LEBANON, Ohio – Senior running back Logan Schmenk rushed for four touchdowns, including a 75-yard scoring run, as #20 Lebanon cruised past visiting Walnut Hills, 49-7, in the Blitz 5 Game of the Week on Friday night at James VanDeGrift Stadium.
The Warriors (7-2, 6-2) scored 42 unanswered points after the Eagles tied the contest late in the opening quarter. Lebanon erupted for 28 points in the second quarter to seize control and bounce back from last week’s heartbreaking 63-60 loss to Turpin.
Lebanon wasted little time getting started on Senior Night. Lincoln Womack capped the opening possession with a two-yard touchdown run at the 9:31 mark of the first quarter, giving the Warriors an early 7-0 lead.
Walnut Hills (0-9, 0-8) answered with a big play of its own. Facing fourth-and-eight, the Eagles connected on a 33-yard touchdown pass to even the score at 7-7 with 6:47 remaining in the opening period.
The Warriors threatened to regain the lead on their next possession, but a mishandled snap on a field goal attempt resulted in a turnover on downs. Walnut Hills couldn’t capitalize, and the game remained tied after one quarter.
From there, Lebanon took over.
Schmenk put the Warriors ahead for good with a one-yard touchdown run at the 10:21 mark of the second quarter. It was his 20th rushing touchdown of the season, but the senior was just getting started.
After the Lebanon defense forced another punt, Schmenk broke loose for a 75-yard touchdown run with 5:44 remaining in the half to push the lead to 21-7.
The senior added his third touchdown of the night on a 15-yard run with 1:58 left before intermission, extending the advantage to 28-7.
Lebanon’s defense then joined the scoring party. Gio Rendon intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown with 1:34 remaining in the second quarter, sending the Warriors into halftime with a commanding 35-7 lead.
The momentum carried into the second half as Schmenk added a 19-yard touchdown run to make it 42-7 in the third quarter. His four scoring runs covered a combined 110 yards, giving him 23 rushing touchdowns on the season.
The Lebanon defense continued to make life difficult for the Eagles. Hunter Adkins came away with an interception in the third quarter, while sophomore linebacker/defensive back Jonah Dillon made an impression in his debut.
Quarterback Mason Reed added the finishing touches with a two-yard touchdown run with 6:59 remaining in the fourth quarter, providing the final margin.
The victory marked an impressive return to form for a Lebanon team that entered Friday averaging 37.1 points and an ECC-leading 241.6 rushing yards per game. Schmenk, who had already surpassed 1,200 rushing yards entering the contest, continued to establish himself as one of the area’s most productive offensive players.
For Walnut Hills, the loss continued a difficult first season under head coach Dominick Goodman. The Eagles showed early life with their fourth-down touchdown but struggled to sustain drives against a Lebanon defense that pitched a shutout over the final three quarters.
The Warriors have now won all seven meetings against Walnut Hills since joining the Eastern Cincinnati Conference in 2020.
Lebanon will close the regular season next Friday with a challenging road trip to #5 Winton Woods, looking to build momentum and strengthen its playoff positioning.
SCORING BY QUARTERS
Walnut Hills: 7-0-0-0-7
Lebanon: 7-28-7-7-49
SCORING PLAYS
LEB: Lincoln Womack 2-yard run, 9:31 1Q
WH: 33-yard touchdown pass, 6:47 1Q
LEB: Logan Schmenk 1-yard run, 10:21 2Q
LEB: Logan Schmenk 75-yard run (Lane kick), 5:44 2Q
LEB: Logan Schmenk 15-yard run, 1:58 2Q
LEB: Gio Rendon interception return, 1:34 2Q
LEB: Logan Schmenk 19-yard run, 3Q
LEB: Mason Reed 2-yard run, 6:59 4Q
RECORDS: Walnut Hills (0-9, 0-8 ECC); Lebanon (7-2, 6-2)
UP NEXT: Walnut Hills vs. Kings; Lebanon at Winton Woods
Get the complete scores from all of this week’s action on the Underground Sports Shop Scoreboard at TriStateFootball.com/scores.
*Stay updated on high school football updates by following @TSFootball on X.
