The Miami Trace Panthers picked up a huge bounce back win over the visiting Logan Elm Braves 49-22 Friday night in Fayette County. They did it with offense but also the defense stepped up big tonight holding Logan Elm to two second half points.
The Panthers turned the ball over on their first possession of the game as Dalton Mayer was intercepted as the Panthers were moving the ball down field, the Brave defender took the ball to Miami Trace's 16 yard line, one play later the home team was down by 6 add the extra point and it's 7-0 just 90 seconds into the game.
Four minutes later Miami Trace got on the board with a 25 yard field goal from Senior Justin Shoemaker after the Panthers went 60 yards in 8 plays. Logan Elm answered the score and marched 80 yards in 7 plays taking 3:22 off the clock as QB Conner Robinson too a keeper 2 yards for the touchdown. From that point on Miami Trace took the ball and never looked back. They rattled off 27 straight points that led with Jayden LeBeau scampering 43 yards on a drive that took just 2 plays and 25 seconds. The first quarter ended with the Panthers down 14-10.
The second quarter started with Miami Trace taking advantage of great field position on the Braves 27 yard line. They took a drive 4 plays that ended with Austin Carpenter plunging in from 6 yards out, PAT was good and the Panthers took the lead 17-14 and never relinquished that lead.
Dalton Mayer hit Javin Robinette on a 48 yard touchdown pass, Mayer then scrambled 78 yards for a score to make the score 30-14 with still three minutes in the half. LE was able to punch one into the end zone as time wound down on the quarter to only be down 8 at the half, 30-22.
Miami Trace scored three more touchdowns in the second half as Jayden LeBeau scored on runs of 33 and 8 yards and Mayer scrambled for another score to put them up 49-22. Logan Elm did score once more on a blocked punt that went out the back of the Panther end zone to end the scoring and giving Miami Trace the victory 49-24.
Miami Trace (2-1) outscored Logan Elm 19-2 in the second half and much of the credit to their success on the night was the defense. A defense that gave up over 569 total yards last week on bent for 330 tonight. The holes that were to run through last week closed up and they forced Logan Elm into 4 turnover's 3 interceptions.
The Panthers themselves rushed for 439 yards and threw for 74 for a total of 503 yards. Dalton Mayer was 7-10 passing with two touchdowns and one interception, he rushed for 127 yards on nine carries and ran in two touchdowns. Sophomore running back Jayden LeBeau had a career night rushing 21 times for 240 yards and three touchdowns. The Panthers finished with 15 first downs, 5 penalties for 40 yards and 2 turnovers.
Logan Elm (1-2) had 184 yards passing and 146 yards rushing, they committed four turnovers and had 13 first downs. They were led by QB Conner Robinson's 101 yards rushing and 184 yards passing.
Logan Elm had 330 total yards