Logger find scoreboard in final seconds of Fright night loss

In the last minute of the Friday night game, down 41 points from a four-quarter beating, the Libby Loggers refused to be shut out by the Shelby Coyotes before the final buzzer.

In the last drive, Libby quarterback Braydan Thom pitched the pigskin to running back Tim Carvey for a quick 18-yard sweep to reach the red zone in Shelby territory. With the clock winding down, Thom lofted a pass to Carvey in the deep left corner of the end zone for six points and, the way Libby’s bench erupted, you would have thought the game was tied. But it wasn’t. While Carvey held the ball in the end zone, the clock ran out, and Libby didn’t even get to kick the extra point as the game concluded, 41-6.

That lone Logger touchdown might not have even happened without the help of running back Laine Young, who exploded through the line for a 40-yard rush.

For that last drive, Libby looked like it was in mid-season form. Head coach Neil Fuller said the Loggers will have to start games like that, rather than end them, if they hope to improve their 0-4 record.

“Laine Young came in and had a great run and got us going; Braydan had some great throws and we blocked OK; it was more guys functioning together but we gotta come out at the start like that if we want to compete,” he said. “Shelby’s a good football team, they did a great job.”

Shelby built up a 34-point lead by halftime, pushing the ball down the field mostly on the ground with running back Zach Torgerson. Shelby’s defense fed its offense with a few interceptions, while the Loggers tried to dig their way out of a hole created by a handful penalties.

“We just gotta work at getting all 11 players on the same page,” Fuller said after the game. “When we start with those turnovers like that, those mistakes, we’re not good enough to overcome that right now.”

Fuller said working on physical matchups will be key in future games.

The Loggers this weekend will take on the Eureka at home. The game starts at 7 p.m. on Friday at Logger stadium.

Reporter Seaborn Larson may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at slarson@dailyinterlake.com.