Marion Local’s Kamden Eifert runs for one of his three touchdowns in Friday’s 42-12 win over Lehman. (Press Pros Feature Photos)
Marion Local found a way to harness the threat of quarterback Turner Lachey, and the Flyer ground game ran up yards and points as the #1 seed cruises past Lehman.
Maria Stein, OH – As Marion Local playoff games go this one was about on par with many in their past.
Get off to a fast start…a couple of big defensive plays…field position…the running game shortens the game…and a couple big plays to deliver the knockout blow.
Minster Bank proudly sponsors the best area sports coverage on Press Pros Magazine.com.
They did all of that Friday night with a resolute 42-12 win over the Lehman Cavaliers and 5,000-yard quarterback (more or less) Turner Lachey.
Publisher Sonny Fulks writes OHSAA and Ohio State sports for Press Pros Magazine.com.
In brief, Marion Local ran put to a 22-0 lead by the end of the first quarter, and by the time that Lachey and his friends could muster any points at all people on the internet were score-watching other games to determine who Marion would play next week.
Lehman took the opening kick, moved it to their 39 yard line before Lachey suffered a lost fumble that Marion Local turned into an 11 yard touchdown from Andrew Schmackers with eight minutes left in the first quarter.
On the following possession, Lehman was forced to punt after a three-and-out, and Marion again moved the ball into the end zone on a three-yard run by Kamden Eifert to go ahead 15-0.
Cale Neagle puts the finishes moves on is 47-yard punt return that gave Marion Local a 22-0 lead in the first quarter.
After still another Lehman punt Marion’s Cale Neagle gathered in the kick on the Lehman 47 yard line and twisted his way upfield and into the end zone for the biggest play of the night and a 22-0 Marion lead at the end of the quarter.
Midway through the second quarter Eifert scored for the second time on a three-yard run to go up 29-0.
And then, finally, Tyler Lachey and teammate Gus Richard connected in the back of the end zone for a touchdown score at 3:10 of the second quarter, the PAT attempt was no good (two-point attempt), and the deficit was still manageable at 29-6.
But not for long.
Since 2013, Moeller Trucking sponsors MAC sports on Press Pros Magazine.com.
Moments later Marion moved the ball downfield on a 42-yard throw and catch from Brennen Hess to Andrew Schmackers, and in the blink of an eye Ben Meier scored on a ten-yard run to put the game on ice at halftime, 35-6.
Briefly into the second half Kamden Eifert would run for his third touchdown at 6:22 to put Marion up 42-6 (and with a running clock), leaving Lachey and Lehman with fleeting time to cut into the deficit to save some time.
Even with diminished opportunities against Marion’s defense, Turner Lachey accounted for a pair of touchdown throws and 238 yards of total offense.
But, the resourceful Lachey did find an open receiver in the end zone before time ran out (Michael Rowley) to score the game’s final touchdown, and at 42-12 that was all she wrote. Marion had secured its remarkable 75th win in a row, and Lehman and the incredible football career of Turner Lachey had come to its conclusion. He will unquestionably be a first-team All State selection, and is the most probable candidate for Division VII Player of The Year.
And…he’s deserving of both if he had done nothing previous to his senior season. 5,000 passing yards and 55 touchdowns is out of the reach of anyone we’ve seen in Division VII football over the past decade, and the fact that he’s done it with a program as small as Lehman’s makes it all the more recognizing of his unique athletic ability.
Marion Local and its ground game was able to eclipse the 350 yard mark in total offense, along with a three-touchdown night for running back Kamden Eifert. Marion Local’s defense was able to hold Lehman and Turner Lachey to 238 yards, about half of what the Cavaliers have accounted for during the course of their 10-2 season.
Flyers’ big play through the air…a 40-yard reception by Andrew Schmackers that set up a score prior to halftime.
“He’s special,” said Marion Local coach Tim Goodwin. “And we spent a good week of practice because we respected Lehman. You have to. They present a lot of challenges and our kids and the scout offense took their job seriously. Kam Wolters did a great job of simulating Lachey, and Trey Burkhardt did a great job of simulating their receiver (Evan O’Leary). So it was a team effort all week.
“He (Lachey) had our attention, just from our scouting him in person last week against Minster. The kid has had some tremendous games, and not too often am I happy with our defense giving up two scores. But our defense played really, really well tonight and we had to make some red zone stops to hold him to those two scores. So that’s a credit to him. And their scheme is pretty good, too.”
As the #1 seed Marion had the week off last week with a bye, and it’s something that Goodwin tolerates, but he doesn’t like the week’s inactivity. He’d rather play.
Huffer Chiropractic can help your athlete perform at their best – with offices in Osgood, Jackson Center, and Dublin, Ohio.
“And here’s why I don’t like it,” he said. “They’re high school kids so you have to practice every day, anyway. So you’re out of your routine, and with Coldwater being our rival for so long there’s a natural letdown after that win two weeks ago. Then you throw in the bye week and that’s a lot of time off. Obviously we didn’t get anyone hurt last week, but the one thing that it did was get our kids really excited to play tonight. The two weeks seemed like forever.”
Marion Local’s defense pinched Lehman’s Evan O’Leary during action in Friday’s 42-12 win.
Nonetheless, they’re back and playing now and the intrigue of how much they’re like Marion teams of the past, and how long the streak might go, keeps state-wide attention on the Flyers and each passing opponent. And obviously, with the productive year of Turner Lachey and his thrilling win over another MAC team last week (Minster), there was some speculation about whether he could somehow will that same magic against Marion Local.
Now, it turns next week to a rematch with Fort Recovery, who Marion beat a month ago, 41-7, following their near-death experience against Versailles.
And in the meantime, St. Henry’s squeaking win over New Bremen Friday night extends the possibility of another rematch with Marion Local, who came back from a halftime deficit in Week 3 to beat St. Henry 21-14.
None of it phases the implacable Goodwin, who simply values competition more than he does records, winning streaks, notoriety…or even a week off. His eyes brightened as he talked about preparing for Turner Lachey and Lehman – a new and different challenge.
And he’d do it again in a heartbeat if he could. And that’s called…respect.
Wilson Health/Orthopedics proudly sponsors the best in area sports and the Ohio State Buckeyes on Press Pros.