Loggers suffer tough loss to Ronan Chiefs, 22-19

The Libby Loggers suffered a difficult loss in their 2024 home opener Friday night at Logger Stadium.

Early in the fourth quarter, the Loggers grabbed a 19-14 lead over visiting Ronan when quarterback Tristan Andersen scored on a 4-yard run with 10:59 to play.

Andersen hit junior Isaac Lamere in stride for a long pass play earlier in the drive that began late in the third quarter. The big play set the Loggers up on Ronan’s 7. A 3-yard run by Ian Thom on second down set up Andersen’s go-ahead TD.

But the Chiefs (1-2) owned the rest of the fourth quarter.

On the next possession following the Libby TD, Ronan hit a big pass play of its own to the Loggers 14 with about seven minutes left. Siouxpixm Qualtier caught the pass from junior QB Kolby Finley.

But the Loggers held when a Ronan pass to the end zone was off the mark on fourth down with 6:07 left.

Starting deep in their own territory, the Loggers came up just a bit short of getting a first down as they tried to run out the clock.

Two runs by sophomore Tristan DeShazer gained eight yards, but Ronan stopped a third down run and Libby had to punt.

Laurance Lozeau caught the kick at the Libby 48 and returned it inside the 25. A Loggers penalty moved the ball to the 7.

Drake Wofford made a big play on first down when he stopped Finley for an 8-yard loss.

Ronan called for a screen on second down and Finley connected for a TD with 2:52 left. The Chiefs also scored the 2-point conversion to make it 22-19.

The Loggers still had a chance when a good kick return put them at their 43-yard line. After a missed pass, Andersen’s next throw was intercepted by Finley to effectively end the game.

The game featured little offense in the first quarter.

Libby’s Aidan Rose intercepted the first of two Ronan passes late in the first.

But not long after, Chiefs linebacker Lozeau tipped an Andersen pass and lineman Ricky McCain picked it off.

Ronan quickly capitalized with a TD while taking an 8-0 lead.

The Loggers answered a few minutes later when Andersen hit Lamere for a TD pass. Danny Waletski kicked the extra point to trim the lead to  one point, 8-7.

The teams traded interceptions late in the first half. Finley snagged a Libby pass before Rose got his second pick with 27 seconds left.

The Loggers grabbed a 13-8 lead early in the third quarter when Andersen found Lamere.

But Ronan came back to lead 14-13 with 5:08 left in the third when Treysin Sinclair caught a TD pass from Finley.

The Loggers lost their second straight game to drop to 1-2. They’ll host Bigfork at 7 p.m. The Vikings are 3-0 after beating Hamilton, 32-6.

Ronan, which lost to Butte Central Catholic and Bigfork, plays Polson Friday.

    Libby's Aidan Rose (43) intercepted two passes Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, against Ronan at Loggers Stadium. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
  

    Libby's Isaac Lamere runs with the ball after catching a pass Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, against Ronan at Loggers Stadium. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
  

    Libby's Drake Wofford helps make a tackle Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, against Ronan at Loggers Stadium. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
  

    Libby's Ian Thom runs with the ball Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, against Ronan at Loggers Stadium. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)