By Craig Dunn
Logan Daily News

LOGAN — There are two ways to develop football depth: by plan and by necessity.

The Logan Chieftains have done so by both methods this season.

A knee injury to offensive guard/defensive end Ralph Robinson forced the Purple & White to do some lineup shuffling for most of last week’s game at Warren and for at least this week’s game against Jackson.
“Ralph’s out at least this week. We’ll have to see about next week (against Chillicothe),” said Logan coach Dale Amyx. “But we’ve developed depth as the season has went along… and going into the ninth week of the season a lot of teams have more people out with injuries and illness than we do.”

Logan dealt with a lot of injuries early in the season, most notably to Robinson, Patrick Angle, Mason Mays and Zach McDaniel The Chiefs have also dealt with illness, but haven’t been hit as hard as many other teams.

As a result, the Chiefs were able to get several other players valuable game experience both due to injuries and illness and in other game situations as well.

Amyx and his coaching staff will turn to junior Tyler Dement to take Robinson’s place at guard and junior Brandon Graham to fill in for Robinson at defensive end.

Dement filled in at guard last week after Robinson went down in the opening quarter. Graham played the entire Marietta game at DE when starter Ryan Sigler was out due to illness.

“Dement will probably still start at nose guard, but (junior Nathan) Chandler will play a lot there too,” Amyx said.

“We have guys like Graham, who is a swingman from linebacker to defensive end, and Chandler has been a pleasant surprise for us,” he added. Chandler has spelled Bobby Russell on the defensive line this season, “and we’re confident in what (Chandler) can do.”

Chandler is among the Chiefs’ top tacklers. He’s been involved in 45 tackles (eight solo) and has two tackles for loss. Graham is second on the team with 62 tackles (13 solo) and Dement is third with 57 (five solo).

With the Chiefs hopefully on the verge of a fourth-straight playoff berth, the season likely won’t end with next week’s regular-season finale against visiting Chillicothe.

“There’s a good chance we’ll have Ralph back for either week 10 or week 11,” Amyx said. “Nothing is torn, but (the knee) is strained and sore.”

Homecoming: Friday night marks the Chiefs’ annual Homecoming game, and several football players will be involved in the pre-game activities.

“It’s always an exciting time for the kids,” said Amyx, noting it’s also a big part of the overall football experience. “But once the game starts, they’ll be focused.”

Something’s gotta give: One of the reasons Jackson has been so competitive is an uncanny ability to maintain possession of the football. The Ironmen have committed only three turnovers (two interceptions and a fumble) all season.

Logan, meanwhile, has 23 total takeaways, including 17 interceptions, and a plus-14 turnover ratio. The Chiefs have picked off a pass in every game this season and have multiple interceptions six times: four against Gallipolis, three against Zanesville and two each against Pickerington North, Hamilton Township, Marietta and Warren.

Oddly enough, however, neither the Chiefs nor their opponents have scored a defensive or special teams touchdown this season.

Home sweet home: Starting this week, there’s a good chance Logan Chieftain Stadium will be playing host to a varsity football game each of the next five weeks.

The Chiefs complete their regular-season schedule with home contests against Jackson and Chillicothe and also are in good position to host a Division II Region 7 game Friday, Nov. 6.

While any subsequent Chieftain playoff games would be on the road, Logan Chieftain Stadium is a good bet to host neutral-site playoff games Saturday, Nov. 14, and Saturday, Nov. 21, in the second and third rounds, respectively.

Logan hosted its first-ever neutral-site game last fall when Columbus Ready blanked Portsmouth West 17-0 in a Division V regional semifinal.

Not only were teams and officials from both schools thrilled with being able to play in such a first-class facility, but the Ohio High School Athletic Association was impressed and pleased with both the stadium and the cooperation and hospitality of LHS officials and staff as well.

Comparatively speaking: Four of the seven teams Jackson has beaten (Vinton County, Gallipolis, Marietta and Chillicothe) are 1-7 this season, two others (Wellston and Waverly) are 3-5 and Portsmouth is 5-3. The composite record of Jackson’s eight foes (including 6-2 Ironton) is 21-43 (a .328 winning percentage) while Logan’s eight opponents are 30-34 (.468), with five foes (7-1 Zanesville, 6-2 Ironton, 6-2 Warren, 5-3 Pickerington North and 4-4 Lancaster) being at .500 or above. Both Logan and Jackson have beaten Gallipolis and Marietta, and Logan hosts Chillicothe next week.