Logan rolls at Bonneville, 54-20, in Region 5 opener

<strong>OGDEN—</strong> The Logan High football team was plagued with injuries since before summer camp, all the way down to their week three game. However, for the past couple game, the Grizzlies have been moving in the other direction and getting some guys back.

Two of those players returning from injury played key roles in Logan’s 54-20 road win at Bonneville in the Region 5 opener for both teams Friday night.

Senior quarterback Luke Falk tossed five touchdown passes for the Grizzlies, and Logan had three receivers tally more than 100 yards receiving – two of which are just coming off injuries.

After seeing limited action in Logan’s last game, senior Hagen Andersen had a big night hauling in four catches for 105 yards and a touchdown – all in the first half. Senior Beau Artist also returned from an injured shoulder he suffered in the Grizzlies season opener. Artist hauled in eight catches for 121 yards and two TD’s.

“(Hagen) and Beau are back, and obviously those are two returning starters for us and two very good players last year,” Logan head coach Mike Favero said in a postgame interview with KVNU. “So Jesse (Braddy) and Taylor (Compton) don’t have to catch every pass. They probably aren’t nearly as tired as they have been the past few games.”

Artist didn’t take long to have his presence felt as he scored Logan’s first points of the game when he hauled in a 19-yard pass from Falk with two minutes remaining in the opening quarter.

Andersen added to that total in the second quarter when he scored his second touchdown in as many games on a 20-yard strike from Falk. The senior finished the night 25-of-36 passing for 387 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception.

“Hagen plays the ball extremely well while it’s in the air, and not every receiver has that ability to catch it at its highest point and time the jump and get a little bit of separation at the end on the defensive back,” Favero said. “We need to be able to stretch people vertically, and we can.”

With four minutes remaining in the second quarter, Logan’s do-everything player, Braddy, scored from a yard out on a QB sneak to put the Grizzlies up 20-0. The PAT was blocked, but Logan was well in control.

However, on their Homing night, the Lakers showed some fight.

With 31 seconds left in the half, Bonneville finally got on the board and was able to cut the Logan lead to two scores. The Lakers missed the extra point, but heading into the intermission, the Grizzlies only held a 20-6 lead.

“It was their Homecoming. It wasn’t so much us making adjustments as them coming out with great energy and playing really, really smashmouth football,” Favero said of Bonneville’s ability to hold the Logan offense in check during the first half.

However, following halftime, the floodgates opened for the Grizzlies.

Following a field goal on the opening drive of the second half, Logan’s Hunter Ballam snagged an interception on the third play of Bonneville’s drive. That turnover turned into a touchdown for Logan as Compton caught a throwback screen pass and raced 37 yards to the end zone.

Compton added a 1-yard touchdown catch with three minutes left in the third quarter to push the lead to 37-6, and the Grizzlies rolled from there.

For the game, Logan outgained the Lakers with 461 yards of total offense compared to 297. The Grizzlies also scored at a ridiculous rate, tallying a score every 3.8 plays. Logan’s longest scoring drive of the night took all of six plays and used 1:38 off the clock.

Next up for the Grizzlies (4-1, 1-0) is a home date with Roy. The Royals have consistently been found in the basement of the Region 5 standings, but did start the season 4-0 before falling to Box Elder Friday. Kickoff for Logan’s game with the Royals is scheduled for 7 p.m.

“They had a lot of young kids last year. We’ve watched their younger classes play and they’re going to be a challenge for us,” Favero said of Roy. “They’re doing a good job over there, so it will be a good challenge for us.”

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