They’re likely to after the Redskins ended the streak.
After a rocky start, St. Henry dominated the rest of the way and won 24-7 in the Division VII, Region 28 championship game on a rainy Friday night at Mercy Health/Wapak VFW Field.
Credit: Bryant Billing
Credit: Bryant Billing
The Flyers, who beat St. Henry 21-14 in a Midwest Athletic Conference game in regular season, had won their previous 76 games. Their last defeat came in a D-VII regional final in 2020, when they lost 24-17 to MAC rival New Bremen.
Marion Local (12-1) had won four consecutive state championships during the OHSAA-record run.
“I’m just so darn proud of this team,” Werling said. “That’s a great Marion Local community. That’s a great program. Everybody knows the history there. But I hope people don’t solely talk about Marion losing the streak. I hope they talk about the St. Henry Redskins.”
St. Henry (12-1) advances to face Columbus Grove in a state semifinal in Week 15 at a site to be determined. Columbus Grove (10-3) beat Leipsic 31-6 in the Region 26 championship game.
“This wasn’t our Super Bowl,” Werling said. “This was a huge win for us, but our ultimate goals are still in front of us.”
The Redskins struggled to make extra points following their four touchdowns — but that was about the extent of their troubles.
Senior quarterback Charlie Werling rushed for all four of thee Redskins’ TDs. He scored the last three TDs of the first half (two of which came in the final three minutes) to give St. Henry an 18-7 lead, then added another on the team’s first possession of the second half.
Credit: Bryant Billing
Credit: Bryant Billing
The Redskins’ defense largely harassed Marion Local quarterback Brennen Hess throughout the game. Hess had two passes intercepted in the first half and was sacked multiple times, including on a fourth down with just under five minutes left in the fourth. The Redskins ran out the clock to secure the win.
“Our coaching and the game plan helped us,” senior defensive back Landon Schwartz said of the difference compared to the teams’ regular-season matchup. “Our community helped us win the game.
“We got pressure (up front) and that just made it easier for us in the coverage. It was awesome.”
Schwartz and his teammates constantly encouraged fans throughout the game to make noise. They obliged, and the cheering only grew in intensity until it reached its peak when the final seconds ticked away.
It’s St. Henry’s first win over Marion Local since 2009 and their first regional championship since 2006.
“This isn’t all we wanted,” Schwartz said. “We want two more, then we can celebrate.”
Credit: Bryant Billing
Credit: Bryant Billing
St. Henry fumbled the opening kickoff, and Marion Local scored less than a minute later on a 13-yard run by Kamden Eifert to take a 7-0 lead.
“We had to restart,” Schwartz said. “That was all they’re getting. Just had to have that dog mentality from there.”
The Redskins responded with a lengthy drive that senior quarterback Charlie Werling capped off with a 3-yard TD run with 5:46 left. A missed extra point allowed Marion Local to maintain a 7-6 lead.
Werling intercepted a pass late in the second quarter and soon after raced 45 yards along the visitor’s sideline with 2:22 left to give the squad a 12-7 lead after a failed two-point conversion try.
After an interception by Drew Langenkamp ended the Flyers’ next possession, Werling scored on a 12-yard run after breaking a tackle with 44 seconds left to boost the lead to 18-7 after a missed extra point.
The Flyers went three-and-out to start the second half, and the Redskins drove and scored on a short run by Werling to take a 24-7 lead after a failed two-point try with 2:29 left.
Credit: Bryant Billing
Credit: Bryant Billing
Werling had a pass intercepted early in the fourth and drove, but Hess was sacked on a fourth down with about 4:30 left, and the Redskins ran out the clock.
“We just made a few more plays,” Josh Werling said. “I don’t want to speak for Coach (Tim) Goodwin, but football comes down to certain plays, and this time, we made them.
“… It’s funny, the first time we played them, it started well for us, we scored right away. This one, we fumble the opening kickoff. But the seniors never stopped believing.”
Werling took over at St. Henry before the 2024 season after the resignation of Brad Luthman following a 5-8 campaign in 2023. The Redskins finished 7-5 last year; they surpassed 10 wins for the first time since 2006 when the program finished 14-1 and won the D-V state title.
With two more wins, the Redskins would claim their first state championship in nearly 20 years.
“We just need more preparation, and just have to come out, do what we do every week for two more weeks and get it done,” Schwartz said.
If successful, Werling can be sure fans will be talking about the St. Henry Redskins.
Credit: Bryant Billing
Credit: Bryant Billing
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