OHIO — For the Maria Stein Marion Local football team senior class, a legacy was left behind.
Senior quarterback Justin Knouff and the Flyers (16-0) scored touchdowns on all four offensive possessions in the first quarter of the OHSAA Division VII football state championship game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium on Friday while senior safety Daniel Everman snagged two interceptions after which Marion Local found the end zone each time. The Flyers led 33-0 and held Hillsdale to 40 total yards after the first frame.
Marion Local stretched its lead to 60-0 at halftime and added touchdowns in the third and fourth quarters while shutting out Jeromesville Hillsdale (14-2) en route to the Flyers’ OHSAA-record 15th state championship behind a 74-0 victory.
Marion Local’s senior class departs the program having not lost a single game in their four-year careers.
“There's nothing that an athlete, a football player, would want than going undefeated throughout their high school (career),” Knouff said. “I mean, you got to thank the older guys that did that before us so that we could keep the generation tradition going: undefeated. And I mean, it's just something special that you'll never forget.”
The Flyers extended winning streaks of 64-consecutive games dates back to the regional final against New Bremen in November 2020 and 25-straight playoff contests, the latter of which breaks a tie with Coldwater and its own record. They now have 108 playoff wins, most all-time in OHSAA history.
“If we're watching film at 8, these guys are going to be there at 7:30 just because they like hanging out together,” Marion Local head coach Tim Goodwin said. “And you just notice things like that, and this class is just different. We've never had a class that would do things like that, so yeah, we're going to miss them.”
Senior wide receiver Victor Hoelscher broke his own record set in last year’s state championship game returning a punt 66 yards for a score with 57 seconds left in the opening period, the longest punt return touchdown in Division VII state title game history.
Hoelscher also had a 37-yard touchdown reception in the 33-point first quarter, the most points scored in a quarter of a Division VII championship game. Hillsdale advanced to the regional championship for the first time in school history this season. Senior wide receiver Holland Young led the Flyers with 66 receiving yards across four catches.
“We have been able to get to the playoffs for many years now, but we had never been able to get to that point where we were winning a regional championship, and this group of guys were able to accomplish that this year,” Hillsdale head coach Trevor Cline said. “To get an opportunity to play for a state championship is very special and something that they'll be remembered for for the rest of their life. I know that they created a new standard within our program.”