Strong second half leads Logan County past South Warren 27-17
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In the final week of the regular season, two local teams faced off in a coveted matchup that proved Logan County (9-1) victorious over South Warren (5-5) by a final score of 27-17. The victory marked the Cougars’ first over…
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Continue ReadingIn the final week of the regular season, two local teams faced off in a coveted matchup that proved Logan County (9-1) victorious over South Warren (5-5) by a final score of 27-17. The victory marked the Cougars’ first over the Spartans since Sept. 17, 2011.
The Spartans started in good field position due to an out of bounds kickoff. Shortly after, South Warren cornerback and Tennessee commit Cristian Conyer Cristian Conyer 6'1" | 180 lbs | ATH South Warren | 2023 State KY caught a short pass and glided through the Cougars defense for what would be the Spartans most explosive offensive play of the night. Conyer was limping after being shoved out of bounds and wouldn’t collect many more yards for the remainder of the game.
The Spartans muscled their way onto the board a few plays later as senior running back Gavin Grawe lowered his shoulder and bulldozed his way over the goal line to give South Warren the early 7-0 lead.
The line of scrimmage was dominated by South Warren throughout the first half. Logan County was adamant on giving their standout running back Ryan Rayno Ryan Rayno 6'3" | 190 lbs | RB Logan County | 2023 State KY the ball as there was little room in between the tackles. Defensive tackle KJ Hardesty KJ Hardesty 6'1" | 280 lbs | DL South Warren | 2023 State KY had a great game, tallying… throughout the night.
After Hardesty flattened Rayno in the backfield in an attempt to set the tone on defense, Rayno bounced right back up and cut through midfield to pick up 15 yard on the next play. Logan County worked the ball into the red zone but were denied on fourth and short after Hardesty stuffed the run again.
The Spartans put together a long, time consuming drive that was capped off by a Landon Graves touchdown run to extend their lead to 14-0 with 2:05 remaining in the first quarter.
Later in the second quarter Spartan quarterback Bryce Button Bryce Button 6'2" | 195 lbs | QB South Warren | 2025 State KY turned out of a sack and ran down the sideline for 17 yards to keep the drive alive. Eli Macintosh knocked through a 17 yard field goal to give South Warren a commanding 17-0 lead with 6:21 remaining in the first half.
The Cougars were unable to consistently gain yards on the ground for most of the first half and were forced to put the ball in the air to move the sticks. With just a few moments remaining in the first half, as they often do in high school football, the momentum flipped a switch.
Button was strip-sacked on his own 32-yard line and the ball was recovered by the Cougars. Rayno began to carry the ball outside of the tackles, picking up 17 yards over three consecutive runs. On third-and-5 from the 10-yard line, Rayno took the quick pitch and cut upfield, stumbling and eventually fumbling the ball. The ball was recovered in the endzone by junior playmaker Elijah Hawkins Elijah Hawkins 5'10" | 200 lbs | LB Logan County | 2024 State KY .
On the opening play of the following Spartan drive, Button’s pass into the sidelines was jumped and picked off by Hawkins and returned 25 yards down the sideline for the score, making it 17-13 with 17 seconds remaining in the first half.
The Cougars converted a fourth and three at midfield, and added another 15 yards from an unsportsmanlike penalty on the defense. Logan County quarterback Davin Yates Davin Yates QB Logan County | 2024 KY hit Dayton Blackford on the out route for a 13-yard pickup. Later on fourth and seven, Yates faked the handoff, rolled left and rocketed the ball through the middle of the field into the hands of Harper Butler for a 17-yard touchdown.
At this point in the game South Warren were struggling to move the ball as Yates finished the scoring with a three yard run with 8:22 left in the game. Logan County went on to defeat South Warren 27-17.