Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Logan captured no worse than a share for a district title during a 67-16 road victory Friday over defending state champion Roy-Mosquero in six-man football action.
The Longhorns, undefeated at 8-0 and ranked No. 1 in New Mexico six-man football by MaxPreps.com, can win a district championship outright this Friday with a home victory over New Mexico School for the Deaf.
Grady (8-1 overall) is in second place in its district with a 5-1 mark, its only loss a 32-26 decision in overtime against the Longhorns on Sept. 6.
The Longhorns, which built a 24-0 halftime lead and led 32-0 before Roy-Mosquero scored, won the game by the mercy rule midway through the fourth quarter.
Longhorns running back Stratton Schoonover scored four touchdowns. Quarterback Aydin Kotara threw for four TDs, including two to Mason Wallin, and scored another.
Roy-Mosquero, hampered by an injury earlier this season to senior quarterback and linebacker Ayden Clavel, fell to 5-3 overall and 3-3 in district play.
Logan coach Dwayne Roberts partly credited his team’s defense for the victory.
“The defense did really good,” he said. “Roy-Mosquero likes to pass the ball a lot, but we kept them under control except for a couple of times we missed some assignments. The defense locked down really well.”
Roberts said both teams struggled on the wet grass after a steady rain during the junior-high game that preceded the varsity matchup.
“Both teams were slipping trying to make their cuts,” he said. “As it dried out, we were able to make our moves a lot better.”
Logan scored its first points late in the first quarter when Wallin caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from Kotara. Wallin kicked the two-point conversion for an 8-0 lead, one of five he would convert on the evening.
Schoonover followed with a 6-yard TD reception early in the second period.
Kotara scored on a 15-yard scramble less than a minute before intermission, giving his team a 24-0 lead.
Schoonover caught a 24-yard touchdown pass on fourth down midway through the third period for a 32-0 advantage.
Roy-Mosquero scored its first points on a 15-yard TD pass with about five minutes left in the third quarter.
Seconds later, Logan running back Haden Judd sprinted for a 65-yard touchdown run and a 39-8 lead.
After Judd made an interception near midfield, Schoonover ran for 38 yards for a touchdown and a 47-8 lead.
Roy-Mosquero answered with a touchdown pass to cut Logan’s advantage to 47-16.
With about seven minutes left, Judd scored on a 45-yard touchdown run for make it 53-16.
Schoonover then intercepted a sideline pass and returned it 15 yards to paydirt for a 61-16 Logan lead.
Kotara finished the game via mercy rule when he connected on a 10-yard TD pass to Wallin with less than four minutes remaining.
Logan will host New Mexico School for the Deaf in its regular season finale at 7 p.m. Friday. The Roadrunners (3-4 overall, 1-4 in district) defeated Arkansas School for the Deaf by a score of 61-12 on Saturday.
The six-man football quarterfinals are scheduled to begin the following week.