Logan Elm 21, Liberty Union 14
BALTIMORE — It took a little longer than the Braves would have liked, but Logan Elm was able to get its first win of the season Friday with a 21-14 win over Liberty Union.
The Braves were the first on the scoreboard Friday when Austin Holbrook capped an LE drive with a two-yard run in the first quarter.
The Lions tied the game four minutes into the second quarter on a 14-yard rushing play.
If LU thought that was going to change the tide, LE’s Connor Kint had other ideas as he took the ensuing kickoff back 85 yards for a touchdown. Ayden Hudson’s kick made it 14-7 Braves.
With time winding down before the half, Kint caught a 13-yard score from Holbrook and LE led 21-7 at the break.
The Lions (3-3, 0-2) closed to within seven after a touchdown midway through the fourth.
LE’s defense made some crucial stops in the final moments of the game as LU moved as close as LE’s 12 in the final minute.
Ayden Hartley led the Braves with 83 yards on 16 carries and Holbrook had 61 yards on 15 carries.
Holbrook was 7-13 passing for 78 yards. Tyler Bowlby caught two balls for 47 yards.
The Braves (1-5, 1-2) host Bloom-Carroll next week.
Circleville 42, Marietta 21
CIRCLEVILLE — In a game where the teams combined for more than 800 yards of offense, it was Circleville that put up the biggest number on the scoreboard to send Marietta home with a 42-21 loss.
A seven-yard scoring run from Hudson Phalin had Circleville up 7-0 in the first. He capped a 95-yard drive with a one-yard score with 5:21 left in the second for a 14-0 lead.
Then things got a little crazy as the half was winding down.
Brody Alexander scored on an 11-yard run for Marietta with 51 seconds left. On first down, Phalin threw a pass that covered 50 yards in the air and was brought in by Jack Kline for a 65-yard touchdown with 26 seconds on the clock.
A good kickoff return set up Marietta at midfield where the visiting Tigers ran off 20 yards on first down and then tight end Braiden Plaugher found himself all alone in the endzone as he caught a 30-yard pass as time expired to make it 21-14 Circleville at the half.
The second half started in a similar fashion as Phalin connected with Uriah Woodworth on the first play and he slipped out of a tackle to cover 65 yards for a touchdown.
It took a little while for the next score to come as Marietta finished off a drive with a three-yard TD with 4:53 left in the third.
Phalin went in from 15 yards out two minutes later for a 35-21 Circleville lead.
The game’s final score came with 3:42 left in the contest as Kole Nungester ran one in from 15 yards for the home team.
Circleville (5-1, 1-1) is back in league action next week making a trip to Hamilton Township.
Groveport-Madison 24, Teays Valley 14
GROVEPORT — A couple of big plays helped Groveport-Madison jump out in front on the way to a 24-14 win over visiting Teays Valley.
The Cruisers struck on a 47-yard touchdown pass with just under five minutes to go in the first quarter and made it a 14-0 lead two game minutes later on an 84-yard interception return.
GM added to its lead with a 35-yard field goal with four minutes left in the second.
The Vikings cracked the scoreboard with 90 seconds left when Brady Farmer connected with Carson Payne for a two-yard score that made it 17-7.
The Cruisers added a 10-yard scoring run in the third.
TV had the game’s final score with 2:34 left in the fourth when Farmer hit Cavin McDowell for a 19-yard touchdown.
The Vikings (4-2, 2-1) travel to Canal Winchester (5-1, 2-1) next week.
Hamilton Township 49, Amanda-Clearcreek 21
AMANDA — A big second quarter propelled Hamilton Township to a 49-21 win over host Amanda-Clearcreek Friday.
The Rangers scored in the first quarter for the early lead and AC’s Tommy Stai tied the game a few minutes later.
The second quarter started with the Rangers scoring 40 seconds in and HT added another TD three-and-a-half minutes later.
Stai broke a long run with 4:03 left to bring the Aces back to within a TD at 21-14.
HT finished the half strong with another score with 1:27 on the clock and then recovered an AC fumble to set up one more scoring drive to make it 34-14 at the break.
The Rangers crossed the goal line two more times in the third to increase the lead to 49-14.
AC had the game’s final score when Karsin Amann found the endzone with 7:31 remaining in the fourth.
The Aces (2-4, 1-2) host Lucas (2-4) next week.