Loggers drop season opener 58-6

The Libby Loggers football team fell 58-6 in their season opener at home to the Loyola Sacred Heart Rams on Friday night.

The Rams dominated on offense with a strong passing game, collecting yards in both short and long passes en route to a win over Libby at Logger Stadium.

“We did a good job for the most part of holding their running game in check,” Libby head coach Neil Fuller said. “We just need to do a more consistent job. We need to do a better job finishing and offensively we need to put points on the board.”

The Loggers felt the Rams’ pressure early when Loyola stuffed their first punt attempt at Libby’s own 17-yard line. Loyola quickly converted the turnover into a touchdown with a one-yard toss to Jackson Marcelli to draw first blood.

Libby’s special teams again put the Rams deep in Logger territory with a fake punt gone wrong at the 35-yard line. Scotty Twite scored on a four-yard pass from Kellen Round before Jacob Byrne kicked in his second extra point of the night for a 14-0 lead.

Byrne helped the Rams keep the heat on Libby with two rushing touchdowns added to Loyola’s unanswered 41 points collected in the first half.

The second half gave some relief to the Loggers as Loyola put their second-string team on the field.

The Loggers were able to string together one offensive drive all the way to the end zone in the fourth quarter. Brian Peck sparked the drive with a 38-yard completion to Tanner Wood that finally put Libby deep in Ram territory. Libby converted again on third down to reach first-and-goal at the 2-yard line before Laine Young rushed for a touchdown and put Libby on the board.

“The kids executed but (Loyola) had put some substitutes in,” Fuller said. “I want to be able to do that against their top kids. But we’re not there yet, we got a ways to go.”

The Loggers will travel to Fairfield on Friday to face the Eagles at 7 p.m. for another non-conference matchup.