Meigs scouting report: Marauders set for first clash with Chieftains in 32 years

ROCK SPRINGS, Ohio — When Meigs left the Southeastern Ohio Athletic League to join the Tri-Valley Conference following the 1982 football season, it ended an intense and competitive series.
After Meigs formed from the consolidation of former SEOAL members Middleport and Pomeroy (along with Rutland High School) in 1967, the two schools battled 14 times, with Logan winning seven times and Meigs six, with one tie.
The two teams will renew their gridiron series on Friday night in Rock Springs, at the new Farmers Bank Stadium beside Meigs High School.
The Marauders are 1-1 under third-year head coach Mike Bartrum, the second NFL alum (along with Lancaster’s Rob Carpenter) the Chieftains have seen on the opposite sideline this year.
Meigs opened with a 46-13 loss against Coal Grove but led 13-12 at halftime when sophomore quarterback Cody Bartrum (6-0, 180, sophomore), the son of the head coach, left the game with an injury.
Last week, playing without Cody Bartrum, the Marauders rode senior Michael Davis’ (5-9, 175, senior) historic night to an eye-opening 79-69 win over visiting Fairland.
Davis had a hand in nine Marauder touchdowns, rushing for six, catching two, and throwing one. According to the Pomeroy Sentinel, the eight TDs that he scored tied for second place in Ohio high school history for the most touchdowns in a single game.
Davis played as a tailback, wildcat quarterback, and receiver in last week’s victory and so far this season has rushed for 472 yards and seven touchdowns on 59 carries, completed 4-of-5 passes for 36 yards and a touchdown, and caught four passes for 62 yards and two scores.
Cody Bartrum’s return for Friday’s game is questionable. As a freshman, he split time at the quarterback position and was expected to be a full-time starter this fall.
Bartrum is a dual-threat quarterback who completed 8-of-13 passes for 108 yards and rushed five times for 17 yards, with one touchdown, in the first half against Coal Grove.
Senior Isaiah English (6-0, 185) will be the primary quarterback if the younger Bartrum can’t recover in time to play on Friday.
English has rushed for 137 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries and completed 7-of-18 passes for 93 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. English will play as a running back and wide receiver as well as quarterback.
Nick Combs (6-2, 235, junior) and Ty Phelps (6-2, 210, senior) play fullback and tight end, respectively, but will often split out wide as receivers in the Marauders’ multiple formation offense. Phelps is the team’s leading receiver with 10 catches for 103 yards and a touchdown.
Other skill players include receiver Colton Lilly (6-1, 170, junior), running back Trae Hood (5-10, 200, sophomore), and receivers K.J. Tracy (6-0, 145, sophomore) and Jared Kennedy (6-1, 155, sophomore).
The Maroon and Gold will rotate up to eight linemen, with Daylen Neece (6-4, 255, junior), Coltin Neutzling (6-1, 210, junior), and Jeff Teachout (6-0, 215, junior) starting at tackle, guard and center, respectively.
Neece missed last week’s game due to injury but the Marauders are hopeful to have him back in the lineup.
Other linemen include guards Jake Kern (6-1, 210, junior) and Tyler Shull (5-10, 220, sophomore) and tackles Jake Andrews (6-3, 250, sophomore), Brad Harless (6-1, 260, senior) and Dalton Clark (6-1, 300, junior).
The Marauders will likely line up in a 4-4 defense against the Chiefs, although they will shift to a 5-3 front in likely rushing downs.
Combs and Tanner Vanaman (6-0, 175, senior) will start on the ends with Garrett Buckley (6-1, 185, sophomore) adding depth. Inside will be a rotation of Clark, Harless, and Neece.
Hood and Layne Acree (5-11, 205, sophomore) will be the inside linebackers while Phelps and English will play on the outside at linebacker.
Davis, Tracy, Lilly, and Dylan Darst (6-0, 170, junior) will all play in the secondary. Cody Bartrum will start at free safety if he is cleared to play on Friday; if not, look for Lilly to play that role.
Phelps will handle the kicking duties for MHS.
Logan football historian Spencer Waugh of loganfootball.com previews the Chiefs’ opponent every Thursday in The Logan Daily News.