Top-ranked Wayne runs past Logan 69-18

LOGAN — Quarterback Nick Newell and running back Bub Hill each ran for two scores Friday night as Wayne outmanned host Logan 69-18 in a battle of state-ranked Class AA teams. Newell carried five times for 113 yards and scored on carries of 17 and 47 yards. He also had a 40-yard gain to set up another touchdown. Dana Lycans added 126 yards and one TD on a dozen carries. The top-ranked Pioneers (10-0) fell behind the No. 12 Wildcats (5-5) by a touchdown in the first quarter as Carl Dean returned the opening kickoff 65 yards to set up a 26-yard scoring pass from Justin Taylor to Joey Carter. - advertisement - But it was all Wayne soon after. The Pioneers answered right back on their first play from scrimmage as Lycans scored on a 64-yard reverse to tie it at 7. Wayne would also score touchdowns on its next five possessions to take control. Newell managed 107 yards rushing by halftime. Wayne also got a pair of 3-yard scoring runs from Hill, a 15-yarder by Daniel Runyon and an 8-yarder from Josh Meddings. Trevor Marcum also returned an interception 56 yards for another touchdown. Taylor, who came into the game with 16 touchdown passes — fourth-best in the state — had tremendous pressure in his face all night. He completed some long passes, but found the end zone just once. The Pioneers came out in the second half and took the ball straight down the field, where Hill pushed his second touchdown across the goal line. On the ensuing Logan possession, Marcum picked off his second pass of the game and returned it for a score. Wayne also tacked on one more score across on Meddings’ run. The Pioneers also added on one more late in the fourth quarter. Logan received good special teams play from Carl Dean, who had a pair of long kickoff returns. The Wildcats were never able to muster up any success on offense through the entire game, but did have one score late by Trey Taylor, younger brother of Justin Taylor. Even with the loss, the Wildcats will compete in the playoffs next week for the first time since 1990. That was the school’s only other playoff berth and it came in Class AAA.