Upside down year for Flyers has similar result

Through seven weeks, senior Joe Stoll hovered around the 600-yard rushing mark, but over the last seven weeks ran for over 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns while again being a feared player from the middle linebacker position on defense.

After a 90-yard interception return by Western Reserve's Devan Oates in week nine ended the Flyers hopes of four consecutive Firelands Conference championships, the Flyers were also sitting at a so-so 5-4 overall. But thanks in large part to a huge win by Tiffin Calvert over Seneca East, St. Paul remained in the playoff chase and "slipped" into the eighth and final spot in region 22 despite a 6-4 record. It was then, the talks grew.

Fans from around the area, and conference, felt St. Paul didn't "deserve" to get in. They had lost to St. Mary, Elyria Catholic, Monroeville, and Western Reserve. Those were all big computer point games they didn't win. But the Flyers made the trip to Warrior Field to take on top-seeded Mohawk anyways, and trailing 7-6 at halftime, fans in that region were weary.

They had to be. This wasn't eighth-seed talent, and deep down everyone knew it. A Joe Stoll interception kick started a second half that saw the Flyers take an 18-7 lead before holding on for a 18-15 win. Now they had everyone's full attention, and proceeded to steamroll McComb's spread offense with a powerful running attack in picking up 370 yards in a 40-28 win. A lot of fans in August had called for a Hopewell-Loudon-St. Paul rematch from the 2005 regional championship game, but the thinking then was a #1 vs. #2 match-up...not a #2 vs. #8.

By now things were clicking on all cylinders, and a two-point conversion attempt in the final 30 seconds gave the Flyers a thrilling 29-28 win. Playoff hardware was once again in their hands. How was it possible?

Things started bad before the season when Stoll, arguably the FC's best player entering the season, was lost for all of the two-a-day camp with mononucleosis, while junior DT Dan Clements dislocated his hip on the first play of camp and was lost until week eight. From there, senior captain Matt Mundy broke his leg in several places during the opening game at Sandusky St. Mary, a game the Flyers eventually lost on the scrambling of QB Ryan Heath late in the game. In week three, the Flyers saw a 12-10 third quarter lead become a 23-12 loss to Division IV Elyria Catholic, and they were sitting at 1-2, but the panic button wasn't being pushed. St. Paul was 1-2 in 2005 before winning their next nine games.

Joe Graziani, Mark Masser, and Brett Wiedemann joined the walking wounded during the week, while Rob Whitehurst would join them during the third quarter of what became a 34-14 loss to the Eagles that saw quarterback Brad Frank forced to play defense while Stoll was also trying to get his legs and stamina back. Wins over Mapleton and Crestview put the Flyers back at .500, and the win over the Cougars seemed to be the spark needed, as Hunter Reed was held to 39 yards rushing. The star running back for Crestview averaged 234 yards rushing per game against nine other opponents for the year.

Two blowout wins over South Central (35-0) and New London (54-0) seemed to have turned the corner, putting St. Paul at 5-3...everything had worked out perfectly despite having 11 starters out at one time or another for the first eight weeks. The Flyers were going to beat Western Reserve and Plymouth to close the season on the road, win a share of their fourth straight FC title and threaten to host a playoff game with the secondary points that was to follow.

But it never happened. The loss put them in a position where they now had to fight for everything. And it paid off.

"It is just a big testimony to our kids," St. Paul head coach John Livengood said. "It's human nature for kids if things aren't going well to give up, and our kids didn't do that. It says a lot about their character, their toughness...they kept fighting. A lot of people said we didn't belong in the playoffs with four losses, but by beating three playoff teams I think proved we did belong there."

And although the dream of being the first Huron County team in 32 years to bring home state gold came crashing down in a crushing 47-6 loss to Marion Local in the State Semifinals, in this season especially, its hard to call it a would of, could of, should of, end to the season.

"I'm proud of them and obviously we're not happy with the way things turned out," Livengood said. "But the hurt that they feel is alright because of the investment they have put in. The hard work, the heart, the time...these kids invest a lot, and when you invest a lot and you invest your heart and soul into something, it's very difficult when something doesn't turn out the way you want it.

Nobody in the state of Ohio believed when they were 1-3 that they would end up one of the top four teams in the state except for the 65 guys and 10 coaches in there. I think that is a testimony to their character that they didn't give up, they kept fighting through adversity, and just kept trying to achieve their goals Our seniors have had a great four years."

10-1, 12-3, 10-3, 9-5. A four-year run of 41-12 with three league titles, two region titles, a state runner-up, and a .770 winning percentage. Also lost in all the excitement, this became the first senior class in St. Paul football history to qualify for the playoffs in four consecutive seasons. It had previously been three straight years sandwiched by an off year in the past (1995-96-97, 1999-00-01). Now they've left a new expectation- 2003-04-05-06...

For 11 seniors, it had indeed been a great four years. And while it may not have been the fitting or perfect dream ending envisioned by themselves, coaches, teammates, parents or fans...one thing that group can hang onto proudly is the fact despite what some outsiders said, it was them carrying the FC banner as the lone conference representative over the last three weeks. It was them keeping alive the St. Paul tradition in taking home playoff hardware, and it was them walking off the field for the final time with their heads held high.