Loggers fall to Hamilton, 42-6
The Libby Loggers did not play nearly as poorly as the scoreboard suggested Friday when the visiting Hamilton Broncs won 42-6.
Hamilton jumped to a 7-0 lead on their first drive when junior running back Alex Draper dodged two tacklers while running left. Draper tapped the pylon with the ball while diving toward the end zone.
The game transitioned to a field position battle for the next 12 minutes, teams exchanging possessions near midfield. The Loggers (1-2) threatened late in the first quarter before Hamilton safety Bret Huxtable intercepted Libby quarterback Dom Voorhies in the end zone. Libby’s Dylon Lane returned the favor the next play when he intercepted Huxtable. Lane reacted quickly from his safety position, leaping for the catch. Despite starting the new drive at Hamilton’s 31-yardline, the Logger offense stalled.
Three plays after Voorhies’ second interception, Hamilton made it 14-0 when freshman Bridger Bauder caught a 16-yard pass with 6:31 left in the first half.
The next three Loggers possessions ended in interceptions. While the junior Voorhies looked uncertain at times running the offense, two of his interceptions went through the hands of receivers.
“We have not worked a lot with the sprint out, shotgun offense,” Libby Coach Neil Fuller said. “We will phase that in more as the season goes on. Dom threw some crucial passes that went through hands, and those could have been huge plays.”
Hamilton capitalized on Libby’s mistakes, scoring two touchdowns in the last three minutes. The Loggers showed fight, however, when senior David Winter blocked a short field goal attempt.
A running clock was initiated less than 30 seconds into the second half when Bauder ran into the end zone to make it 35-0.
Following a fumble and another Hamilton touchdown, the Loggers put together their best drive. Libby ran 10 plays during the five-minute, 71-yard possession. Near midfield senior running back Zach Crace broke a 33-yard run down the left sideline after Voorhies pitched on an option play. A late-hit penalty earned the Loggers a first-and-goal.
Penalties and poor blocking pushed the Loggers back to fourth-and-goal from 13 yards out. With nothing to lose, Libby went for it. Facing man coverage, 6-foot-5 sophomore Erik Lauer snagged a perfectly thrown jump ball from Voorhies. The two-point attempt was unsuccessful and the score was 42-6.
The Logger defense held the Broncs scoreless in the fourth quarter while Hamilton rested starters.
“I’m thrilled with how the defense played,” Fuller said. “They threw a touchdown or two where we had great coverage, but our kids just didn’t play the ball. Offensively, we want our kids to be disciplined. Dom knows he can do better, but we dropped a few passes for him too.”
Fuller said he was pleased with his defensive backs’ play, particularly Issak Jones and Stetson Enyeart. Linemen Michael Curtiss and Brandon Sadewasser also played effectively.
The Loggers host Stevensville at 7 p.m. Friday. The game will be three-year starting lineman Gage Cichosz’ season debut. The senior came out late this season and his presence will provide depth on both Libby lines.