NAUGATUCK — Logan improved to 3-0 on the gridiron for the first time since 2022 on Friday night as sophomore standout Lucas Lambert secured three scores to help lead the Wildcats past Tug Valley 27-12.
The Panthers struck first at the 6:04 mark of the first stanza with a fourth down pass from quarterback Preston May to Derek Jewell resulting in a 10 yard score and a 6-0 lead for the hosts.
Nitro’s Chris Radcliffe (6) runs with the ball while being tackled by Herbert Hoover’s Blake Fisher (1) during the game between Herbert Hoover and Nitro at Herbert Hoover High School in Elkview, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025.
- LAURA BILSON | Gazette-Mail
Scott’s Cayden Sharps (11), Scott’s Tanner Simmons (0), and Scott’s Tucker Breedlove (14) wait for the ball to stop moving before picking it up during the game at Sissonville High School in Sissonville , Friday, Sept. 12, 2025.
- LAURA BILSON | Gazette-Mail
Sissonville senior Wes Lane runs with a Sissonville Majorette’s flag along the track during the game at Sissonville High School in Sissonville, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025. Lane ran back and forth several times, receiving cheers and applause from Sissonville fans.
- LAURA BILSON | Gazette-Mail
Huntington's Andreas Reece (2) takes the ball upfield as Spring Valley's Dominick Hanshaw (19) dives to tackle as Huntington High takes on Spring Valley during a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, in Huntington.
- RYAN FISCHER | HD Media
Huntington High School’s student section cheers during a high school football game against Spring Valley on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, in Huntington. The game ended too late for this edition. Visit herald-dispatch.com for coverage of Spring Valley-Huntington, Hurricane-Parkersburg, Wayne-Mingo Central and Fairland-Rock Hill. The Cabell Midland-George Washington game was postponed due to a power outage.
- RYAN FISCHER | HD Media
Huntington's Travon Okonkwo (9), left, outpaces Spring Valley's Dae Dae Page (1) on a touchdown-scoring run as Huntington High takes on Spring Valley during a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, in Huntington.
- RYAN FISCHER | HD Media
Wayne's Kaiden Hayton picks up yardage while being tracked down by a host of Mingo Central defenders including Aidan Burke (24), Davion Joplin (2), and Keziah Joplin during the Miners game at the Pioneers on Friday, Sept. 12 at Pioneer Field.Â
- JARRID McCORMICK | HD Media
Mingo Central's Jamere Knuckes heaves a pass while being hit by Wayne's Draven Egnor during the Miners game at the Pioneers on Friday, Sept. 12 at Pioneer Field. Also shown is Mingo's Griffin Beckett (71) blocking Wayne's Cobie Jackson (66).Â
- JARRID McCORMICK | HD Media
Sherman football's Dawson Green (40) tries to break a Pocahontas County tackle as the Warriors' Jonathan Whitworth (25) defends during the matchup between the Tide and Warriors on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at Zontini Field in Seth.
- CAMERON MAYNARD | HD Media
The game’s next score didn’t come until 5:31 before halftime when Logan quarterback Adam Baisden connected with an open Lambert over the middle of the field who crossed the goal line untouched on a 68 yard pitch and catch.
Logan managed to extend its lead before the break with Lambert finding pay dirt again at the 3:32 mark of the second quarter, this time in the form of a 21 yard rush that allowed the visiting Wildcats to hold a 14-6 lead at halftime.
The Wildcat offense came out of the locker feeding off the positive momentum and with 10:27 remaining in the third quarter receiver Colten Green was victorious on a four yard jump ball from Baisden that extended the Logan lead to 20-6 after a failed PAT.
Lambert scrambled side to side before breaking free vertically for Logan’s final score of the night as the sophomore put his team ahead three scores with a dazzling 85 yard touchdown rush with just 23 seconds left before the final quarter.
Tug Valley was able to bring the game back within two scores late in the fourth as Jewell hauled in a 7 yard pass from May for his second score of the night that brought the game to its final score of 27-12 with 2:54 remaining before the final whistle.
“We battled some adversity there in the first quarter,†said Logan’s first year head coach Nick Booth. “Guys were kind of aggravated with each other a little bit. That is the first time we have really had to face that this year, but I was proud of them for coming back from that. We were able to rebound from a tough start and get where we needed to go. Inevitably we got the job done.â€
Booth says it's massive for the program to find another 3-0 start.
“It is big for these kids. The kids deserve it, they have worked hard by doing things the right way. It is big for the community and big for the school. They work hard, so we are looking to compound that. We will watch the film and look at it. I am not really happy with the penalties this week. We will get ready for Wayne next week and try to get to 4-0.â€
Logan will return home next Friday to host Wayne (2-1). The Pioneers have won the last two matchups in that series.
“You have to prepare for the Wing T. That is what Wayne does and they have been good at it for years,†Booth said. “It's not the Wing T, it's the Wayne T. They run their stuff great and they are tough and physical. They are always competitive and we will be in for another fight on Friday night."
Tug Valley coach Hady Ford also spoke after the contest.
“We made quite a bit of mistakes, but it hurt us that Bryson (Elia) went out right there in the first quarter,†Ford said. “That kind of handicapped us a little bit. We really weren’t able to run the ball from that point on. We had to pass almost the whole game, which again handicaps you and makes it hard for the offense to make stuff happen. We still made stuff happen. We moved the ball and got up and down the field. We still just made too many mistakes. We threw a couple picks and had some penalties when we didn’t need to.â€
Tug Valley will stay home next Friday to host Wyoming East and will be looking to improve on their 1-2 start on the season.Â
“There are just things that we have to clean up. Probably half of ours were holding penalties,†said Ford. “We just have to do better, it’s one of the things I tell our guys. We had some adversity and things didn’t happen the way we wanted it to. What are we going to do from here on, we just have to work to get better,†concluded Ford.
Panther leader Bryson Elia left the game in the first quarter after an apparent leg injury.
Ford shared that he believes it's just a tweak, although the Panther staff elected to play it safe and not have Elia return to the contest.
Score by Quarter
Logan (3-0): 0 14 13 0 - 27
Tug Valley (1-2): 6 0 0 6 - 12
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
TV: Preston May 10-yard pass to Derek Jewell (Rilee White PAT fails) 6:04
2nd Quarter
L: Adam Baisden 68-yard pass to Lucas Lambert (Braydon Craddock PAT)
L: Lucas Lambert 21-yard rush (Craddock PAT)
3rd Quarter
L: Adam Baisden 4-yard pass to Colten Green (Craddock PAT fails) 10:27
L: Lucas Lambert 85 yard rush (Craddock PAT) 0:23
4th Quarter
TV: Preston May 7-yard pass to Derek Jewell (White PAT) 2:54
