Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Logan quarterback Brock Burns looks downfield for a receiver while receiving blocking help from Izaiah Kneitz during a non-district game Saturday against Alamo Navajo. Burns threw for three touchdowns and ran for another during a 50-0 victory.
LOGAN - Logan grabbed a two-touchdown lead before Alamo Navajo even touched the ball during a 50-0 Longhorns victory in nine-man football action on Saturday.
Here's how it happened: The Longhorns, after securing the opening kickoff, ran nine plays for 58 yards. Quarterback Brock Burns finished the drive by connecting on a 9-yard touchdown pass to Devin Kotara for a 6-0 lead.
On the ensuing kickoff, the Cougars' returner let the bouncing ball get behind him, then slipped trying to pick it up near the goal line. Logan's Payson Nials pounced on the ball at the 1. On the next play, Burns ran it in for a TD to give his team a 14-0 lead.
The Longhorns kept scoring and ended the non-district game by the mercy rule midway through the third quarter. It was the season-opener for both teams.
Burns went 5-for-7 passing for 101 yards and three touchdowns. Aydin Kotara totaled 92 receiving yards with two touchdowns, and Stratton Schoonover scored on a run play and a 60-yard punt return.
Logan coach Dwayne Roberts instructed his players to stay intense throughout the game, though it was apparent the Cougars didn't match up well.
"It's hard to keep your intensity up when it seems like you can do whatever you want," Roberts said. "I was glad to see them talking to each other. They did good; I liked what I saw."
Logan also scored a safety in the first period when the Cougars, stuck on their 1-yard line, were flagged for holding in the end zone.
Aydin Kotara beat two defenders to catch a 23-yard touchdown pass from Burns to make it 24-0 in the first quarter.
Nials scored on a 1-yard run less than three minutes later to make it 30-0.
Schoonover fattened Logan's lead to 38-0 late in the first period with his 60-yard punt return.
Aydin Kotara caught a 17-yard Burns pass early in the second quarter for a TD and a 44-0 advantage.
Alamo Navajo, which took only 12 players to Logan, went 0-8 last year and hasn't won a game since 2019.
Yet coach Wyatt Billy said he saw progress compared to previous lopsided losses to the Longhorns.
"This year, we kept our ground as much as we could and got a couple of first downs," he said. "It was all I could ask for. We got close to the goal line, so I'm really happy with our team right now."
Logan's defense stymied Alamo Navajo's running attack. But the Cougars suddenly found life in the second quarter by going to an air attack against Logan's second-string defense.
Scott Guerro and Johnshay Padilla switched off as quarterback and led their team on a 14-play, 75-yard drive that used almost nine minutes and advanced the Cougars to the Longhorns' 8-yard line.
Roberts couldn't get mad at his second-string defense for Alamo Navajo's sudden surge.
"That second quarter, we played all our young guys to give them some time, and you could see a difference. It was good for them to get the experience," he said.
Logan's defense tightened after that. With the clock winding down on the first half, the Cougars lined up for a 25-yard field goal attempt. But the low snap was bobbled, and the placekicker never had a chance to kick it.
In the third quarter, Burns completed a 29-yard pass to Kotara to Alamo Navajo's 8. Schoonover ran it into the end zone on the next play to make it 50-0 and end the game.
Logan next travels to Questa for a non-district game at 3 p.m. Saturday. Clayton, one of Logan's district foes, downed visiting Questa 34-6 on Saturday.
