By Dan McGrath
Fitting indeed that the last carry of senior Javon Logan’s exemplary Leo High School football career was the most spectacular.
The Lions trailed the Cadets of Marmion Academy 20-8 with just over two minutes remaining in their season finale at St. Rita’s Cronin Field on Saturday and faced second-and-five at their 27-yard line. Logan, who’d done heavy-duty work all afternoon, took a handoff, slipped through the line, powered through two linebackers and took off down the right sideline. Two Marmion defensive backs appeared to have him cornered, but he cut back toward the middle, eluding and then outrunning the pursuit to complete a 73-yard touchdown.
The two-point PAT attempt failed, but the Lions had a shot for at least a tie and possibly a win if they could force a three-and-out and get the ball back.
Easier said than done. Gritty runner Sean Dahlman, who carried 22 times, completed a 90-yard day by picking up two first downs that enabled the Cadets to run out the clock on a 20-14 victory that left them with a 5-4 record and a berth in the IHSA Class 5-A state playoffs.
Leo finished 1-8 and failed to win a conference game for the second consecutive season, despite Logan’s best efforts. He ran for 142 yards on 23 carries and scored both Leo touchdowns, the first one on a 15-yard pop that completed a nine-play, 66-yard drive that might have been the Lions’ most impressive of the season.
A strong candidate for CCL/ESCC Red Division Player of the Year, Logan finished with 664 yards on 105 carries, a 6.3-yard average, and six touchdowns.
Logan aside, though, the game was a microcosm of Leo’s season. Four turnovers (three interceptions, one fumble) negated other scoring chances, and penalties (nine for 107 yards) gave the Cadets more help than they needed in building a 20-0 lead through three quarters.
Quarterback Kam’ron Tolliver’s six completions covered just 46 yards, but three of them went for touchdowns: four yards to Michael Roche, 12 yards to Jack Young and five yards to Colin McEniry.
Safety Bryan Scales didn’t score, but he may well have been Marmion’s most dynamic player, bringing two interceptions back 68 yards and adding a 34-yard punt return.
Eighteen Leo seniors and their parents were recognized in a Senior Day ceremony before the game.
The frosh-soph, meanwhile, put an emphatic end to a 5-4 season, rolling to a 66-0, running-clock victory over Marmion in the preliminary game.