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SALT LAKE CITY — Logan's path to the Class 3AA state semifinals hasn't always been easy, but it's survived them well thus far.
Upstart 3AA South challenger Snow Canyon punched them in the mouth early.
Spencer Corbett and the Grizzlies responded viciously.
Corbett caught four passes for 162 yards — in the first half — to finish with 168 yards and four total touchdowns while leading Logan past the Warriors, 42-14, at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Thursday night.
"We knew our defense was going to get offense, and our offense was going to start rolling like we always do," Corbett said. "I was just happy that we won. I was surprised; I didn't know that I could do that."
The Grizzlies (10-2) will face the winner of Dixie and Tooele, who play the second semifinal Friday night after the 5A tournament.
Snow Canyon (7-6) struck first through Chase Poulsen's 31-yard touchdown grab from Jackson Nowatzke with 45 seconds left in the first quarter. But that would be the only score for the Warriors until Poulsen added his second touchdown midway through the third quarter.
"It's a four-quarter game; we never worry about the first or second series," Logan coach Mike Favero said. "You can't panic when you get behind (early). We fumbled it on the first drive, but then had a great drive right after it. We were fine."
It only took Corbett and the Grizzlies 39 seconds to respond, doing so via a 73-yard strike from quarterback Hunter Horsley to tie the game at 7-7 to end the first quarter.
The Grizzlies scored 28-unanswered points, including Corbett's 84-yard punt return for a score with 4:27 to go in the first half, to take a 28-7 lead into the locker room.
The 6-foot senior said he took his inspiration on the return from Utah receiver and former Timpview standout Britain Covey.
"We said we were going to do it again. We came out and it worked," Corbett said. "I was surprised I didn't get hit when I caught the ball."
After the 28-7 halftime lead, Horsley took over. The senior quarterback capped a five-minute-long drive with a 1-yard touchdown plunge with 1:22 left in the third quarter after Poulsen's second touchdown run.
Horsley found Hartman Rector with a 21-yard strike with 9:04 left in the game, and the Grizzlies salted away the final win. Horsley found five receivers for at least two passes through the night, spreading the ball around from Corbett's 168 yards to Rector's 77 and Kaden Jones' 46 yards on four grabs among the physical wide receiver sets.
"Our bye week, I didn't tell him it was a bye week," Favero said. "I called it a 'get-better' week. We lifted our guts out that week. Physically, that's the real deal."
Horsley also ran for 94 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries, and Colton Hatch finished with 47 yards and a score on 11 touches behind an offensive line that only fell backwards by seven total yards all night.
"Our O-line was the key tonight," Favero said. "They played their best game, were really on their game all night and gave us great protection. We only got pressure one time, that's where it starts for our receivers.
"We just executed, and at this point in the season, it's all about executing and taking care of the ball."
1st Quarter
0:45 — SC: Poulsen 31 pass from Nowatzke (Day kick)
0:06 — LOG: Corbett 73 pass from Horsley (Young kick)
2nd Quarter
8:38 — LOG: Hatch 3 run (Young kick)
4:27 — LOG: Corbett 84 punt return (Young kick)
2:13 — LOG: Corbett 55 pass from Horsley (Young kick)
Halftime: Logan 28, Snow Canyon 7
3rd Quarter
6:21 — SC: Poulsen 1 run (Day kick)
1:22 — LOG: Horsley 1 run (Young kick)
4th Quarter
9:04 — LOG: Rector 21 pass from Horsley (Young kick)
Final: Logan 42, Snow Canyon 14
