November 15, 2013 at 1:34 p.m.
Logan comes out of trenches to advance
Wright, a 6-0, 270 defensive rock who also gains the hard, short yardage at fullback, helped the Rangers clog the middle and virtually halt hopes of a running game by the Vikings.
Logan went on to win the Level 3 playoff game 34-20.
Besides Wright's strong presence on defense the Vikings were also victims of the explosiveness of Aric Elmore. Elmore answered a Max Meylor one yard touchdown plunge after a 56 yard march that featured some hard running by Wyatt Thompson, with a 24 yard scamper. Tristan Recknor and LL's Peter Heglund-Lohman traded extra points for a tie.
Meylor's score came three minutes into the game and Elmore picked up his about a minute later at 8:24.
Elmore scored again three minutes later on another big play, this time a 49 yard romp. Heglund-Loman made it 14-7 at the quarter mark.
Both teams slugged it out for 10 minutes with the Vikings switching to their aerial attack when Wright and company put the skids to the run. But the Rangers found the end zone first with 2:43 left before half on a five yard run by Kennan Rouse and another extra point kick by Heglund-Lohman.
Trying to score again before half did not happen for the Vikings. Instead, Elmore got a good read on a pass over the middle and turned in a pick six, racing 56 yards to score. The kick made it 28-7.
A holding penalty and the interception caused the game to take on a different look, MHB coach Travis Rohrer felt.
"Our offense always gives a chance to be in a game because of our tempo and our ability to throw the football downfield," Rohrer said. "We just needed to do a better job of taking advantage of their turnovers and keeping drives alive, especially in the first half. We had our second drive stalled by a holding penalty which was huge because they scored quickly on their next two possessions. If we score to go up 14 to 7 I think it could of have been an exciting back and forth game."
The Vikings did mount an answer on a five yard Meylor to Ryan Epping pass with 28 seconds left and Recknor's kick halved the lead at 28-14.
But the margin allowed the Rangers to pound away on the ground and their ball control only let the Vikings have the ball three times the second half. The Rangers also added a score that helped put the game away.
Wright tumbled through the line for a yard that put another six on the board at the end of the third quarter and Heglund-Lohman's kick made it 35-14 with a quarter to play.
The Vikings went down fighting, the way good football teams are supposed to finish a game. Meylor drilled Nathaniel Osterloo with a pass that he pulled off a hook and ladder play with Isaiah Lesure that gave the Vikings a 30 yard touchdown play as time expired. It came at a time that some teams would be content to let the clock run out and take the loss but not so for the never-say-die Vikings.
"Our kids do not quit ... ever," Rohrer said. "Even though it wasn't our best game it wasn't because it wasn't our best effort. Our kids truly believe in themselves and in each other. We always say that the scoreboard should not reflect your effort and I believe each week that is always on display, and that last touchdown was one final example."
In the end it was a match-up that gave the edge to a Logan team that had a little too much size and a little too much speed.
"I thought it would come down to our run defense versus their pass defense and even though we were able to throw for over 300 yards we were not able to finish our drives in the end zone while they were able to control the clock and finish drives with touchdowns running the football," Rohrer said.
Relying on the pass became a necessity after the first drive that took place on the ground.
"I believe our tempo took them by surprise on our first series and once their front adjusted to our speed the game slowed down for them and they took better angles to the football and did a nice job tackling our skill guys in space," Rohrer said.
Meylor tried 36 passes and connected on 27 for 331 yards. Lesure caught 12 of them for 180 yards. Juan Aguilar caught four for 44, Osterloo four for 45, Thompson three for 34, Epping three for 16 and Trey Recknor one for 12.
Thompson was the rush leader with 10 tries for 27 yards.
The efforts and contributions of the seniors on the MHB squad were not lost on Rohrer and his staff.
"This senior class had the bar set high by the senior class before them," Rohrer said. "The difference is that last year's class also had high expectations placed upon them because of their success at the lower levels, however, the senior class of 2013 has had to always scratch and claw for every win.
"With the loss of so many starters from the year before a lot of folks expected MHB Football to take a step back but this class used that all offseason as motivation and it paid huge dividends this season. Our staff is as proud of this group of seniors as any group we have had the opportunity to coach."
"Thank you to all of our seniors for everything they gave to our program. The MHB football staff cannot thank you enough for all of your time and all of your efforts and we wish you all the best," Rohrer said.
The seniors include Taylor Treamor, Jake Welsh, Sam Moyer, Ryan Epping, Isaiah Lesure, Tristan Recknor, Mike Killian, Nolan Eyre, Cody Pharo, Carson Carmody, Keller Kirch, Tyler Hellenbrand, Juan Aguilar, Klayton Krantz, Casey Rose, Geoffrey Krentz (student assistant) and Jennifer Judd (manager).
Rohrer also said he and his staff appreciate all the support.
"Finally, thank you to the parents, the administration, the student body and the communities of Mount Horeb and Barneveld for your continued support and making the 2013 another season to remember," Rohrer said. "GO VIKES!"
