Loggers drub Indians in senior night game
The Libby Loggers marked senior night with panache, routing the Browning Indians 54-14.
The Loggers sought early on to control the flow of the game and, with few exceptions, were successful. In a series of run plays in the first quarter, senior running backs Dawson Young and Ryker McElmurry moved the ball up the field at will. McElmurry made the final one yard push into the endzone with eight minutes and thirty seconds left in the quarter.
Senior kicker Aydan Williamson brought the score to 7-0 after making a field goal.
The Loggers stumbled when Browning senior Cody Carlson intercepted a pass by Libby senior quarterback Jay Beagle a few possessions later.
Libby’s infamous chainsaws didn’t stay quiet long, though. With 50 seconds left in the first quarter, Beagle completed a touchdown pass to junior Ryder Davis from Browning’s 38 yard line.
The first quarter came to an end with the Loggers leading 14-0.
Defensively, the Loggers showed their prowess in the second quarter. Junior linebacker Hunter Hoover, quiet in the Loggers’ opening game a week ago, sacked Browning quarterback Jesse Carlson with seven minutes and fifty seconds left in the half.
The Loggers scored their third touchdown after another series of runs by Young and McElmurry. Young carried the ball into the endzone from the one yard line with five minutes left on the clock.
With another good field goal kick by Williamson, the Loggers brought the score to 21-0.
Hoover wrapped up another defensive stand with a sack a few minutes later, giving Libby possession of the ball. Following a sequence of carries by Young and Beagle, Young scored once again with one minute and fifty seven seconds left in the half. Williamson with a field goal brought the score up to 20-0.
But Browning fired back with 42 seconds left in the half. Carlson lobbed a sixty yard touchdown pass to senior Balyne DeRoche. In the two point conversion that followed, Carlson crossed the goal line, bringing the score to 27-8 for Libby.
Undeterred, Libby took advantage of the few remaining seconds to score again. With five seconds on the clock, Beagle completed a 30-yard touchdown pass to Davis. The Loggers left the field with a 34-8 advantage.
The situation did not improve for Browning in the second half. During the squad’s first possession of the second half, Carlson fumbled the ball. Recovering it, Hoover ran 55 yards for a Logger touchdown. Hoover’s dash brought the score to 40-8 for the Loggers.
Hoover racked up his third sack of the night minutes later during a Browning fourth down. Along with Young, Hoover then helped run the ball from the Logger’s 40 yard line. Young scored with a 13-yard run into the endzone. With another good field goal from Williamson, the Loggers led 47-8 with seven and a half minutes left in the third quarter.
Hoover shone again when he came up with a fumble with five minutes left in the third quarter.
The chainsaws revved less than forty seconds later on the clock when Davis carried the ball 65 yards for a touchdown. Williamson brought the score to 54-8 with another field goal.
In the fourth quarter, Browning scored their second touchdown when Jessie Carlson completed a pass to Cody Carlson with seven and a half minutes left on the clock. The two point conversion failed, bringing the final score of the game to 54-14 for the Loggers.
Before the game, Libby fans recognized senior football, golf and cheer athletes. The players, escorted by friends and family, lined the field in front of the home stands. Manager Aleah Ford, running back Colton Halvorson, tight end Tucker Masters, linebacker Dave Patterson, offensive and defensive lineman Owen Wilkins, wide receiver Keilen Raush, and Beagle and Young were recognized on the football team.
Cheerleaders Alex Andreessen, Bailey Bronson, Aspen Swartzenberger and Annika Thorstenson, and golfers Mekenna McNulty, Kayley Svendsbye and Gabby Fantozzi were also honored.
The Logger football squad will take on Ronan in an away game scheduled for Sept. 11.
