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Pioneers overcome early challenge, defeat Logan 34-14

November 07, 2009 @ 12:00 AM

LOGAN, W.Va. -- It was all about getting homefield advantage through the postseason for Class AA top-rated Wayne.

The Pioneers shrugged off an early challenge from Logan before running away to a 34-14 road win to complete the sixth perfect regular season for the program this decade and seventh overall.

"I'm not going to say we were the most prepared, most emotional football team to step on the field in West Virginia tonight, and that's completely my fault," Wayne coach Tom Harmon said. "The important thing is to get a win, get at home the whole time we're going to be in the playoffs, make our stand there and try to get to Wheeling."

Senior tailback Corey Damron ran for 139 yards and three touchdowns on just 15 carries as the Pioneers won their 110th game of the decade, tops in Class AA.

Logan did not make it easy early on. After a scoreless first quarter, Adam Frazier scored on a quarterback bootleg to give Wayne a 7-0 lead.

After stopping the Wildcats on their ensuing possession, Randal Elliott returned a punt 64 yards for an apparent touchdown, but it was negated by a penalty. Two plays later, Logan's Gary Miller ripped the ball away from Frazier and returned it 27-yards for a score.

The Pioneers responded quickly, when Damron scored his first touchdown a little over two minutes later from 10-yards out.

Damron benefited from gaping holes formed by the offensive live. He had just two carries of less than five yards all night, one of them a 1-yard scoring run on Wayne's first possession of the second half.

"He (Damron) does a nice job finding the seams, and our veteran offensive line does a nice job giving him seams," Harmon said. "It's not a big secret, that's our bread and butter, but hopefully we can win some other ways if we need to too."

The Wayne offense rolled up 351 yards on the ground, and 431 total. After Damron's third touchdown run of the night on the first play of the fourth quarter, Frazier connected with Seth Merritt on a 36-yard strike down the left sideline to up the lead to 34-6, putting the game out of reach.

The Pioneers clinched the top seed in the Class AA playoffs, and will find out its opponent and the time of next week's home playoff game Sunday afternoon. Wayne overcame three turnovers in the first half.

"Big thing playoff time is first downs, no turnovers, and good defense. Those are the things you need to do," Harmon said. "Tonight we were a little bit unfortunate there in the first half. That had to do with our frame of mind and I'm the one that is responsible for that."

WAYNE 0 14 7 13 -- 34

LOGAN 0 6 0 8 -- 14

W -- Frazier 5 run (Bryant kick)

L -- Miller 27 fumble return (pass failed)

W -- Damron 10 run (Bryant kick)

W -- Damron 1 run (Bryant kick)

W -- Damron 6 run (Bryant kick)

W -- Merritt 36 pass from Frazier (kick failed)

L -- Botsch 19 run (Street run)

W L

First downs 21 9

Rushes-yards 43-351 35-90

Passing 3-11-2 9-11-0

Passing yards 80 99

Total offense 431 189

Fumbles-lost 2-1 1-0

Penalties 11-110 4-38

Punts 1-44.0 5-25.4

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING -- Wayne: Damron 15-139, Carroll 6-29, Frazier 4-25, Mills 3-34, Spurlock 2-19, Elliott 1-6, Barr 6-39, Thompson 2-32, Egnor 1-8, Blankenship 1-10, Smith 1-9, Adkins 1-1. Logan: Botsch 20-93, Street 10-27, Brown 5-(-30).

PASSING -- Wayne: Frazier 3-11-2, 80 yards. Logan: Brown 9-11-0, 99 yards.

RECEIVING -- Wayne: Mills 1-27, Perry 1-17, Merritt 1-36. Logan: Street 5-21, Botsch 1-13, Reynolds 1-37, Spurlock 2-28.