The Lucas Cubs are bringing a Division 7 State Runner-Up trophy back to Richland County after falling in a valient effort 28-6 against Marion Local on Saturday morning.

 

The Flyers (12-3) appeared to be stopped on its opening drive, but it was extended by a running into the punter penalty and finished with a Dylan Heitkamp one-yard run making it 7-0. Marion Local then extended its lead to 14-0 on a Brandon Fleck 7-yard run two plays into the second quarter.

 

They then forced Lucas (12-3) to a three-and-out and were driving midway through the second when Logan Niswander intercepted a pass at the goal line keeping a two score defecit at the half.

 

Lucas then was unable to get into the endzone on its first two drives of the second half and the Flyers took advantage extending its lead to 21-0 on a Fleck 5-yard run which appeared to put the game away with 5:02 left in the third, but the Cubs would not go away that easily as Carson Hauger took the ensuing kickoff 96 yards to the house cutting the lead to 21-6.

 

The kickoff return score is the longest kickoff return touchdown in OHSAA Championship history in all divisions breaking the previous record of 95 yards recorded 43 years ago.

 

The Cubs then got into the redzone with just under 9 minutes left in the game looking to cut the lead to one possession, but couldn't score as Niswander was stripped as he was being sacked giving the Flyers

the ball back. Marion Local then drove the field ending in Fleck's third score of the day, a 3-yard run to put the game away.

 

The victory for Marion Local is their 11th state football championship tying St. Edward's for the most titles in state history. Each of the Flyers championships have come since the year 2000.

 

The Cubs finish the year as State Runners-Up with its first championship appearance in school history and second appearance by a Richland County school.