High school football: Logan routs Desert Hills

LOGAN — Just when it looked like a storm was blowing into Cache Valley on Friday for the Grizzlies' first-round playoff matchup with the Desert Hills Thunder, the storm clouds cleared. Logan started off defense of its 3A state title with a 49-0 shellacking of the upstart Thunder.

"We came out with good energy," Grizzly senior quarterback Jeff Manning said. "They were an inferior team, and you know when you have a team like that you have to beat them the way we did."

Manning only completed 9-of-17 passes on the day for 137 yards and one touchdown, but Logan didn't really need to throw much against the Thunder. Manning was plenty deadly on the ground, rushing for 92 of Logan's 220 yards and four rushing touchdowns.

About the only downside for the Grizzlies was some sloppy play early in the game. Manning turned the ball over twice in the first quarter, once on a fumble and once on an interception, but the Grizzly defense held strong, forcing two turnovers of their own in the quarter.

"We had two turnovers and we overcame them," Logan head coach Mike Favero said. "If you overcome them and win that's fine, but in a closer game then obviously the turnovers can kill you. We would like to have no turnovers in all of our games.

Other than the turnovers it was hard for the Grizzlies to find anything to complain about. After amassing a 42-point halftime lead, Logan started the second half with its second string and coasted the rest of the way.

Logan's most impressive performance on the day may have come on the defensive end. The Grizzlies limited Desert Hills to 103 yards of total offense.

Grizzly senior Jordan Ballam attributed the defensive intensity to a change in attitude for the defensive unit.

"Our defensive is having fun now, and that has led to a total attitude change," he said. "We've had the talent all year, we've had the hustle all year, now we're just having fun and getting excited."

Desert Hills head coach Kevin Cuthbertson said his young team would use this game as a learning experience.

"We're a young program, we're building, and we'll take this for what it's worth," he said.

Logan will advance and most likely travel to Juan Diego to take on what many consider their biggest hurdle as they battle for a repeat.