Blayton Reid
Derrick Webb

Derrick Webb

Derrick is SOSA's chief content coordinator and has worked for the Chillicothe Gazette, the Portsmouth Daily Times and Eleven Warriors. He's a 13-time award-winning journalist, a self-proclaimed baseball purist, a suffering Bengals fan and has never met a stranger.

Logan Elm’s Blayton Reid reflects on rushing record, credits offensive line for success

Reid has rushed for over 1,000 yards but doesn't take any credit for that success.

Derrick Webb, Staff Writer

Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.

CIRCLEVILLE — If you see Blayton Reid and Logan Elm’s entire offensive line at McDonald’s in the coming days, don’t be surprised.

Logan Elm’s Blayton Reid has rushed for 1,022 yards and 13 touchdowns this season.
CREDIT: Cory Hall/SOSA

Reid has a debt to settle, but it’s a price he’s more than happy to pay.

“Every guy on the offensive line is like family to me,” Reid says. “They take care of me on the field and I do my best to take care of them. A couple of weeks ago, I told them that if we break 1,000 yards this season, I’d buy them all McDonald’s [meals]. So now, I owe them all McDonald’s.”

That feat was achieved after Friday’s record-breaking performance.

In a 35-14 win over Fairfield Union, Reid set the school’s single-game rushing mark with a 36-carry, 310-yard performance — passing Marcus Paul, who ran for 305 yards in 2015.

“The record means a lot to me and has been a big goal for me since freshman year,” Reid said. “That night is definitely a night that I won’t forget.”

The entire season has been one to remember for Logan Elm. The Braves sit at 5-1 overall and have yet to lose inside Mid-State League play.

That six-game start follows a 2021 season where the team finished 3-7. Last fall, the Braves were 2-0 after wins over Zane Trace and Westfall. Then, the wheels fell off the wagon as they dropped seven of their next eight games.

This year, there has been no such letdown.

Instead, after falling to Zane Trace to open the season, Logan Elm has now won five straight and have outscored opponents by a 154-31 margin during that stretch.

“Every guy on the team knows and understands that they need to do their job every play, even if they’re not the ones making the big play or getting the glory of the big play-makers,” Reid said. “For example, the defensive line knows that, sometimes, they just have to make piles up front so the linebackers can make the play. Ultimately, the team plays as a team and everyone does what they need to do to get the win.”

Reid has done his part and then some.

The senior back has amassed 150 rushes for 1,022 yards and 13 touchdowns so far — numbers that already top last year’s totals of 169 carries for 943 yards and five scores.

But he’s taking none of the credit for any of that.

“The key to the rushing game is one-hundred percent the offensive line,” Reid said. “When they do a good job of getting a hat on a hat, and getting up to the linebackers, it allows me to break free and get up field.”

Reid says he believes his Braves can win the MSL-Buckeye title.
CREDIT: Marissa Spradlin/SOSA

Logan Elm hasn’t pieced together a winning record since 2015 when the team finished 6-4. Since, the Braves have an overall record of 21-45 and the best finish they’ve had is a 5-5 campaign in 2020.

Needless to say, winning hasn’t been something Reid and his teammates have gotten used to. But they’ve got a game plan in place to continue the success they’re seeing.

“I think that the biggest test is staying focused. It’s fun when you are winning but it’s easy to get distracted,” Reid said. “If we stay focused, we’ll continue to have success.”

Next on the Braves’ agenda is a home date with Liberty Union. Then, to close the season, the Braves travel to Bloom-Carroll and Amanda-Clearcreek before hosting Teays Valley.

That four-game stretch will determine everything that matters. But so far, Reid and company have taken care of business. He’s hoping to keep that trend going by taking a familiar approach.

“I think we can win the league and have a good playoff run,” Reid said. “But that won’t happen unless we stay focused and take the season week by week.”

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