The Daily Standard
Story Archive
Marion Local's Ben Meier (20) tries to avoid St. Henry defender Will Gerlach during Friday's MAC football contest at the Wally Post Athletic Complex. The Flyers defeated the Redskins 17-7.
ST. HENRY - While temperatures dipped around the area, Friday's Midwest Athletic Conference battle between Marion Local and St. Henry was hotly contested. Both teams showed why they should be at the top of the standings, but it was the Flyers who avenged last year's Regional final loss with a hard-fought, 17-7 win at the Wally Post Athletic Complex.
"This felt old school," said Marion Local coach Tim Goodwin, whose team has now won 64 regular season games in a row. "I used to preach for years that you have to find a way to score three times in these big MAC games. If you do, you have a shot at winning. It was tough sledding tonight."
The first quarter played out how one would expect between the two physical rivals. Yards were hard to come by, and while St. Henry had 20 plays of offense in the quarter, there were no points on the board. The Skins best drive saw them have a first down on the Marion 15, but a high snap combined with penalties thwarted the drive.
Marion picked up steam, and a first down, on the ensuing drive that opened the second frame. Brennen Hess, fresh off a five touchdown game last week, found Max Ranly for 21 yards to move into St. Henry territory. Hess then found Andrew Schmackers over the middle for a gain of 37, and it was first-and-goal for the Flyers at the nine-yard line.
Hess moved the offense to the doorstep on a pair of keepers, and Cam Griesdorn found pay-dirt on a run to the left. Ethan Simcoe's point-after was true, and Marion had the 7-0 lead with just over seven minutes left in the half.
The teams traded punts to end the half, and Marion was content to kneel the clock out from their own eight. St. Henry had just over 100 yards of offense, but almost 50 yards of penalties.
"We made a few more mistakes than they did," said St. Henry coach Josh Werling. "Especially early in the first half when I thought we had a chance to control some things. We have to be more disciplined and end drives with points."
With Marion opening the second half with the ball, the Flyers used more physicality to grow their lead. A 19-yard run by Griesdorn and fullback Ben Meier's 20-yard dive eventually set up Marion in St. Henry territory.
The Redskins proved tough to break at the nine-yard line however, and Ethan Simcoe came out for a field goal. The junior nailed the 25-yard kick, and it not only gave his team a 10-0 lead, but a ton of momentum with under seven to play in the third.
"That made a huge difference," said Goodwin. "It put a lot of pressure on (St. Henry) up two scores. I don't like kicking a lot of field goals, but Ethan Simcoe is a good kicker."
St. Henry's Drew Langenkamp looks for running room against Marion Local during Friday's MAC football game at the Wally Post Athletic Complex.
St. Henry had an answer, and the Skins began their best drive of the day. With Marion covering deep, Schwartz found Langenkamp and Will Speck in the flats to move the ball down the field. Tate Boeckman then broke free in a route for a 10-yard gain, and St. Henry was on Marion's side of the 50.
More passes to Langenkamp, including a 24-yarder, set up a goal-to-go situation from the one. After Schwartz nearly fumbled trying to stretch the ball over the line, Langenkamp took a direct snap into the end zone to trim the lead to 10-7.
Then the Redskins looked to do no wrong. Hess found tight end Kale Ahrens over the middle, but a strong pop from Langenkamp forced a fumble. St. Henry fell on it, but just three plays later Schmackers jumped a pass to give Marion the ball again on the 37-yard line of the Skins to open the fourth quarter.
Marion Local's Camden Griesdorn celebrates after his second touchdown of the evening.
Marion marched down the field and used more power runs from Griesdorn and Meier to get the offense into the red zone. From the three-yard line, Griesdorn powered into pay-dirt for his second score. Simcoe's kick was good, and the Flyers held a 17-7 advantage with seven minutes left.
The ensuing drive was déjà vu for St. Henry. On third down in Marion territory, Schwartz fended off multiple sack attempts, but his pass found Ranly, who used a toe tap to secure the interception. While Marion could not pad its lead, St. Henry got the ball down 10 with just 2:28 left.
Marion Local's Max Ranly (30) steps in front of St. Henry's Drew Langenkamp for the interception.
Schwartz moved the team into the red zone again after two 25-yard passes to Gerlach to get some momentum. On second-and-goal, Schwartz got pressured, and not wanting to stall another drive, he tried to get off a throw. Linebacker Seth Heitkamp jumped it, and a nail was in the coffin.
"That was a total team effort," said Goodwin of his team's third interception. "They just kept after the quarterback and (Schwartz) is trying to make a play down two scores. Luckily he threw it right to us."
Griesdorn finished with 77 yards on 19 carries for the Flyers, while Hess was nine-of-14 for 120 yards in the air. Ranly led the receiving unit with 58 yards. They host Fort Recovery next.
St. Henry saw Langenkamp finish with just 26 yards on the ground, while Schwartz was 13-of-30 for 190 yards. The Redskins will look to rebound next week against New Bremen.
The St. Henry High School Marching Band performs before Friday's game with Marion Local at the Wally Post Athletic Complex.
