Marion Local had just enough offense.
But the Flyers relied big time on their defense and special teams.
It was defense and special teams that drove Marion Local to the Division V football state championship Friday with a 20-14 victory over Youngstown Ursuline. This is the Flyers' fourth football state championship.
First, the defense.
Defensive end Luke Bertke had three sacks, seven tackles and the game-winning 19-yard interception for a touchdown.
Linebacker Greg Koesters had 12 tackles and blocked a punt.
The entire defense held Ursuline's running game in check to a tune of 98 yards on the ground. While Ursuline quarterback Lamar McQueen got loose for 69 yards, tailback and 1,100-yard rusher Darrell Mason was held to 11 yards on 12 carries.
That might has well be nothing.
When the Flyers trailed 7-0, they got a blocked punt from Koesters and Dustin Heitkamp recovered it in the end zone for a touchdown. That tied the game at 7.
And with the game tied at 14 in the final quarter, Bertke picked off a lobbed middle screen and returned it 19 yards for a touchdown.
Sure, quarterback Chris Stucke ran for 70 yards and threw for 76 with a touchdown.
And Ben Schaefer did run for 70 yards.
But, in the end, when the Flyers needed a state championship-type play, they turned to their defense and special teams.
And that's why the Flyers are 15-0 and state champions for the second straight year.
2 comments:
Hi Tom,
First time blogger - long time fan.
First of all I've enjoyed reading your stuff for years and I know I'm not alone in considering you an excellent writer and that Lima is lucky to have a reporter of your quality, but as as a fellow sports writer (al beit currently an unemployed sports writer) I feel complelled to give you a playful gig over one of the paragraphs in your Dec, 1 Marion Local story.
In describing the effort of the defense you said that the defense and special teams scored 14 of the team's 20 points.
I've used the same poetic license myself in describing that so and so scored a touchdown and gave his team a seven point lead, even though a touchdown is only worth six points. However even using that formula, since the Flyers missed the extra point following the interception the defensive touchdowns helped account for only 13 points.
It seems to me that the actual defensive/special teams point total was 12. Unless the kicking team is considered part of the special teams. If that's the case....then...never mind.
Again, just having some fun with this one. The story was well done as always, I just thought I'd pick-nit a little.
Peace,
Tom Hendrixon
First, thanks for the nice words. I appreciate it.
And, yes, I've always lumped in the extra point in many ways by saying so and so scored to make it 14-7. I rarely, if ever, mention or consider the extra point.
But, then Coldwater wins the state title by blocking an extra point.
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