Zane Trace trailed most of the night, but led when it counted at the end of the game in a 10-6 win over Logan Elm to open the 2018 high school football season.
The Braves defensive line controlled the game in the first half through the first three quarters, holding the Pioneers to only two rushing yards in the first half and led 6-3. Logan Elm got their lone score with a short-field scoring drive of 15 yards on 5 plays, after blocking a ZT punt.
Quarterback Conner Robinson connected with Hayden Higginbotham on a five yard pass at :57 seconds remaining in the first quarter. The PAT was blocked, giving the Braves a 6-0 lead.
Zane Trace finally got on the board with 1:01 left in the first half, driving 63 yards on 12 plays, before settling for a 35 yard field goal. That score of 6-3 was the margin at halftime.
That's how it remained until the Pioneers came to life midway through the fourth quarter, marching 72 yards in five plays, then scored on a four yard TD run by Cougar Stauffer. Fetters PAT kick made it 10-6. ZT missed on a field goal try later in the quarter, but held off a last minute drive by Logan Elm.
The Braves seemed to have a long pass play to Higginbotham that would have put the ball on the ZT 9 yard line, but an offensive pass interference call was made on a Braves player on an illegal pick, which called the play back.
The Pioneers ended the game with 225 total yards, with 165 in the air on 10/26 passing from quarterback Gabe Shanton. The Pioneers added 60 yards on the ground.
Logan Elm saw 171 of their 196 total yards coming in their rushing game, as Connor Hartley ran for 63 yards on 16 carries while Connor Robinson had 60 yards in 12 carries.
A big factor was 85 yards in penalties against the Braves, while ZT stayed away from the yellow flag with only 20 yards.
Hear the play-by-play rerun on our podcast link below, with Mike Smith and B. Jay Dailey...