John Raffel
Sports Scene
As a temporary quarterback of sorts this season. Merrill’s Logan Heath got the job done.
Heath filled in at quarterback and led the Vandals to a 33-32 win over Montabella during the regular season. Heath ran for 62 yards, including a 6-yard TD. Heath also completed 8 of 20 passes for 237 yards, including a pair of touchdowns.
The Vandals made the playoffs and lost in the first round to Johannesburg-Lewiston to finish at 6-4.
“He (Logan) has only been at quarterback for two games (after week 8),” said Merrill coach Christian Wiley. “In two games, he was 28-of-58 for 549 yards and seven touchdowns. He started at receiver and split back and had 33 rushes for 233 yards and three touchdowns and five catches for 39 yards.”
Heath started the Vandals district game at quarterback.
“Logan had been getting all the reps and has been doing well. So we decided to keep Logan at the quarterback position,” Wiley said. “He’s been quarterback in the past. We had him pulled up as a freshman on varsity. He played cornerback for us on defense. He had six interceptions as a freshman on varsity. He has five already. He has 11 career interceptions on varsity.
“As a passer he kind of has that moxy. He has no fear. He’s not afraid to pull the trigger and throw the ball. He’s an accurate passer with a strong arm. He’s an outstanding baseball player for us and plays catcher. He has a cannon for an arm. It makes for a nice transition into the quarterback spot.”
Heath, as a runner, “has a longer, lanky stride, but he’s pretty fast when he gets going,” Wiley said. “He follows his blocks very well.”
Merrill is among the few Class D schools still playing 11-player football.