Allen East’s Jacob Hershberger (3) and Kade Wireman pursue Marion Local’s Kyle Otte during Saturday night’s Division VI regional final at Wapakoneta.
Lima News photos
WAPAKONETA — The Marion Local machine continues to roll.
The Flyers put on another dominating performance on both sides of the ball to oust Allen East, 55-0, in the Division VI regional final Saturday.
Marion Local improves to 14-0 and will face Columbus Grove at Lima Stadium in the state semifinal game Saturday. Allen East ends its year with a 12-2 mark.
“They are really good football team,” Allen East head coach Joel Billings said. “I am obviously not happy with the results but at the end of the day our guys achieved a lot of good things.
“Overall this team achieved a lot and one of the best teams in program history and they have a lot to be proud of.”
Allen East captured the NWC title outright this season and advanced to the regional finals for the second season in a row.
From the opening gun, Marion Local’s offense was unstoppable as the Flyers scored on all seven on its possessions in the first half and had drives of The Flyers had drives of 45, 54, 65, 13, 59, 54, 41 and 46 yards.
By the end of the first quarter, Marion Local owned a 41-0 lead at halftime.
Marion Local head coach Tim Goodwin said, “We wanted to get off to a fast start and that is a team that hasn’t been here as much as we have and the weather dictated some things and the wind and we had the wind at our back in the first quarter and took advantage of it.”
“They consistently maintained possession and were able make some big plays here and there,” Billings said.
Allen East came into the game having giving up just seven points
Known for its potent running games, the Flyers utilized the pass to keep the Mustangs’ defense off balance.
Flyer quarterback Tate Hess finished 9 for 10 for 176 yards and four touchdowns. A number of his passes were quick jet sweep types that worked effectively throughout the night.
Flyer Kyle Otte spearheaded the Marion Local offense as he scored four times. On the ground, Otte finished with 10 carries for 65 yards and two scores. He had runs of 21 and 2 yards for touchdowns and had two touchdown catches of 54 and 27 yards.
“They play really fast and they are really disciplined,” Billings said. “We were a little out of rhythm.”
Defensively, the Flyers stuffed the Mustangs’ offensive attack.
The Mustangs were held to three and out on its first four possession and did not notch its first first down until 4:19 left in the first half.
Mustang Jacob Hershberger finished with 100 yards on 11 carries but 76 of those yards came on one play. Jack Hoel, who came into the game averaging more than 100 yards a game in the playoffs, was limited to 20 yards on eight carries.
Hershberger had little luck through the air as the senior signal caller was 6 for 17 for 34 yards with two interceptions. One of the picks turned into a touchdown when Griffin Bruns stepped in front of the Mustang receiver and raced 85 yards for the touchdown. This came midway through the third quarter to make the score 48-0.
This marks the Flyers third shutout in four playoffs games and have not given up a touchdown in the postseason. The Flyers had nine shutouts in the regular season.
Reach Jose Nogueras at 567-242-0468.
