Stout seeing reward for hard work
Accomplishments: Logan Stout is seeing that hard work pays off in the long run.
The Lodi High football player, a sophomore quarterback, rushed 17 times for 127 yards. That helped the Flames toward 403 rushing total yards, plus a 52-29 win over Bear Creek in a non-league finale for both teams at the Grape Bowl on Sept. 29.
“We knew that their defense was strong,” said Stout of the Bruins’ defense. “Their linebackers, safeties and corners like to tackle in open field. We had to beat them on the run up the middle. We just came out and played.”
Stout credited the Flames’ offensive linemen who opened holes for him for his ground yards.
“The linemen did a great job opening up the holes for me when I pulled the ball from the fullback (AJ Estrada),” Stout said. “It was a great day for football.”
The 5-foot-9 and 150-pound Stout is displaying his talents on the ground and air. He’s completed 18-of-41 passes for 365 yards and 9 touchdowns. Stout has rushed 82 times for 404 yards and 5 touchdowns, making him the second leading rusher on the team behind Estrada.
Stout was moved up to the Lodi varsity football team two weeks into practices in August. At first, he had reservations about the promotion. That was because Stout looked like he was going to be the starting quarterback on the Lodi frosh-soph football team, which he did last year as a freshman.
“I thought I wasn’t ready for it,” Stout said. “I was thinking that (varsity) is much bigger and faster, and I couldn’t handle it. But it turned out it was not bad.”
In order to continue his success of an underclassmen starting on a varsity team, Stout figured he would need to put in extra time other than the Flames’ regular practices and breaking down game film. That includes working with receivers running routes before practices. Then when he gets home from practice, Stout can be found throwing the football around with one of his three brothers ... Logan is the second oldest of the four siblings.
“I worked harder on everything,” Stout said. “I just hit the weight room hard. Every time at practice, I just throw the ball around. Just got to put in a little of work.”
To gain respect, Stout knows he has to earn it. The extra work he puts in each day feels will build him up as he gets older.
“You’ve got to be the leader,” Stout said. “Me and a couple of other kids on the team ... we’re going to pick up our team and just keep them going, keep them positive. We’ve become a family.”
Stout and Lodi (3-2) open Tri-City Athletic League play at Tracy (2-3) on Friday.
Last spring, Stout was the starting shortstop for the Lodi High baseball team, which took third place in the TCAL ahead of crosstown and league rival Tokay. He started at shortstop in 22 of 29 games for Lodi, which also earned a Sac-Joaquin Section Division I
playoff berth.
Like football, Stout wondered why Lodi varsity baseball coach Hobie Schultz moved him up. Then Stout adjusted his game at shortstop and the batter’s box.
“Once they told I was going to play, I was like, ‘OK,’” Stout said. “Everyone is faster. It’s just bang, bang plays. It’s a lot more pressure than JV ball.”
Contact reporter Mike Bush at mikeb@lodinews.com. Follow on Twitter: @MBushLodiSports.