by JOHN HOWLEY / sportingpumpkin.com
Logan Elm didn’t let a couple of miscues get in the way of opening the season with a 39-23 win over visiting Zane Trace.
Junior quarterback Aaron Walters bounced back from losing the ball on the Braves’ first offensive play of the game to throw for 277 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for an additional 50 yards.
The Braves added two more scores on the ground and another from the defense.
Carson Summers was a popular target for Walters as the senior caught nine passes for 99 yards with a 45-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. Summers also scored in the first quarter on a 24-yard interception return.
Fellow senior Cameron Smith grabbed five balls for 93 yards and had a nine-yard touchdown in the second quarter. Smith shone on defense as well with a pair of third-quarter interceptions.
“Aaron’s ability to make plays when plays fall apart is huge for our offense,” coach Terry Holbert said. “One of his touchdown throws to Cam Smith was a play where he got loose, Cam completely broke his route, they were in synch and we were able to score on that.”
Landon Thompson picked up 47 yards on the ground and scored twice while Camden Redd had a 14-yard touchdown in the third quarter.
After forcing a ZT punt to start the game, the Braves’ first play on offense resulted in a turnover and the Pioneers pounced on the new life. They executed the flea-flicker as quarterback Carter Langley connected with Aaden Dunn for a 38-yard score.
The Braves were struggling to get their offense going with the next two drives ending on downs before Summers’ interception return for a score breathed some life into the team.
“We talk about it every Friday night, throughout the course of a four-quarter game on Friday night football, you’re going to face some adversity. We always talk about how do you respond to that,” Holbert said. “In the second half, our kids held a master class in how to respond to adversity. Not only did we turn it over in the first half, at the end of the game when we’re trying to put it away, we mess up that punt situation and give them the ball deep in our territory, they get points off that but our kids continued to respond and fight all night long.”
Logan Elm held a 19-14 lead at halftime and opened the third quarter with a six-minute scoring drive to lead 25-14.
After Smith’s first interception of the quarter, the Braves picked up a couple of first downs but turned the ball over with a fumble.
Smith got his team the ball back on the very next play.
A quick Logan Elm possession hindered by a pair of penalties saw the Braves get into punt formation for the only time Friday. A problem with the snap led to Zane Trace getting the ball at LE’s 15-yard-line.
After getting first-and-goal at the four, Logan Elm pushed the Pioneers backward and Zane Trace settled for a 23-yard field goal.
Logan Elm responded by scoring on its ensuing possession, holding the Pioneers on four plays and then adding another touchdown.
Logan Elm’s defense put a lot of pressure on Zane Trace’s passing game and limited the effectiveness of the running game most of the night.
“Our defensive staff put together a great game plan and our kids came out executed it,” Holbert said. “Aside from a couple things here and there, our defense was very solid.”
The Pioneers ran for 115 yards led by Blake Phillips with 75, but Zane Trace had only 43 in the air as Langley was 3-13 with the three interceptions.
Up next
Logan Elm will hop on St. Rte. 56 and head over to Westfall next Friday. The Mustangs opened their season with a 37-12 win at Madison Plains.
Logan Elm 39, Zane Trace 23
By Quarters 1 2 3 4 F
Zane Trace 7 7 0 9 23
Logan Elm 7 12 6 14 39
First Quarter
ZT — Aaden Dunn 38 pass from Carter Langley (kick), 9:35.
LE — Carson Summers 24 interception return (Hunter Schoenborn kick), 1:19.
Second Quarter
LE — Landon Thompson 1 run (kick failed), 5:02.
ZT — Blake Phillips 1 run (kick), 2:19.
LE — Cameron Smith 9 pas from Aaron Walters (run failed), 0:47.
Third Quarter
LE — Camden Redd 14 pass from Aaron Walters (kick failed), 5:55.
Fourth Quarter
ZT — 23 field goal, 8:42.
LE — Carson Summers 45 pass from Aaron Walters (Dawsen Hudson kick), 6:52.
LE — Landon Thompson 8 run (Hunter Schoenborn kick), 4:29.
TEAM STATISTICS
ZT LE
First downs 6 18
Rushing yards 30-115 36-111
Passing yards 43 277
Comp.-Att.-Int 3-13-3 23-31-0
Total yards 154 388
Fumbles-Lost 0-0 2-2
Penalties-Yards 5-43 9-73
Punts-Ave 3-33 0-0
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING – Zane Trace — Blake Phillips 13-75, Aaden Dunn 2-(-9), Carter Langley 11-56, Riley Hartsaugh 2-(-9). Brice Johnson 2-2. Logan Elm — Aaron Walters 15-50, Landon Thompson 12-47, Michael Bock 8-30, Hunter Schoenborn 1-(-16).
PASSING – Zane Trace — Carter Langley 3-13-3-43. Logan Elm — Aaron Walters 23-31-0-277.
RECEIVING – Zane Trace — Aaden Dunn 2-40, Gunnar McCullough 1-3. Logan Elm — Landon Thompson 2-22, Michael Bock 1-1, Keegan Diehl 2-10, Carson Summers 9-99, Hunter Kersey 2-10, Cameron Smith 5-93, Camden Redd 2-42.
