The Miami Trace Panthers visited Pickaway County to complete non-league play for the season Friday night.
The Panthers rolled to a 56-14 victory.
Miami Trace scored on six of its eight possessions in the first half.
The only thing that kept the Panthers from scoring in the first half was a lost fumble that set up Logan Elm’s only score of the half.
Logan Elm won the coin toss, but elected to defer to the second half. For all practical purposes, by then the game was all but over.
On the first possession, Drake Litteral broke free for a 53-yard touchdown run with 11:09 to play in the first quarter.
Blake Pittser’s kick made it 7-0, Miami Trace.
After a quick three and out by the Braves, the Panthers soon scored again, capping a four-play drive with a 5-yard pass from Skyler McDonald to DeAndre Pettiford. Pittser’s kick made it 14-0 at the 8:10 mark of the first quarter.
After five plays and a punt by Logan Elm, the Panthers lost a fumble at their own 18-yard line.
Three plays later, Nick Vagnier scored on a two-yard run. Corbin Betts’ kick made it 14-7 with 2:47 to play in the first quarter.
On their fourth possession, it took the Panthers just three plays to score. McDonald hit Tyrae Pettiford for a 25-yard touchdown pass. Pittser’s kick was true, making it 21-7 with 1:54 to play in the first quarter.
The Miami Trace defense stopped Logan Elm again, giving the Panthers the ball back at midfield.
Litteral ran the ball to the 22 of Logan Elm where the first quarter came to an end.
There was no stopping Miami Trace, however.
On the fifth play of the fifth possession, McDonald passed to Tyrae Pettiford for a six-yard touchdown. Pittser’s kick made it 28-7 with 9:55 to play in the half.
It was more of the same with another stifling defensive stand by the Panthers.
After the punt, Miami Trace had the ball at the Logan Elm 36-yard line.
Three plays later and it was McDonald, this time finding DeAndre Pettiford for a 34-yard touchdown pass with 7:25 to play in the half. Pittser’s boot made it 35-7.
The Braves could ill-afford a turnover, but Miami Trace’s Jared Fenner had a quarterback sack that resulted in a fumble that the Panthers recovered at the Logan Elm 18-yard line.
This time taking six plays, the Panthers scored on a McDonald to Lance Mick pass of seven yards. Pittser’s kick made it 42-7 with 3:26 to play in the first half.
Logan Elm quickly turned the ball over again on their second play of the following possession.
Coby Hughes picked up the ball and returned it four yards for a touchdown for the Panthers. Pittser’s PAT was good, making it 49-7 at the 3:06 mark of the half.
Still Logan Elm could not move the ball against the Panthers.
Miami Trace had the ball down at the Logan Elm 35-yard line when time expired in the first half.
The second half moved by quickly thanks to the running clock, which is employed after one team leads another by 30 or more points in the second half.
Logan Elm scored with 42 seconds to play in the third quarter on a 14-yard run by Cheadle. The point-after touchdown kick was good, making it 49-14.
Brandon Arledge, Miami Trace’s sophomore quarterback, scored with 6:03 to play in the game on a 24-yard run. Pittser’s kick made it 56-14.
Drake Litteral had 96 yards of rushing in the first half.
Skyler McDonald was 9 of 10 passing for 152 yards and five touchdowns in the first half.
They did not play in the second half.
The Panthers held Logan Elm to 36 total yards of offense in the first half.
Miami Trace had 336 yards of offense in the game.
The Panthers open the SCOL portion of the schedule next week, returning home to face the Clinton-Massie Falcons.
Clinton-Massie improved to 2-1 on the season with a 36-0 win over Springfield Shawnee Friday.
