Ursuline played well, but Maria Stein Marion Local got two TDs off turnovers.

By TOM WILLIAMS

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

MASSILLON — Maria Stein Marion Local quarterback-safety Chris Stucke said his team’s strategy to stop bigger Ursuline was based on getting physical.

“We wanted our line to wear them down, just keep hitting them from the start of the whistle to the end of the whistle, then hopefully outscore them in the fourth,” Stucke said.

The Flyers (15-0), the Division VI state champions last year, didn’t succeed in winning the fourth-quarter scoring battle.

But Luke Bertke’s interception and 19-yard return lifted the Flyers to Friday’s 20-14 win in the Div. V state title game at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.

Marion Local coach Tim Goodwin said containing Irish (12-3) quarterback Lamar McQueen, a first-team All-Ohioan, was crucial.

“Their quarterback was very elusive,” Goodwin said. “We wanted to contain him, slow down their rush a little bit and try to make him throw from the pocket.”

For much of the game, the Flyers succeeded, limiting Ursuline’s potent offense to 199 yards total offense.

Seventy-six of them came on McQueen’s state-record scoring strike to Dale Peterman.

“They had a great offense and their defense shut us down,” Irish senior linebacker Nick McGahagan said. “We fell a little short but it was a great run. We kept fighting.”

Ursuline coach Dan Reardon said his defenders played well against a tough team.

“Our defense played outstanding today,” Reardon said after his second postseason appearance ended. “We put ourselves in bad situations sometimes through mistakes. The blocked punt in the first half played a crucial role in the outcome of the game.

“Thirteen of the points they scored came off a blocked punt and an interception returned for a touchdown,” Reardon said. “This is a team that was averaging 41-42 points a game and our defense gave us seven points.

“Defensively, they blitzed on almost every single play,” Reardon said. “I don’t know if I’ve ever coached against a team that blitzed as much as they did.”

After hearing all week about Ursuline’s size advantage, Reardon said he thinks there needs to be a revision.

“They were much taller than I expected them to be,” Reardon said. “I know that sounds crazy [but] maybe they round down when they average heights and weights.

“They were one of the tallest teams we played this year, and we’ve played some teams with good size,” said Reardon, whose schedule included Mooney, Warren Harding and Massillon.

Disappointed with the loss, McGahagan said he’s happy to see Ursuline back on the playoff trail.

“We were 5-5 last year, 3-7 the year before and we went to state this year,” McGahagan said, “I’m very proud. It was a great comeback for Ursuline.”

williams@vindy.com