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At a glance: STP-EC series 2002- STP, 31-28 OT 2003- STP, 40-0 2004- STP, 46-16 2005- EC, 33-7 2006- EC, 23-12 2007- EC, 22-14

By Mark Hazelwood

ELYRIA – The end of a good but streaky series between the St. Paul Flyers and Elyria Catholic came to an end in the final non-conference matchup of the season in a 22-14 Flyer setback that leaves St. Paul 2-1 overall entering its Firelands Conference opener Saturday night against Plymouth.

It was the sixth and final meeting between EC and STP, as both programs have decided to move forward with much closer matchups while maintaining a very competitive game in the week three slot. Elyria Catholic will step up a couple levels and play Division II Midview, while the Flyers will host perennial Sandusky Bay Conference contender and Division IV Huron, just a 10-mile trip northeast of the Maple City.

After two double-digit losses to the Panthers the past two seasons, and with EC having outscored its two opponents 92-6 over the first two games, many considered it a tall task coming in. However, with the game on the line in the final minute, the Flyers were threatening to have the chance to tie the score but came up just short.

With 2:39 left and the ball at its own 16, St. Paul quarterback Eric Schwieterman completed two passes to Cory Schaffer and one each to Mark Masser and Dominic Dellisanti to move the ball to the Panther 15. But disaster then struck as a tipped pass was intercepted by Jacob Schuster on the EC 10-yard line to seal the loss.

While the Flyers were in it, its a game that had a tough feeling to it as two big plays by the Panthers were for all intents and purposes, the difference in the game. Richie Baker scored on a 66-yard catch from quarterback Cody Schuster for a 15-7 EC lead with just 1:37 left in the first half, while Jayson Graham added an 86-yard run and a 13-yard run to give EC a 22-7 lead.

The Flyers had an early 7-0 lead when Ryan Frank returned a punt 40 yards to give the offense solid field position at the EC 23, and three plays later on third-and-one Joe Graziani scored on a 14-yard run with Wes Stein's kick making it a 7-0 Flyer lead.

Trailing 22-7 late in the third quarter, the Flyers then began a successful 63-yard, 15-yard drive which carried over into the fourth quarter.

On EC's 13-yard line, Schwieterman attempted to run the ball and fumbled. Stein was there to recover it on EC's 4. Two plays later, Graziani scored on a 2-yard run for his 10th touchdown in three games. Stein added the extra point and St. Paul still trailed, 22-14, with 10:49 left in the game.

The Panthers took over on their own 5 after Richie Baker fielded the ball and fell backward. Despite the poor field position, EC made the most of it and chewed valuable time off the clock. The Panthers had the ball for almost eight minutes until they punted on St. Paul's 40. That put the Flyers at the 16 and they then began the last-chance drive that was stalled by the defensive play of the Panthers (3-0).

Graziani finished with just under 80 yards rushing on 15 attempts and Matt Wilde picked up 33 yards on 10 attempts. Schwieterman was 7-of-17 passing for 82 yards with three interceptions as Schaffer caught two passes for 33 yards and Masser had two for 18.