Logan quarterback Drew Berry (10) runs the ball as Nitro's Rashawn Robbins (6) defends during Logan's 17-6 victory over Nitro last Friday at Willis-Nisbet Stadium. (Boothe Davis/Captured by the Moment Photography)
Bill Lusk | WVOW Sports
LOGAN Jaxon Cogar threw two first quarter touchdowns and Aiden Slack kicked a second quarter field goal to lead Class AA No. 9 Logan to a 17-6 homecoming victory over Nitro at Willis-Nisbet Stadium Friday night.
Cogar completed 15 of 22 passes for 127 yards and two touchdowns before suffering an ankle injury near the end of the first half. Cogar did not return to the contest as his replacement Drew Berry completed just 1 of his 7 passes for 17 yards.
Garrett Williamson hauled in eight passes for 100 yards and one touchdown while Slack caught a 2-yard touchdown, kicked a 26-yard field goal and was successful on his two extra point attempts.
Landon Poniatowski, starting for the second consecutive contest in place of starting quarterback Derek Lowe, was 17 of 27 passing for 153 yards and one interception for Nitro. Mikey Toscano added 96 yards on 27 carries and one touchdown while Charles Cantrell hauled in eight receptions for 92 yards and Rashawn Robbins had five catches for 52 yards.
Logan scored on its opening drive as Cogar found Slack for a 2-yard touchdown with 7:48 to play in the opening quarter. The Wildcats added to its lead as Cogar hooked up with Williamson for an 18-yard scoring strike with 2:37 to play in the first quarter.
Slack’s 26-yard field goal with 6:25 to play before halftime gave Logan a 17-0 lead.
Nitro would begin their final drive of the first half on its own 34 and march 65 yards in 11 plays, but on the 12th and final play of the drive, Toscano was stopped by Bryce Davis and Ryan Roberts short of the goal line with 0:53 to play before halftime.
Neither team would dent the scoreboard in the third quarter as Logan led 17-0.
Logan would drive to the Nitro 1 but Berry was stopped for a 2-yard loss on 4th-and-goal at the Nitro 3 by Tyler Martin with 9:54 to play in the fourth quarter.
Toscano’s 2-yard touchdown capped off a 15 play, 97-yard drive that took 6:57 off the fourth quarter clock to cut the deficit to 17-6 with 2:57 to play.
Logan recovered Nitro’s onside kick attempt and was able to run out the final 2:57 to preserve the victory.
Logan improves to 5-1 overall and 4-1 in the Cardinal Conference while Nitro falls to 2-4 overall and 1-4 in the Cardinal Conference.
Nitro will host Clay County Friday night. The Panthers are tied for seventh in the Class AA rankings and support a 4-1 record.
Logan will hit the road Friday night traveling to No. 2 Scott. The Skyhawks could take over the top spot in the Class AA rankings to be released Tuesday after No. 1 North Marion was defeated by No. 11 Fairmont Senior, 20-19, in overtime.
Logan 17, Nitro 6
Nitro 0 0 0 6- 6
Logan 14 3 0 0- 17
First Quarter
L- Slack 2 pass from Cogar (Slack kick), 7:48
L- Williamson 18 pass from Cogar (Slack kick), 2:37
Second Quarter
L- Slack 26 field goal, 6:25
Fourth Quarter
N- Toscano 2 run (kick failed), 2:57
Individual Statistics
RUSHING- Nitro: Toscano 27-96, Cantrell 5-11, Martin 4-10, Poniatowski 2-(minus 1). Logan: Cogar 6-15, Slack 6-10, Berry 3-1, Team 3-(minus 37), Workman 2-8, Clancy 1-11, Willilamson 1-9.
PASSING- Nitro: Poniatowski 17-27-1 153. Logan: Cogar 15-22-0 127, Berry 1-7-0 7, Slack 0-1-1 0.
RECEIVING- Nitro: Cantrell 8-92, Robbins 7-52, Martin 1-5, Smith 1-4. Logan: Williamson 8-100, Berry 2-17, Clancy 2-10, Slack 2-10, Workman 2-7.