St. Henry meets high expectations

The Redskins met the high standards for their school to gain a state final against Warren JFK.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
As a former player at Mount Union College, St. Henry High football coach Jeff Starkey knows all about being at a school with high expectations.
But when he became the Redskins' coach five years ago, he still wasn't completely prepared.
"I don't think you're ever quite prepared to coach at a place where the expectations are so high," said Starkey, who has a 37-12 record in five seasons at St. Henry. "And if you think you're prepared, you're probably a little young and naive.
"But I appreciate the support that the community has for the program. You like being at a place like that because you know each year you're gonna reload with a talented group."
Well, maybe not each year. After winning the Division V state championship in 2004, the Redskins went 5-5 last season and missed the playoffs. But St. Henry (13-1) reloaded for this season, winning its final nine games to advance to the Div. V final, where the Redskins will play Warren JFK (14-0) at 11 a.m. Saturday at Canton Fawcett Stadium.
Eighth state final
It will be the Redskins' eighth appearance in the state final, where they are 5-2 all-time. St. Henry started four sophomores in the 2004 game and another eight saw time, but Starkey isn't sure it will be much of an advantage on Saturday.
"In 2004, the team we were playing [Amanda Clearcreek] had been there the year before and we hadn't been there for four years," said Starkey, whose team won that 2004 game, 35-7. "[But] the kids know what to expect from the week and they understand it's a business trip, not a family vacation, not a sight-seeing tour of Stark County."
St. Henry's only loss this season came in Week 5 when the Redskins fell to Coldwater 10-7. Coldwater, the defending Division IV state champions, lost in the second round of the playoffs.
The Redskins compete in the Midwest Athletic Conference, which is the premier small school conference in Ohio. For the past four seasons, the MAC has had two schools advance to the state championship game in Divisions IV-VI. (Maria Stein Marion Local, a MAC school, will play Shadyside for the Division VI title this year.)
Most schools run ball
But most of those schools are physical, run-heavy programs. Liberty-Benton, which lost to St. Henry last Saturday, was one of the few spread offense teams the Redskins have seen.
"We probably have not had to defend a team like [JFK] in our conference," said Starkey, a 1997 graduate of Mount Union.
Although many around the state felt St. Henry was the team to beat in Division V this year, the Redskins needed a late touchdown and a turnover in the closing seconds to defeat Liberty-Benton last week.
"I was happy to see the kids respond and play well and play hard to win that game," said Starkey. "The kids know they'll have to play another game like that if they want to have a chance at winning."
scalzo@vindy.com