By Jacob Merideth
SportingPumpkin.com
ASHVILLE — With its offense is still working to fully grasp a new spread offense while gaining valuable experience, Teays Valley turned to a mixed scoring approach to defeat the visiting Logan Chieftains 28-6 in a non-league game.
The Vikings turned to their defense for two critical touchdowns that put the blue-and-gold on the scoreboard in the second quarter and later capped a decisive 21-point fourth quarter.
It was the Chieftains (0-2) who struck first on a hot late August earning, forcing a three-and-out by the Vikings to open the game and then they amassed an 83-yard drive that was culminated by a one-yard plunge over the goal line by Jack Walsh.
The extra point failed, leaving the Chieftains ahead 6-0.
Teays Valley turned to its defense in the second quarter to take the lead for good when Cavin McDowell stripped running back Kaden Morgan of the football with Brody Mann picking up the loose pigskin and returning it four yards for a touchdown. The first of four extra points by Maxwell Spencer put the Vikings ahead 7-6.
“Our focus this week was to run the football and we really couldn’t run if effectively,” first-year Teays Valley coach Brian Cross said. “We turned to our defense and they played sound the whole night and really kept us in the game.”
The two future Ohio Capital Conference Buckeye Division rivals went scoreless for nearly the first 18 minutes of the second half until Harrison Payne hauled in an 81-yard touchdown pass from Kole Nungester.
Teays Valley extended its lead to 21-6 with 4:09 remaining when Dai’Preece Weaver caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from Nungester.
The Vikings then came away with their third turnover of the night when Weston Gray intercepted a Carson Tootle pass and returned it 65 yards to paydirt.
“It didn’t look promising due to the slow start offensively but, overall, it felt good to win with our defense stepping up big and then our offense came alive some and we completed a couple of big passes,” Cross said.
Logan actually outgained Teays Valley 238-205.
Nungester completed 9 of 18 passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns. Payne caught one of those scores and finished with six grabs for 124 yards.
The Vikings (1-1) travel to Watkins Memorial (1-1), which fell 24-19 last night to Sheridan, next week.
Teays Valley 28, Logan 6
By Quarters 1 2 3 4 F
Logan 6 0 0 0 6
Teays Valley 0 7 0 21 28
First Quarter
LG — Jack Walsh 1 run (kick failed), 4:51.
Second Quarter
TV — Brody Mann 4 fumble return (Maxwell Spencer kick), 5:00.
Fourth Quarter
TV — Harrison Payne 81 pass from Kole Nungester (Maxwell Spencer kick), 6:01.
TV — Dai’Preece Weaver 25 pass from Kole Nungester (Maxwell Spencer kick), 4:09.
TV — Weston Gray 65 interception return (Maxwell Spencer kick), 0:59.
TEAM STATISTICS
LG TV
First downs 13 9
Rushing yards 42-137 21-48
Passing yards 101 157
Comp.-Att.-Int 7-16-1 9-18-0
Total yards 238 205
Fumbles-Lost 1-1 0-0
Penalties-Yards 3-26 6-45
Punts-Ave 6-28.2 6-43.8
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING – Logan — Kaden Morgan 22-60, Jack Walsh 11-44, Carson Tootle 4-16, Jack Brown 3-14, Talon Thompson 1-3, Chris Gompf 1-0. Teays Valley — Lane Schooley 10-29, Spike Woods 3-10, Kole Nungester 8-7.
PASSING – Logan — Jack Walsh 2-4-0-57, Carson Tootle 5-12-1-44. Teays Valley — Kole Nungester 9-18-0-157.
RECEIVING – Logan — Lucas Wolfe 3-73, Jack Walsh 3-36, Jeremy Fraley 1-(-8). Teays Valley — Harrison Payne 6-124, Dai’Preece Weaver 1-25, Griffin Gray 1-8, Lane Schooley 1-0.
(740) 477-1661
Coming to Circleville this September!