Longhorns win state

LOGAN - Logan now boasts a new sport where it's won a state championship.

The top-seeded and undefeated Longhorns dominated No. 2-seeded Grady 54-14 Friday in the finals of the New Mexico six-man football tournament.

Logan had captured state championships in volleyball, boys track, girls track and both boys and girls basketball. But its first title on the gridiron proved elusive until Friday.

Longhorns senior running back Haden Judd ran for 178 yards and three touchdowns in 10 carries. Sophomore running back Stratton Schoonover caught six passes for 149 yards and three touchdowns and scored a fourth TD on a run. Junior quarterback Aydin Kotara went 10-of-13 passing for 233 yards and four touchdowns.

Meanwhile, Logan's defense corralled Grady to 139 yards of offense and made 10 tackles for loss. Deakin Ragland scored on a 40-yard touchdown run, and receiver Gavin West caught a 32-yard TD pass from Zander Cianco.

Logan (12-0) jumped to a 14-0 lead early in the first quarter and commanded a 40-6 advantage by halftime.

The result Friday was a far cry from Logan's 32-26 victory in overtime at Grady during a district clash in early September. The Longhorns, who went from eight-man to six-man football during the offseason, still were learning the nuances. Penalties also nullified Longhorns touchdowns during the game.

"We had to clean up our penalties," Logan coach Dwayne Roberts said. "We were penalty-heavy that last game, and we knew we couldn't do that. You leave a good team around and and it turns into what it did the first time."

Payson Nials, the senior leader of Logan's defense who averages 15 tackles per game, said the coaching staff made sure he and his teammates were ready.

"We prepared very thoroughly this week, and we watched a lot of film," he said.

"Helped us a lot. It really paid off in the end."

Judd admitted his team might have looked past Grady the first time.

"We overlooked them the first time we played them," he said. "It was just a game then. This time, we came prepared. We didn't overlook him this time and just had fun."

Grady coach Les Ciancio, whose 10-2 team suffered its only losses to Logan, knew it would be a tall order to keep the game close for a second time.

"When they play their best game, we can play our best game and still struggle," he said. "That's a damn good football team.

"I'm not surprised by the outcome so much that I'm upset with my guys, but I think we could have we left some points on the field," Ciancio added. "But when those guys play like that, it'll be tough for anyone to beat them."

The game contained a more festive atmosphere than usual. Logan boosters hosted a tailgate party. After every Longhorns score, fireworks were shot off east of the field, and several students ran while carrying Logan flags.

Grady, not to be outdone, brought a relatively large number of fans with drums and other noisemakers.

It took Logan barely 30 seconds to score after the opening kickoff. On the second play from scrimmage, Schoonover caught a short pass and shot through a gap in the Bronchos defense for 58-yard touchdown. Mason Wallin kicked the extra points for an 8-0 lead.

"The boys, they wanted to come out and start strong," Roberts said. "I thought from the very first series, we came out and kind of set the tone of the game. Our boys came out with fire and passion and really never let them get some momentum going."

Grady's first possession ended when Nials recovered a fumble at the Bronchos' 20 after a teammate stripped the ball from running back Trey Rush.

Two plays later, Judd scored on a 10-yard TD run. Wallin's points-after kick missed, but Logan sported a 14-0 lead less than three minutes into the game.

The only time the game might have appeared interesting was after the Longhorns fumbled the ball on an exchange and the Bronchos recovered at the Grady 17.

Three plays later, Zane Cianco threw a long pass to West for a 28-yard touchdown. The kick was wide, but Grady trailed only 14-6.

On Logan's next possession, Judd returned a kickoff 30 yards, then made a 26-yard run to give his team a first down at the 4-yard line.

Kotara, while under pressure from pass rushers, threw to Jace Jackson for an 8-yard touchdown. Wallin's PAT kick was wide, but Logan led 20-6.

On the Grady's next possession, Kotara intercepted a long pass at the Logan 30.

Schoonover then caught a 28-yard pass from Kotara at Grady's 7 yard line. That set up Judd's touchdown on the next play. Wallin made the kick to give his team a 28-6 lead.

Logan used trickery on its next series. Wallin caught a short pass from Kotara, who then quickly pitched it to Marshall Ortega streaking down the right sideline on a hook-and-ladder play. Ortega wasn't tackled until he was on Grady's 7 after a 52-yard play.

On third down, Kotara scrambled for several seconds before finding Schoonover all alone on the end zone's right side for a 6-yard TD pass. The Longhorns had a 34-6 lead with 2:58 left in the half.

Logan's defense stopped Grady's next possession on fourth down with 36 seconds left in the quarter at the Bronchos 29.

Two plays later, Schoonover scored on what appeared to be a 21-yard touchdown reception, but it was called back due to unnecessary roughness by a teammate's block.

Undaunted, Logan ran the hook-and-ladder play again - this time, with senior Devin Kotara catching a short pass and pitching the ball to Schoonover, who sprinted for a 26-yard score with 9.3 seconds left before intermission.

The Bronchos didn't give up.

On their first possession of the second half, Ragland found an opening on the left side and sprinted for a 40-yard touchdown. Zander Cianco kicked the PAT for a 40-14 score.

The Longhorns needed just four plays to respond with a TD. Schoonover, running to the right side, found his way blocked and reversed direction for a 2-yard touchdown. Wallin's kick was blocked, but Logan led 46-14.

Grady gained a first down at Logan's 11-yard line on its next possession. But the Longhorns defense made a stand, allowing just 2 yards on four plays and turning the ball back to Logan on downs.

On the next play, Judd found a seam on the right side and used his state-champion-sprinter speed to outrun the defense for a 71-yard TD. Wallin made the kick for a 54-14 game.

Logan's defense again stopped Grady on fourth down in its red zone.

That gave Roberts the opportunity to insert his second-unit offense and run a few players to burn the last three minutes of the game clock.

After the state-championship trophy presentation, Roberts - a Logan alum - admitted he was feeling bittersweet about the experience.

"This is the group of guys, when I came back, that would have started their careers with me, and they finish their senior years as a state champs," he said. "I'm just proud to death, excited for these guys."

Nials said of winning state: "It's the best thing ever. It's amazing."