MaxPreps Ohio Minute60 seconds of high school highlights from around the Buckeye State. Division VI State Final: Marion Local (Maria Stein) 21, Cuyahoga Heights (Cleveland) 17BOX SCORE/STATSWHAT WE LEARNED1. Rare Air: Marion Local’s state title was its ninth, moving it into a second place tie with Moeller for the most in state history. St. Ignatius leads with 11 championships. Of the six schools in state history with seven or more state titles, Marion Local is the only public school.
2. High Success Rate: When Marion Local gets to a state championship game it wins. The Flyers are 9-2 in their 11 state finals appearances, including 5-1 the last six years.
3. MACnificent: With Marion Local’s win, the Midwest Athletic Conference (MAC) moves to 31-11 in state championship games (all since 1989).
4. Long Distance: The Flyers used a 19-play, 99-yard drive that took 9:40 off the clock and spanned the first and second quarters to take a 14-3 lead. Marion converted three third downs and two fourth downs, including fourth-and-goal from the 1-yardline (touchdown run by
Duane Leugers). Forced to gamble on its next possession in order to rest its defense, Cuyahoga Heights was denied on fourth-and-one from its own 34-yardline. Four plays later Leugers raced 22-yards for another touchdown and 21-3 lead.
5. Script was flipped: Last year the Flyers lost a 13-0 halftime lead to Kirtland and fell 22-20 in the state final. This season they bent but didn’t break. In the second half Cuyahoga Heights had two interceptions (including one in its own end zone), recovered a fumble and blocked a punt but couldn’t make enough plays down the stretch to climb all the way back.
Marion Local won its ninth state title (all since 2000).
Photo by Gary Housteau
TOP PLAYERS
* Duane Leugers, sr., QB, Marion LocalCarried the ball 25 times for 113 yards and two touchdowns and threw for for 114 yards.
* Nate Moeller, sr., RB, Marion LocalCarried the ball 12 times for 42 yards and a touchdown.
* Brett Lowther, Cuyahoga Heights, sr., QB/LBThrew for 186 yards and a touchdown and ran for a touchdown.
* Chad Mcdaniel, soph., LB, Cuyahoga Heights Had 10 tackles, a tackle-for-loss and forced fumble.
* Tyler Selig, sr., LB, Cuyahoga HeightsHad 10 tackles and two interceptions.
* Jack Homan, sr., LB, Marion LocalSenior had six tackles, a tackle-for-loss, a sack and a forced fumble.
Marion Local quarterback Duane Leugers caps off a 99-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-goal.
Photo by Gary Hosuteau
* 67 - Postseason wins for Marion Local, which ranks fourth in state history.
* 29-1 - Marion Local’s postseason record the last six years.
* 1 - Number of penalties Cuyahoga Heights had.
* 6,270 - Attendance
Marion Local's win gives the Midwest Athletic Conference 31 state football titles.
Photo by Gary Hosuteau
