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The 2000 postseason

-After completing the school's first undefeated regular season since 1997, the Flyers were set to defend their regional title. Invading the Maple City were the Lutheran East Falcons; a squad in the midst of its post-season baptism. From the outset, it looked like another first-round Flyer yawner. Leading 17-0 after an all-pro move by wideout Billy Gibson, the Flyer faithful thought the rout was on. However, the scrappy Falcons fought back to seize an 18-17 lead as they converted a fourth-and-goal from the St. Paul 11 with 3:40 left in the third period. With 10:44 remaining in regulation, Aidan McDonnell banged a 32-yard field goal to put the Flyers back in front to stay, 20-18. The running game led by Bryan Pickens and Chad Welfle keyed the St. Paul attack as Pickens boasted 129 of the Flyers' 206 ground yards.

-A familiar foe awaited the Flyers in the Divisional Playoffs at Elyria's Ely Stadium. Veteran head coach Al Martin and his Cuyahoga Heights Redskins were seeking their first win against the Flyers in three tries. Featuring virtually the same roster which lost a nip-and-tuck game to St. Paul the previous year, the Redskins allowed a quick touchdown to the Flyers, but blocked Aidan McDonnell's PAT try and used the momentum to score quickly on a Mark Johnston keeper to take the lead. McDonnell wowed the chilled crowd with a magnificent run late in the first half, but St. Paul still trailed 15-12 at the break. The combination of Johnston and Matt Klinger was too much for the Flyers in the second half as St. Paul was outscored 21-0 and was defeated for the first time in the 2000 season.

 - It was St. Paul’s first undefeated regular season since 1997, the third under John Livengood and sixth overall.  It was St. Paul’s 11^th Firelands Conference title.

- For the second time in four years, the Flyers posted 35 points in a quarter Sept. 29 at Plymouth.  It was last done in 1997 vs. Western Reserve.

- Aidan McDonnell capped his marvelous Flyer career by tying his school-record 48-yard field goal Oct 21 vs. Crestview.  It was done previously to win the 1999 Region 21 title game against Monroeville.  His 124 career PAT's and 17 career field goals accomplished from 1997-2000 are team records.

- Other special teams accolades went to Chad Welfle, whose four touchdowns on punt returns tied him with Mike Morrow  (1994-1997).

- Aidan McDonnell  (back-to-back), Jeremy Herbst, Brandon Hauler and Ben Wasiniak were named to the All-Ohio Team.

- Maria Stein Marion Local ended Delphos St. John’s bid for an unprecedented fourth straight state championship and state record winning streak with a thrilling 24-20 victory in the state semi-finals.  The streak was halted at 55, with the St. Paul Flyers being the Blue Jays’ 15th (42-28) and 44th (42-10) victims during the streak.

 - St. Paul’s first-round opponent, Lutheran East came in at 8-2 but was 0-10 only three years prior.  The school had suspended football for 22 years before reinstating it in 1996 at the request of the student body.

 - As St. Paul and Cuyahoga Heights took the field on Friday, Nov. 10 the United States was still without presidential election results from the election held Tuesday, Nov. 7.  Both the Al Gore and George W. Bush campaigns were claiming victory as controversy swirled around the Florida results.