PICKAWAY COUNTY — After the game was postponed due to weather Friday night, the Miami Trace Panthers made the return trip to Logan Elm High School Saturday morning, Sept. 7 to take on the Braves.

Logan Elm was 2-0 coming into the game, while the Panthers were 1-1.

It was a back-and-forth battle in the first half.

However, in the second half, Miami Trace was able to put some distance between themselves and the Braves as they rolled to a 41-20 victory.

The game was underway Friday night when the first of three lightning delays halted play with 8:47 remaining in the first quarter and Miami Trace having the ball at the Logan Elm 2-yard line.

(The game ended up being called at around 8:30 Friday night.)

The weather Saturday morning was much cooler after the previous night’s much-needed rain, with a fairly brisk breeze out of the north.

There was an abundance of sunshine and lots of blue sky, with many clouds moving along.

On the second play from scrimmage Saturday morning, sophomore Julian Baker scored on a 1-yard run.

Senior Levi Morrison’s kick gave the Panthers a 7-0 lead.

Miami Trace would lead by that score at the end of the first quarter.

When play resumed in the second quarter, Logan Elm had the ball at its own 38-yard line.

A nice, long pass play for the Braves gave them the ball at the Miami Trace 10-yard line.

After a quarterback sack by senior Evan Mollett, Logan Elm, undeterred, scored on a 21-yard pass play. The extra point kick tied the game, 7-7 with 10:10 to play in the first half.

Miami Trace turned the ball over with a fumble on their first play of the next series.

Logan Elm had the ball at its own 47-yard line.

A long pass play moved the ball to the Miami Trace 2-yard line. From there, it was a touchdown run by senior Bryce Perkins.

The extra-point attempt hit the left upright and landed in the end zone, giving Logan Elm a 13-7 lead with 9:21 to play in the half.

On their next possession, Miami Trace went for it on fourth down and five from the Logan Elm 42.

Senior quarterback Trey Robinette completed a pass to senior Gaige Stuckey for a first down at the 34.

A pass to senior Skye Salyers gave Miami Trace the ball at the Braves’ 14.

Two plays later, Robinette connected with junior Austin Brown for a 10-yard touchdown.

Morrison’s kick gave Miami Trace a 14-13 lead with 5:31 to play in the half.

Logan Elm’s next series was thwarted when junior Janson Smith had the first of what would be two interceptions in the game.

This gave the Panthers the ball at their own 39-yard line.

After four penalties were called, Miami Trace had the ball at the Logan Elm 6-yard line. Previous to that was a 17-yard pass from Robinette to Salyers.

There followed a six-yard touchdown run by Robinette, who leapt over a defender and into the end zone.

There was a false start called on Miami Trace on the extra point attempt. On the second attempt from five yards further back, the point-after went just wide to the left.

The touchdown came with 23 seconds to play in the half and the score remained 20-13 at the break.

The Panthers kicked off to Logan Elm to start the second half.

The Braves put together a long possession, starting at their own 41-yard line.

On the 11th play of the drive, Logan Elm scored on a pass covering 21 yards from senior quarterback Aaron Walters to senior Gavin Hoover.

The extra-point kick tied the game, 20-20 with 7:08 to play in the third quarter.

Miami Trace began its next drive from its own 47-yard line.

After a holding penalty on the Panthers, there was a pass from Robinette to Salyers that went unofficially for 60 yards and a touchdown. The kick by Morrison gave the Panthers the lead once again, 27-20 with 5:50 to play in the third.

On Logan Elm’s next possession, there was a quarterback sack by junior Cooper Enochs.

A couple of plays later, it was Janson Smith with his second interception of the game, the Panthers regaining possession at their own 38-yard line.

Robinette busted a long run gaining 36 yards.

After a short gain by Baker, there was a pass interference call against Logan Elm that set the Panthers up at the Braves’ 15-yard line.

However, Logan Elm rose to the occasion and denied the Panthers access to the end zone, sacking Robinette as he scrambled on fourth down from the 11, unable to find an open receiver.

The third quarter ended with the Panthers holding a 27-20 lead.

One of the turning points of the game was upcoming, as the Panthers’ defense soon had the Braves backed up to the 4-yard line, forcing them to punt from their own end zone.

The punt was very short, with Miami Trace taking over at the Logan Elm 20-yard line.

The Panthers made the most of the short field when Robinette passed to Enochs for an 18-yard touchdown.

Morrison’s kick put the Panthers in front, 34-20 with 10:53 to play in the game.

The Miami Trace kickoff went through the hands of the return man. He was able to run back five or so yards and pick up the ball, whereby he navigated through the Panther players and returned the ball all the way to the Miami Trace 6-yard line.

Once again, the Panthers were up to the challenge.

Two runs for no gain were followed by an incomplete pass, putting the Braves in a fourth and goal situation from the Miami Trace 8-yard line.

The next pass was completed, but the Panthers stopped the play at the 1-yard line, taking over on downs with under nine minutes to go.

After a quarterback sack by Logan Elm, Miami Trace was looking at a third down and five from their own 35.

Robinette found Enochs over the middle and he was off to the races.

However, he was caught from behind by senior Cameron Drake, who punched the ball away with Hoover recovering at the Logan Elm 15.

Logan Elm’s next series consisted of two incomplete passes, followed by a combined quarterback sack by seniors Evan Colegrove and Walker Glispie.

The Braves had no recourse but to go for it on fourth and 20 from their own 39.

The next pass was incomplete, giving the Panthers the ball at the Logan Elm 39 with 5:08 to play in the game.

Baker soon scored from eight yards out, but the play was nullified by a holding call on the Panthers.

With under two minutes to play, Logan Elm used two timeouts, including their last one with 1:42 remaining.

Baker ran the ball into the end zone again, this time from 10 yards out and this time there were no flags.

Morrison converted the extra point and Miami Trace had what proved to be the final score of the game, taking a 41-20 lead with 1:37 left.

Taking over near midfield, Walters threw a long pass deep down field, only to have it intercepted by senior Malachi Jones to seal the game.

The Panthers had but to run off the final 42 seconds to secure the victory.

“This is big to come into Logan Elm and get a win,” Miami Trace head coach Jerry Williams said.

Weather delay situations are always difficult, Williams said.

“I said to the team last night, whoever manages this the best is going to win the football game,” Williams said. “It’s always difficult when you prepare (for the game) and then you have the weather we dealt with last night and then you have to come back in the morning and get the team up. And that’s a challenge.

“These guys answered the bell,” Williams said. “I’m very proud of the way they played, offensively and defensively. This was a huge win for us and we beat a good football team today.”

Miami Trace is back at home Friday night to take on the Bethel-Tate Tigers (1-2) from Clermont County.

Logan Elm travels into town to take on the Circleville Tigers (3-0) Friday.