The ACGC version of "Friday Night Lights" has come to a close for another season. The Chargers gave it a real go on Friday at Logan, trailing by only a touchdown mid way through the third quarter when a two minute lapse on pass defense enabled Logan-Magnolia to pull away and claim a 42-14 victory.

After a solid 22 yard kick off return by Caden Wardyn to open the game, the Charger offense began at their own 37 yard line. Following a quarterback sack on third down, ACGC was forced to punt. Will Byers booted a thirty seven yard punt, putting the ball in Lo-Ma's hands on their own 26 yard line. The Panthers put together a ten play scoring drive, with Mace Tanner hitting pay dirt on an 18 yard run with 5:52 remaining in the initial quarter to give Lo-Ma a 6-0 lead. An attempted two point conversion failed.

After the Chargers were forced to punt again on their next possession, Lo-Ma fumbled the ball on a second down play and Avery Wheatley recovered for the Chargers on the Panther 41 yard line. The Charger gridders began a drive that began in the first quarter and ended in the Panther end zone with 9:02 remaining in the second period. With consistent yardage gained on the ground by Logan Brincks, Ben Kingery, Bryce Littler, and Caden Wardyn the Chargers scored on the twelfth play of the drive, with Littler scoring on a 1-yard quarterback sneak. After a scoring drought that had lasted for two games plus , Charger players and fans alike roared with approval.

The conversion attempt failed, leaving the score at a 6-6 tie.

The teams exchanged possessions with little ball movement when Byers boomed a 42 yard punt

that gave Lo-Ma the ball on its own 45 yard line. On the second play from scrimmage Kolby Morrison lofted a 55 yard pass to Matt Soetmelk for a touchdown. A successul two point conversion made the score 14-6 with 4:34 remaining in the half.

After a Charger drive that stalled on its own 47-yard line, Lo-Ma drove the ball deep into ACGC territory before fumbling at the Charger 2 yard line. Gabe Rowley recovered the ball for the Chargers, preventing an almost certain Panther score. The Chargers were unable to move the ball, but on fourth down Byers nailed a 61 yard punt that got the Chargers out of a deep hole and put the Panthers back on their own 35 yard line. The first half ended with the Chargers trailing 14-6.

Each team scored on its first possession of the second half, with Lo-Ma driving from its own 45-yard line to the Charger end zone in twelve plays to take a 20-6 lead. Panther quarterback Morrison took the pigskin in from the 2 yard line with 6:30 left in the third stanza. The conversion attempt failed.

After a 23-yard kick off return by Owen Hansen, the Chargers responded with a touchdown of their own a minute and a half later when Littler hit Wardyn on a 54-yard pass. That combo did the same thing on the conversion, closing the gap to 20-14 with 5:05 to go in the quarter.

ACGC's hopes for pulling off the upset were quashed when the Panthers scored three passing touchdowns within two minutes to put the game out of reach. Morrison hit Wyatt Wohlers on two of those touchdowns and Soetmelk on the third. By the end of the the third quarter Lo-Ma had a commanding 42-14 lead.

The Panthers were driving for another score in the fourth quarter when Quyenton Younker recovered a Lo-Ma fumble on the Charger 10-yard line. No additional scoring in the fourth frame gave the Panthers the 42-14 win.

Although the final score was one sided, the game was more competitive than the score indicates. The Chargers stayed with the favored Panthers through two and a half quarters, and seemed to have gained some momentum before surrendering the three passing touchdowns late in the third quarter.

Coach McDermott offered these comments following the game; "The boys played hard and we were right in it until about the last two minutes of the third quarter. Logan-Magnolia switched up their style of play in the third quarter and threw the ball more than normal.

"It was hard to say good bye after the game to our eight seniors. Caden Wardyn, Cole Boyer, Collin Stowe, Logan Brincks, Nate Schiller, Owen Hansen, Dustin Hansen, and Sam Fuller gave it their all and we will miss them next year. I would also like to thank our assistant coaches, Mike Griglione, Tyler Mosbach, and Mike underwood for thir dedication, hard work, and commitment to the ACGC Charger football program.

The loss gave the Chargers a season record of 1-8 and a record of 0-7 in district play.

Score by Quarters

ACGC 0 6 8 0-14

Lo-Ma 6 8 28 0-42

Statistics:

Passing: Bryce Littler-12 attempts, 7 completions, 75 yards, 1 TD, 1 Int.

Rushing: Logan Brincks-10 attempts, 39 yards; Owen Hansen-1-2; Ben Kingery-14-31; Bryce Littler-8-16; Caden Wardyn-2-5

Receiving: Will Byers-1 reception, 11 yards; Ben Kingery-2-11; Caden Wardyn-4-53-1 TD

Kick Offs: Quynton Younker-3 for 113 yards

Punting: Will Byers-6 for 40.0 yd. ave.

Kick Off Returns: Cole Boyer-1 for 3 yd. ave.; Owen Hansen-2-12.5; Gabe Rowley-2-12.5; Caden Wardyn-1-22

Fumble Recoveries: Gabe Rowley, Avery Wheatley, Quynton Younker-1 each

Tackles: Cole Boyer-6 solos, 9 assists; Logan Brincks-3,2; Gage Buttler-0,1; Will Byers-1,0; Sam Fuller-2,4; Owen Hansen-0,3; Kolby Jacobe-6,5; Ben Kingery-5,8; Gabe Rowley-5,5; Collin Stowe-1,0; Caden Wardyn-6,2; Avery Wheatley-0,4; Quynton Younker-3,2