Two MAC teams in state finals for the seventh time in eight years
By Tim Langevin
Diapers need changed. Seasons change. But some things never change. Like two MAC teams playing for another state football title this upcoming weekend.
Delphos St. John’s punked Lehman Catholic Friday in Division VI and Coldwater coasted versus Fredericktown Saturday in Division V.
The MAC is 114-17 in the playoffs against non-MAC teams the past decade and have won a combined 19 state titles since 1989. Minster and Versailles each own one, Coldwater has two, Marion Local four, Delphos St. John’s five, and St. Henry is tops with six.
The Thanksgiving feast may be over, but Lehman was bestowed plenty to chew on Friday after a disappointing 49-7 loss to top-ranked Delphos St. John’s in the Division VI state semifinals at Wapakoneta’s Harmon Field.
This Lehman senior class of 17 “blue-collar” players emendated school history, posting a 40-12 record, making the playoffs four straight years, and advancing to the state semifinals twice.
The foundation for this group was set 11 years ago when the Lil’Cavs program was organized by Keith Goins and Jon Richard. Both are still coaching and according to Goins, “Back then, we started with 16 players. Now, we have 73 kids.”
And along the way, stud FB Kaleb Goins added plenty of noise. he finished a brilliant career with 76 TDs and 5,150 yards rushing, both school records.
“No question. These kids have a lot to be proud of,” Lehman coach Dick Roll said. “They have accomplished a lot. It has been a great run for these seniors.”
And it has been a great five-year run for coach Roll and his staff. They have compiled a 46-17 mark and raised the football program to state prominence.
“It’s been great,” Roll said. “Too bad we can’t beat the big dogs.”
Roll is 2-8 against MAC foes.
As for Delphos St. John’s, this juggernaut football program continues to dominate. The Blue Jays have outscored their four playoff opponents 220-62. On the season, the Jays average 40.2 points a game and allow 9.8 a game.
And this senior class of 21 players will be making a third straight trip to the state championship game. In three seasons, the Jays have produced a 41-3 record with two MAC crowns and one state title in 2008.
One of many players responsible for the team’s success is Chris Pohlman, the MAC Defensive Player of the Year. The 6-2, 240 pound LB said, “It has been our goal for about a year. The win feels great, but everyone feels the same. We’re not done yet. We are aiming for much more.”
Head coach Todd Schulte echoed the same feeling, “We are excited, but the kids have a bigger goal in mind. that’s why they have been working so hard all season.”
Both were referring to last year’s loss to Norwalk St. Paul 24-21 in the final seconds of the state championship game.
On paper, St. John’s and Lehman are mirror images and it was the Blue Jays that blinked first, scoring on the game’s opening drive to take a 7-0 lead. It took just over two minutes to cover 64 yards in six plays.
After an incomplete pass by Jordan Leininger on first down, the Jays went to work on the ground. Jordan Bergfeld gashed for 13 yards and Leininger rambled 40 yards. The Evan Burgei sprinted six yards, before Leininger capped it with a five-yard TD run.
St. John’s vaunted option offense set the tone.
Lehman looked to duplicate the feat, but stalled on their own 47-yard-line and was forced to punt. It took 10 plays to gain 28 yards and Goins managed nine of it on six carries.
St. John’s vaunted base defense set the tone.
After a 33-yard punt by Jon Slagle, Leininger connected with A.J. Klausing for an 18-yard gain. Burgei ripped off runs of 16 and 14 yards. Then Jordan Bergfeld bolted for 15 yards, before Leininger scored on a nifty 19-yard QB Keeper to take a spirited 14-0 lead. The drive took 2:36 and covered 78 yards in eight plays.
Lehman’s ensuing possession, Slagle was sacked for a six-yard loss by Alex Recker and the Cavs were forced to punt three plays later.
The Blue Jays tacked on another 14 points in the second quarter to take a commanding 28-0 lead at the break. Out of the Wildcat, Travis Ratliff was intercepted by Tyler Ditto, who returned it 21 yards for the TD. Then Burgei capped another long drive with a four-yard TD run.
The first half the mighty Cavs looked like the Lil’Cavs, never crossing the mid-field stripe and outgained 285 yards to 50 yards. The Jays recorded 12 first downs to three for Lehman.
Coach Schulte said, “That was our best option game performance of the season. We executed it from one side to the other. Very efficient. We didn’t need to run many other plays. Very little play-action tonight.”
First-year senior QB Leininger explained, “They were taking away Evan Burgei. Then the tackle was coming down on the reads and we hit it for the most part. It was a give or a pull option.”
Give or pull, Leininger read the Lehman defense like a paperback novel. The MAC Offensive Player of the Year rushed for 112 yards and two scores and completed 4-of-7 passes for 93 yards. He has over 5,000 career yards of total offense rushing and passing.
The third quarter was absurd! St. John’s erupted for 21 points to take a convincing 49-zip lead. Even more astounding, Lehman possessed the ball for 10:33. The Jays did all the damage like a tornado, striking quickly in 1:27 of the clock.
St. John’s scored on a two-play series from 32 yards out. Leininger covered 18 yards and Jordan Bergfeld scored from 14 yards out. Dylan Dancer picked off Slagle and danced 38 yards to paydirt. After another screen pass interception by Kyle Neumeier, the Jays covered 42 yards in three plays. Burgei capped it with a 32-yard TD romp.
The Blue Jay defense recorded four picks, two for TDs, and three off of Lehman’s screen pass plays.
Coach Schulte said, “Coach Recker picked up on one of their tendencies when they misdirect on the screen pass. It’s nice to have a couple of defensive scores.”
Pohlman added, “Coach Recker stressed all week to concentrate on our own assignments. Everybody was where they were supposed to be every play. It paid off.”
And so, the 14-0 Delphos St. John’s Blue Jays return to the state title game to accomplish a year-long mission. They will face 13-1 Shadyside at 3pm Friday at Canton’s Fawcett Stadium. If the Jays win, that will give the school six state titles, four under Todd Schulte.
Lehman exits the playoffs with a brilliant 12-2 season.
In other playoff action, Coldwater defeated Fredericktown 26-6 in the Division V state semifinals at DeSales’ Alumni Stadium. It will be the Cavaliers’ sixth trip to the championship game, winning titles in 2005 and 2007.
Coldwater (11-3) squares off against defending state champ Youngstown Ursuline (14-0) for the second straight year. The Fighting Irish adavanced with a 51-36 win over Lima Central Catholic in the other semifinal contest.
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