By Spencer Waugh
LoganFootball.com
 
The first Friday night after the Chieftain grid season is always the hardest. Suddenly Friday night, which was anticipated all week long, becomes another night to find plans or even worse do chores that were neglected for the last ten weeks. While the Logan Chieftains missed out on a playoff berth thanks to back to back losses against Jackson and St. Francis DeSales, football fans looking for a rooting interest in the OHSAA playoffs have a couple of options with local flavor.
 
A pair of former Chieftains turned head coaches, John Smith (1990) and Alex Penrod (2002) take their teams into entertaining playoff matches. Here’s a brief preview of those match-ups:

Info Box:

Who: Bexley Lions (8-2) at Jackson Ironmen (9-1)
What: Division III, Region 9 quarterfinal
Where: Alumni Stadium, Jackson High School, Jackson, OH
When: Friday, Nov. 6; 7:30 PM


Who: Alexander Spartans (9-1) vs Rock Hill Redmen (6-3)
What: Division V, Region 17 quarterfinal
Where: Alexander High School, Albany, OH
When: Friday, Nov. 6; 7:30 PM

Smith scores four TDs, sets single-season receiving yardage record as Logan blanks Warren 39-0; Logan misses out on DII playoff berth

By CRAIG DUNN Sports Editor cdunn@logandaily.com

LOGAN — As they go through life, members of the Logan Chieftains football team will deal with difficult situations and tough breaks that will make the disappointment of missing out on the 2015 high school playoffs pale by comparison.
But, right now, it hurts.

The Chiefs sputtered a little in the early stages before finally rolling past winless Warren 39-0 in their season finale Friday night in Logan Chieftain Stadium.

Their final 8-2 record, however, won’t be enough for an 11th game. Mansfield Senior’s 24-20 victory over Mansfield Madison officially eliminated the Purple & White from Division II playoff consideration.

Either Mansfield Senior or Massillon Washington will take the final Region 5 playoff berth later today. Massillon Washington gets in by beating ancient rival Canton McKinley; if not, Mansfield Senior lands the final spot.

The last time Logan went 8-2 and failed to make the playoffs was in 2005, exactly 10 years earlier.

Meanwhile, four Logan foes are on their way to the playoffs, including two teams — Teays Valley (8-2) and Shadyside (4-6) in divisions II and VII, respectively — the Chiefs defeated earlier in the season. Yes, Shadyside (which beat River Valley 14-7 last night) will get in with a 4-6 record.

Such are the tough breaks of today for this group of kids… and, for that matter, their coaches.