Logan Elm does turnaround
Published 1:17 am Friday, October 24, 2008
There are turnarounds, and then there’s what Circleville Logan Elm has done.
The Braves went 0-10 in 2007, but enter the season-finale at 9-0 under first-year coach Scott Bartholomew.
Bartholomew had built Williamsport Westfall, just across Pickaway County, into a perennial state power from 1998-2006, but resigned following the 2006 season to become a full-time administrator at Westfall. Two games into the 2007 season, he had a change of heart and it became more frustrating as his old Westfall team went 13-1 made the Division IV state semifinals.
One of the reasons he selected nearby Logan Elm was so that his family could retain their ties at Westfall (his wife teaches there and a daughter is a cheerleader) and because he thought rebuilding an 0-10 team would be free of pressure.
‘‘Well, I’m not relaxed, but I’m certainly not complaining,’’ he said.
Logan Elm’s quest to complete the reversal won’t come easy. The Braves will play at 9-0 Canal Winchester Friday. Both teams have already secured Division III playoff berths.
BUT WHO’S COUNTING? Mayfield posted its sixth straight shutout, a 28-0 rout of Macedonia Nordonia. The Wildcats (8-1) haven’t been scored on since late in the first half of their 21-14 loss at Olmsted Falls on Sept. 5. They haven’t allowed a point in 26 straight quarters, or in 312 minutes and 34 seconds of game-time.
DRAMA MAJOR: Cincinnati Moeller beat Lakewood St. Edward 33-29 at UC’s Nippert Stadium when Tony Harris scored on a 91-yard kickoff return on the final play of the game, after St. Ed had taken a 29-27 lead on a field goal.
‘‘We got the blocking and I did the rest,’’ Harris said. ‘‘We were down on the sideline, but we always believe that we’re Moeller so we have hope no matter what happens.’’
AIR RAIDS: Kenton freshman Maty Mauk, son of head coach Mike Mauk and younger brother of former University of Cincinnati quarterback Ben Mauk, threw for 313 yards and three TDs and rushed for 102 yards and two more scores as the Wildcats beat St. Marys Memorial 35-7; and Wilmington’s Brandon Arehart threw for 390 yards and five TDs on 19-of-24 passing in a 42-17 win over Walnut