock Emerson and Evan DeLong were tabbed DII district special mention on the team, selected by a panel of district sportswriters, which was announced Thursday night.

While Logan is the only Division II football team in the Southeast District, the panel presents awards based on how members feel the Chiefs’ season performances and accomplishments would stack up against DII schools from other districts.

2013 Logan football season in review

By CRAIG DUNN Sports Editor [email protected]

LOGAN — A good open-field tackle by a Lancaster defender could have thrown the 2013 Logan Chieftains football season into total chaos… and, well, for awhile it did.

When sophomore starting quarterback Lane Little was tackled on a third-quarter scramble in the season opener at Fulton Field, he sustained a broken collarbone that all but ended his season.

2,228: Total rushing yards for the Chiefs, the most since 2007.

1,792: All-purpose (combined rushing, receiving, kickoff/punt returns) yards for senior Isaac Schmeltzer.

1,760: Passing yards by Chieftain opponents. While it’s an all-time record, it’s also quite indicative of how the passing game has evolved in high school football.

1,040: Rushing yards by Schmeltzer, who became the 28th 1,000-yard rusher in school history.

672: Total offensive yards (424 passing, 248 rushing) by Zanesville, an all-time record against the Chiefs.

670: Total kickoff return yards for Schmeltzer.

589: Total offense yards against Portsmouth, second-most all-time.

Schmeltzer scores school-record 7 TDs as Chiefs finish off championship season with 49-22 victory over Warren


By CRAIG DUNN Sports Editor [email protected]

LOGAN — You could see tears of joy and happiness being shed as the Logan Chieftains celebrated their hard-earned Southeastern Ohio Athletic League football championship Friday night in Logan Chieftain Stadium.

But if you took a closer look, you could see that some were also tears of sadness.

Shortly after the Chiefs clinched the outright SEOAL crown with a season-ending 49-22 victory over visiting Warren, it slowly began to sink in: there was no game next week to prepare for.

A lot of those tears were the realization that a magical season had just come to an end.

“We hadn’t had success (in recent) seasons, and we just stuck with it,” said senior running back Isaac Schmeltzer, who set a school record by scoring seven touchdowns (42 of Logan’s 49 points), “and now that it’s over, it doesn’t seem like it should be.”

He’s right. It doesn’t.

NEW CONCORD — Four former Logan Chieftain football players will be in uniform at Saturday’s Ohio Northern-Muskingum college football game.

Two Logan High School graduates are on each side: Patrick Angle and Cary MacLaughlin for Ohio Northern and Garrett Clark and Nate Poling for Muskingum.

Ohio Northern (3-4 overall, 2-4 Ohio Athletic Conference) visits Muskingum (1-6, 1-5) for a 1:30 p.m. game.

Angle, Logan’s All-Ohio quarterback in 2008 and 2009, is currently completing 56 percent of his passes for 1,185 yards and seven touchdowns and has also rushed for 85 yards and a TD. He is a 2010 Logan High School graduate.

MacLaughlin, a starting defensive lineman, has 11 solo tackles and 28 assists for the ONU defense.

Clark has played in five games and Poling in four for Muskingum. Clark, a running back, has one carry for one yard and Poling, a wide receiver, has yet to catch a pass.

All are juniors with the exception of MacLaughlin, a senior.

a column by CRAIG DUNN Sports Editor [email protected]

Members of Chieftain Nation, can we talk? Good. Please have a seat.

When speaking of you — fans of Logan High School athletics — I use the term “Chieftain Nation” with both affection and respect. I have a tremendous amount of both for you.

That said, it pains me to have to do this. But I have something to tell you: many people — myself included — have come to the conclusion that you (well, a large number of you, anyway) have become spoiled by success.

On a personal note, I’ve known this about you for some time, Chieftain Nation. I’ve talked to many people about you, and I really thought that you might see the error of your ways… but now I think it’s time for a much-needed intervention.

(Those of you who don’t fall into this category — those of you who attend every game, or at least every one that you possibly can — are welcome to get up and leave. Those of you who don’t, well, please remain seated as I explain).

Warren Warriors stand in way of Logan’s bid for undisputed SEOAL football championship

By CRAIG DUNN Sports Editor [email protected]

LOGAN — Several months of hard work have come down to a few precious hours for the Logan Chieftains.

Having already assured themselves of no worse than a share of the 2013 Southeastern Ohio Athletic League football championship, the Chiefs need to maintain their drive and focus for just one more night if they want to claim it all to themselves.

The only obstacle separating the Purple & White from an undisputed, outright conference championship is a Senior Night victory over visiting Warren Friday (7:30 p.m. kickoff) in Logan Chieftain Stadium.

By CRAIG DUNN Sports Editor [email protected]

LOGAN — When the book is finally written on the Chieftains’ 2013 season, a chapter or two must be devoted to the play of their special teams.

Excellent special teams play has played a huge role in the team’s success. Without it, the Chiefs wouldn’t be 5-4 entering Friday night’s finale against Warren.

Special teams have especially played tremendous roles in Logan’s Southeastern Ohio Athletic League wins over Portsmouth, Jackson and Gallipolis. Logan could very well be 2-1, 1-2 or even 0-3 in the league otherwise.

“If you look up and down our special teams, we don’t have an overwhelming amount of offensive and defensive starters on them,” said Logan coach Billy Burke. “We are getting guys opportunities to get into the game, and I think for those guys who get in the game (it goes) back to knowing our roles.

By SPENCER WAUGH for The Logan Daily News

VINCENT — Warren head coach Andy Schob brings his Warriors to town on Friday night looking to make history.

While his team’s 26-12 loss last week against Portsmouth shattered hopes of a Southeastern Ohio Athletic League championship, the Warriors can record a third-straight win over Logan for just the second time since the teams first met in 1986.

It has been a strange series. The Chieftains won the first nine meetings before Warren won three straight games from 1995-1997, and Logan won 13 straight games until Warren won each of the last two seasons.