The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Championship quest falls short for Kirtland
CANTON » For two years, the Marion Local football team stewed over a 22-20 loss to Kirtland in the 2015 Division VI state championship game.
The Flyers got their revenge Dec. 2.
Marion Local scored 34 unanswered points and shut down Kirtland’s vaunted running game, paving the way for a 3411 win in the Division VI state title game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton.
It’s the sixth state championship over a seven-year span for Coach Tim Goodwin’s team, which finished 150, while Kirtland (14-1) had thwarted its bid for a fourth state title over the same time frame.
“Honestly it wasn’t a lastyear thing — it was a twoyears-ago thing,” said Marion Local lineman John Dirksen, who missed last year’s state title run with a leg injury. “Playing against a team that beat you and kind of embarrassed your program, it’s a great motivator.”
Marion Local dominated every phase of the game. The Flyers outgained the Hornets, 331184, held in check Kirtland’s rushing attack and put up 34 unanswered points after the Hornets took a 3-0 lead on a Dylan Aquila field goal on the game’s opening drive.
“That team we played is pretty good,” Kirtland coach Tiger LaVerde said.
The game started ever so promisingly for Kirtland, which drove the length of the field and got a field goal from Aquila for an early lead.
The situation looked even better when Marion Local went three-and-out on its first possession and punted. But the punt reception was fumbled, Marion Local recovered and was off to the races.
Kirtland never saw the end zone until 2:29 remained in the game when Joey Torok hauled in a 6-yard touchdown pass from Dylan Fulco.
“That wasn’t the difference in the game,” LaVerde said of the muffed punt, a point Marion Local coach Tim Goodwin agreed.
“I don’t think it changed the game,” he said. “It just gave us a boost, for sure.”
Marion Local parlayed that takeaway into a 1-yard touchdown run by Nolan Habodasz. Then after Kirtland punted again, the Flyers got a 10-yard touchdown pass from Nate Bruns to Nick Tangeman for a 14-3 lead.
While Kirtland did a good job of slowing down the Marion Local running game to 42 carries for 153 yards (3.64 yards per carry), the Bruns-toTangeman hookup was a problem for Kirtland all day. Bruns completed 10 of 15 passes for 178 yards and two scores. Tangeman caught six passes for 120 yards and two TDs.
“He knew how to go up and get the ball,” Kirtland defensive back Mike Zeuli said. “There was nothing wrong in coverage. He was just being more competitive, outjumping us and getting it.”
Marion Local held a 20-3 lead at the half, courtesy of Jack Buening’s short scoring run. But the Flyers weren’t about to let up.
Not after Kirtland came back from a 13-0 deficit two years ago for 22 unanswered points and a state title.
Bruns and Tangeman connected for a 20-yard scoring pass to start the third. And then a short run by Alex Partington 30 seconds into the fourth quarter made it a running clock situation at 34-3.
Kirtland’s defense, which had dominated most of its games this year, was only able to force one punt the entire morning.
“These kids scrap, play hard and I love them,” LaVerde said. “Their size, I would say, was the biggest thing that hurt our defense.”
After Torok’s touchdown reception to the corner of the end zone, along with a conversion run by Zeuli, cut Marion Local’s lead to 34-11, Goodwin inserted his second-string offense to the roar of the crowd.
The celebration on the home side of the field began well before the clock hit zero.
Kirtland was led offensively by junior all-Ohioans Jake Neibecker (13 carries, 76 yards) and Torok (14-54). Fulco completed seven of nine passes for 57 yards.
Fulco was sacked four times, and the Flyers piled up seven TFLs on defense.
Despite the loss, LaVerde tipped his hat to his senior class and looked forward to the 2018 season with a strong returning cast that includes Neibecker, Torok and three starting offensive linemen.
“I want to thank my seniors for getting to this point,” LaVerde said. “I appreciate the ride they put in. They worked hard and executed all year. It’s a priviledge for me to coach in Week 15. I’m very thankful for these guys.”