LOGANSPORT— Varnado’s season came to an end in the quarterfinal round of the Class 1A state playoffs in a 50-14 loss to Logansport on the road Friday.

The Wildcats got off to a great start. They pinned Logansport at its 12 after an opening drive punt was downed there and the defense allowed just one yard. Logansport’s punt was downed at the Tigers’ 40.

The offense went to work. Six plays later, facing second-and-goal from the 12, Travon Stokes got the carry, ran right and wouldn’t go down near the sideline. He battled his way into the end zone while somehow staying inbounds to make it 6-0 after the two-point conversion was no good with 6:22 left in the first quarter.

The Wildcats had a chance to go up by double-digits on its next possession. Varnado forced a punt from its own 45, but the snap went over the punter’s head. The punter picked up the ball around his own 30, but could go no further, as a few defenders were there to make the stop.

The Wildcats moved the ball to the 18, but the second down pass was intercepted in the end zone by Austin Edgar, who returned it to the 19, at the 2:28 mark of the first quarter.

It was the first of consecutive drives with turnovers by Varnado and Logansport scored on both. Dalton Shaw connected with Madrid Johnson Jr. for 26 yards and Nakendric Peterson ran in from the 4. Edgar hit the first extra point. The Tigers faked the second point after with Dayton West throwing to Joe Caraway to make it 15-6 with 9:12 left in the first half.

The Tigers added one more tally before the conclusion of the first half when Shaw found John Stephens Jr. on a 20-yard scoring pass. Edgar hit the extra point and it was 22-6 with 1:14 left and that was the margin at halftime.

Logansport scored the first two touchdowns of the third quarter, as Peterson scored from the 3 and Shaw found to Braylen Wilson on a 28-yard pass. Edgar connected on both extra points for a 36-6 lead with 5:03 remaining in the third period.

But Varnado responded quickly from the last touchdown. One play after the kickoff, James Williams delivered a perfect pass to Desmond Harry. Harry then outran the defenders on a 66-yard touchdown pass. Jadarrell Magee ran in for the two-point conversion and the lead was down to 36-14.

Logansport scored the final two touchdowns on runs of 29 and 84 by Debell Crawford. Edgar hit both extra points to cap off the scoring.

Seventh-seeded Varnado finishes the season with an 8-4 record and Wildcats coach Scott Shaffett had nothing but praise for his team.

“I tell you what, I’m so proud of these guys because you fight through adversity and these guys have fought through adversity through the four years. These seniors that have fought through it and these younger guys have fought through it and they have fought through adversity and they don’t quit, they play. I’m proud of these guys because they have fought and played all year long. It says a lot when you’re in the third round of the playoffs. I’d like to be on that next round, but you’ve got to give them credit. We played a great team and they were just a little better than us tonight.”

No. 2 Logansport advances to the semifinal round and hosts third-seeded Kentwood.