Austin Hannah, Contributor
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
CIRCLEVILLE — The annual rivalry between Logan Elm and Circleville is slowly beginning to become a one-sided affair.
You can blame Braves quarterback Aaron Walters for that reason.
CREDIT: Marissa Spradlin/SOSA
LE’s signal caller threw a season-best five touchdowns, leading his team to its fourth straight win over the Tigers by a 40-19 final in Friday’s Backyard Brawl.
“It makes it so much easier to call an offense when you have a guy like [Walters] at the helm,” Logan Elm coach Terry Holbert said of his QB. “He was able to make plays when things broke down. When he gets outside the pocket, he’s just as dangerous as inside the pocket. We put a lot on his shoulders. He calls a lot of stuff at the line, makes adjustments, and I’m just really proud of his efforts tonight.”
After receiving the game’s opening kickoff, Logan Elm (4-0, 1-0 MSL) wasted no time getting to work. It took just three plays before Walters connected with Hunter Kersey for a 52-yard touchdown pass, making it 7-0 early.
But Circleville (0-4, 0-1 MSL) responded with a meticulous 16-play drive, wearing down the Braves’ defense and chewing some clock. The drive ended with Hudson Phalin finding Drew Thornsley for a seven-yard touchdown pass, cutting the lead to 7-6 after a failed two-point conversion.
The Braves were just getting warmed up though, and so was Walters.
On LE’s next possession, Walters connected with Carson Summers for a 16-yard pass-and-catch for the touchdown, extending the lead to 14-6.
PHOTOS: Images from Logan Elm’s win over Circleville
Following a stop by their defense, the Braves made the most of a given opportunity when Walters continued to spread the wealth, this time connecting with Camden Redd for a 25-yard touchdown, extending the lead to 20-6.
However, just before halftime, the Tigers regained some momentum when Phalin connected with Thornsley again, this time for an eight-yard touchdown, making it 20-13 at the break.
“We just really challenged our kids at halftime,” Holbert said. “Offensively, we were rolling. [Circleville] did some things that we were a little unprepared for. So give them a lot of credit. They played a good game. But our coaching staff got together, the kids responded and we just really played well.”
Circleville received the opening kick in the second half but fumbled. The opportunistic Braves recovered.
That turnover changed things as Logan Elm kicked it into high gear, beginning with a six-yard plunge from Landon Thompson, pushing the lead to 27-13.
From that point on, Walters took over. He found Kersey on a 12-yard touchdown, their second hookup of the night, for a 33-13 ballgame. On the ensuing Circleville drive, LE’s Carson Summers intercepted a pass and returned it into the red zone. Walters rewarded Summers for the defensive play with a 16-yard touchdown pass, furthering the lead and putting an exclamation point on the win.
Walters finished the night 14-for-20 passing for 180 yards and five touchdowns while Thompson led the rushing effort with 13 carries for 73 yards and a score.
Kersey had seven catches for 104 yards and a pair of touchdowns, Redd caught three balls for 42 yards and a score, and Summers ended with four catches for 34 yards and a pair of trips to the end zone.
Circleville was led by Phalin, who was 18-of-33 through the air for 175 yards with three touchdowns. Jude Blair also helped out with 26 carries for 107 yards.
Both teams are back in conference play next weekend. Circleville hosts Amanda-Clearcreek while Logan Elm travels to Fairfield Union, looking to move to 5-0.
“It’s one day at a time for us,” Holbert said. “We’ll enjoy this tonight, come back tomorrow and watch the film and find ways to get better. Then, Monday through Thursday, we’ll grind it out in practice, find ways to improve and put another great game plan together for Friday night.”
SPONSORED BY BO LACEY CONSTRUCTION
