High school football: Marion Local extending nation's longest win streak in dominant fashion with four straight shutouts

Flyers are 9-0 and outscoring opponents 427-22 ahead of showdown with unbeaten Coldwater.

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Kevin Askeland
By
Oct 23, 2024, 2:00pm
Marion Local (Maria Stein, Ohio) tied the state record for consecutive wins at 57 but getting No. 58 will be no easy feat with undefeated Coldwater waiting in Friday night's season finale.

The Flyers have not lost since Nov. 6, 2020 when they fell to New Bremen 24-17 in the final game of the season. Marion Local has posted three straight 16-0 seasons with three state championships. 

The western Ohio school tied St. John's (Delphos) for the state record of 57 consecutive wins after defeating Minster 21-0 last week.

Averaging 43 points per game, the Flyers have given up just 22 points total defensively this year, including four straight shutouts. They take on a Coldwater team that is averaging 40 points per game and has given up 10 per game in building a 9-0 record.
Senior Justin Knouff has been under center for Marion Local the past two seasons. He ran for 169 yards last week when the Flyers tied the state record for consecutive wins. (Photo: Jeff Harwell)
Senior Justin Knouff has been under center for Marion Local the past two seasons. He ran for 169 yards last week when the Flyers tied the state record for consecutive wins. (Photo: Jeff Harwell)
Marion Local and Coldwater are two of the premier small town powerhouses in Ohio, if not the nation. The Flyers have won a state record 14 championships while Coldwater has won seven. The two teams have met 71 times with Coldwater winning 35, Marion Local 32 with four ties.

Marion Local has won the last four meetings between the two teams with Coldwater picking up its last win in 2018 when it won 26-20 in two overtimes.

With 57 consecutive wins, Marion Local is in a tie with five other teams on the all-time national list, according to the MaxPreps National High School Football Record Book.

The Flyers also have the longest active list in the nation and lead No. 2 Garden City (N.Y.) by eight wins.

Top 25 longest active win streaks

1. Marion Local (Maria Stein, Ohio) – 57
2. Garden City (N.Y.) – 49
3. Phoebus (Hampton, Va.) – 41
4. Sheridan (Wyo.) – 39
5. Mount Airy (N.C.) – 38
6. Washington (Okla.) – 37
7. Grundy Center (Iowa) – 33
7. Cardinal Ritter College Prep (St. Louis, Mo.) – 33
7. Norfolk Catholic (Norfolk, Neb.) – 33
10. Carl Albert (Midwest City, Okla.) – 32
11. Truckee (Calif.) – 31
12. Royal (Royal City, Wash.) – 29
12. Bayport-Blue Point (Bayport, N.Y.) – 29
14. Minneota (Minn.) – 28
14. Boyle County (Danville, Ky.) – 28
14. Omaha Westside (Omaha, Neb.) – 28
17. Lowndes Academy (Lowndesboro, Ala.) – 26
18. Hickory (N.C.) – 24
19. Montgomery Catholic (Montgomery, Ala.) – 23
19. Bedford (N.H.) – 23
19. Richfield (Utah) – 23
22. Malakoff (Texas) – 22
22. Maury (Norfolk, Va.) – 22
22. Byron (Ill.) – 22
22. Marionville (Mo.) – 22
22. Stewartville (Minn.) – 22
22. Kirtland (Ohio) – 22
22. Port Neches-Groves (Port Neches, Texas) – 22

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