JACKSON — For fourth-year head coach Shane Wolford, seeing Logan on the schedule has to cause mixed emotions.

On one hand, the Chieftains are entering Alumni Stadium 8-0 for the first time since 2001 and have rolled through the SEOAL with only one close call (a 16-14 win over Zanesville). On the other hand, it must remind him of his playing days when he torched the Chieftains for nine touchdowns and over 600 yards rushing in two games as a starter in 1996 and 1997.

The Ironmen won SEOAL championships both of those seasons, and Wolford averaged over 10 yards per carry against LHS. Wolford holds two records for LHS opponents: rushing yards in a game (372 on 26 carries) in 1996 and touchdowns in a game (five) in 1997.
Fortunately for Dale Amyx and the Logan Chieftains, Wolford will be on the sidelines, not the turf of Alumni Stadium.

The Ironmen started the 2008 season strong, dominating their first four opponents on the ground in wins over Wellston (41-14), Waverly (27-20), Vinton County (27-0), and Portsmouth (21-20). The Ironmen were upset at Gallia Academy (36-28) despite holding a 28-14 fourth-quarter lead, but bounced back with a 35-28 win over Marietta in week 6.

Then the wheels fell off for the red and white. First, it was a trip to Ironton that saw league rushing leader and senior tailback Cody Huff get injured on his first carry. The Fighting Tigers ran away to a 54-6 win. Then, last week visiting Chillicothe out ran the Ironmen for a 41-16 victory.

Needless to say, Jackson is hoping to right the ship this week against the Chieftains.

The possible return of Huff (5-10, 180) would go a long way toward helping the Ironmen right the ship. Huff has run for 905 yards and 11 touchdowns on 146 carries in just six games. Sophomore Klay Arthur (6-0, 190) has played both fullback and tailback for the red and white accumulating 341 yards and four touchdowns on 94 carries.

The bigger question for Jackson will be under center. Seniors Josh Brown (5-11, 175) and Tyler Boggs (6-0, 150) have both split time under center this fall. Brown is the better runner, accounting for 282 yards and three touchdowns on 47 carries, while Boggs is the more-accomplished passer with 318 yards on 27-61 passing.

Brown and Boggs have combined to complete 40 of 81 passes for 571 yards and four touchdowns with seven interceptions. However, last week junior Eric Landrum (5-10, 180) had a solid second half in relief of the two seniors and could see time at quarterback.

Other playmakers for Jackson include split ends Lukas Lindamood (6-3, 170, senior) and Kevin Speakman (5-9, 140, senior), senior tight end Brandon Trace (6-0, 190), and sophomore wing back Derrick Meredith (5-10, 145). Trace is one of the league’s top pass catchers with 320 yards and four touchdowns on 11 catches. Meredith caught a touchdown pass from Landrum last week.

Up front, Jackson is led by senior tackles Ryan Hughes (6-2, 280) and Jon Waugh (6-0, 255). The guards are sophomore Ryan Speakman (6-0, 245) and senior Adam Jones (5-8, 160). Tyler Glassburn (5-11, 225, senior) is the center.

Defensively, Jackson has been shred on the ground the last two weeks but has the size to cause problems for the smallish Chieftain offensive line. Hughes leads the defensive line from his end spot with junior Ryan Klingaman (6-0, 180) book-ending the line with him.

Senior John McManis (5-11, 240) and Frankie Mapes (6-0, 245) are the tackles in the Jackson 4-4 defensive front.

Trace and junior Nathaniel Haller (5-11, 205) are a strong pair of inside linebackers, while Landrum and Huff are the outside duo. Arthur and Brown will likely see time at linebacker if Huff is unable to go for the red and white.

In the secondary, Boggs and Lindamood are the corners while Meredith is the safety. All three are returning starters.

Junior Ryan Mullins (5-8, 150) will do both the punting and the kicking for the Ironmen. Mullins will also see time at wingback and defensive back.

Logan football historian Spencer Waugh of loganfootball.com previews the Logan Chieftains’ football opponent every Thursday in The Logan Daily News.

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