Second-year coach Josh Werling and the St. Henry Redskins will be the first formidable challenge to Marion Local’s 66-game winning streak in 2025, come Friday. (Press Pros Feature Photos)
It’s safe to say that this Friday’s St. Henry-Marion Local football game will be the most relevant game in west-central Ohio, and to the knowing and curious, a relevant game across the state. Two of the MAC’s unbeatens meet with the chance…that St. Henry might be the team that finally snaps the state’s longest unbeaten streak in football.
Press Pros received an email from a reader in Medina County this week that proved that 1), this Friday’s MAC football game between St. Henry and Marion Local is not just another high school football game.
And 2), that at least a few knowledgeable fans around Ohio are aware of Marion’s state record 66-game winning streak, and that unbeaten St. Henry is the first formidable challenge to that streak in 2025.
“Do you think there’s a chance that St. Henry could break the streak?” Tony wrote. “Can you preview the St. Henry-Marion Local game? And can you make a prediction? We’ll be watching.”
Publisher Sonny Fulks writes OHSAA and Ohio State sports for Press Pros Magazine.com.
He didn’t go into who ‘we’ are, but it’s obvious that a number of people interested in Ohio High School football history are keeping track of what’s now one of the two most notable in the OHSAA record book – consecutive wins, and most state titles won. Marion Local owns them both.
Let me begin with this, Medina, that neither coach, St. Henry’s Josh Werling or Marion’s Tim Goodwin, is focused on the streak at this point. It’s just an important game, streak notwithstanding.
For St. Henry and its fans, it’s been a long, long time since the Redskins have achieved football relevance like even a MAC Conference title (1996), let alone a state championship (2006) for a program that’s produced notable stars at the Division I collegiate, and professional level – Bob Hoying, Jim Lachey, Jeff Hartings, and Todd Boeckman. They just wanna win. They’ve had a winning record since 2006 (101-82), but when the standard is as high as coaches Tim Boeckman and Jeff Starkey established in winning six state titles in a span of sixteen seasons, the natural expectation is for something a bit more than 7-5 (last year’s record, the first under Josh Werling). Most would tell you…it’s been a while.
And by the way, expectation is always good.
For Marion Local, that expectation is even higher given the Flyers own the all-time record for most OHSAA state titles (15), and own a nearly 90% win percentage in all-time playoff games. They currently have won four state titles in a row, hence their streak of 64-consecutive wins entering this season, and the ever-present, and current anticipation that they might go undefeated again in 2025 and get title #16.
“All I know is that we’ve got a couple of competitive non-conference games to start the season. But on week 3 we’ve got St. Henry. And they’re going to be a load.” – Tim Goodwin, July, 2025
But first, some reality. Marion did have massive graduation losses from their 2024 team – starting quarterback, running backs, wide receivers, secondary, linebackers and interior linemen. And their first two games in 2025 against overmatched opponents (South Adams and Crestview) have been little more (in Marion terms) than scrimmages – a dress rehearsal for the heavier lifting yet to come from the ultra-competitive MAC Conference. And while it’s true that they’ve outscored those two teams 119-0, I would start any review of Friday’s game, to your question, by saying…they’re not going to score 60 points on St. Henry!
And actually, that’s my best answer to your asking about a preview. We’ve seen St. Henry once, in their season opening game with Celina, and we haven’t seen Marion Local at all in their first two games. But I will add this.
I do consider St. Henry formidable, and I know that Marion Local coach Tim Goodwin does, as well. He’s actually on record for saying as much. The Redskins are a senior-laden team of experienced athletes like quarterback Charlie Werling and wide receiver Jack Huelsman, a big offensive line, and the thing that stood out in that Celina game was their defense. Werling did run for 113 yards in that game (31-7), and there’s not that much to write about at this point about their passing game. But they are capable in that respect. That’s pretty much what we know, having seen them once.
To characterize Marion, I would say they’re retooled with young and past JV players who have played consistent minutes in the second half during their most recent undefeated seasons. Tim Goodwin has always done a good job of getting young players early experience in game conditions. And as an added plus, they’ve had an additional six weeks of practice in the past because they’ve played in so many state championship games. No other team in Ohio has had such a luxury of added practice time.
So while it’s true that they lost Justin Knouff and Parker Hess from last year’s team, sophomore Brennen Hess is a 6’5″ quarterback with a strong arm and a family legacy of winning Marion football behind him. And there’s a Mescher (Brayden), a Meier (Ben) and an Eckstein (Nolan) standing in the wings ready to run it, eager for the expectations, and waiting their chance.
As for a prediction, I’m thinking that this will not be a high-scoring game. There’s a lot of developmental time yet for both offenses, but defense always travels. Beyond that, you can check our Friday Night Picks page that’ll be posted later in the week.
And like you, there’s a lot of people in west-central Ohio wanting to know…could this be the week?
Time, and St. Henry, will tell.
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