CANTON — A dream season ended one game shy of fruition on Saturday as the Lucas Cubs lost to the Marion Local Flyers, 28-6, in the Division VII state championship game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.
The Cubs (12-3) battled throughout against the perennial power from Mercer Center, which captured its 11th state football championship, tying the state record of Cleveland St. Ignatius.
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The Lucas football team takes the field in Canton at the Division VII state championship football game on Dec. 7, 2019. The Cubs lost to Marion Local, 28-6.
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Lucas fans pack the stands at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton for the Division VII state championship game.
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Lucas seniors Tommy Zirzow and Logan Niswander pose with the state runner-up trophy at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton in 2019.
Top-ranked Marion Local, under veteran coach Tim Goodwin, was in the post-season for the 22nd time and improve its playoff record to 81-11.
It was the first state championship appearance for 7th-ranked Lucas and coach Scot Spitler, who were in the post-season for the eighth time.
Marion Local running back Brandon Fleck scored three touchdowns on runs of 3, 6 and 7 yards for the Flyers (13-2), who became the second state champion from the Midwest Athletic Conference this season.
Anna won the Division VI title on Friday. Its only loss this season was to Marion Local, 17-14, in week five.
Lucas, which trailed 14-0 at halftime, fell behind 21-0 in the third quarter before Cubs’ senior Carson Hauger raced 96 yards with a kickoff return for the Richland County team’s only score.
The Cubs missed the PAT kick with 4:50 left in the third quarter. But Lucas would get no closer.
It was a disappointing end to the season for a Lucas team that knocked off McDonald (21-20 in OT), Louisville St. Thomas Aquinas (35-21), Cuyahoga Heights (21-13) and Canal Winchester Harvest Prep (15-12) during a thrilling post-season run.
The powerful Lucas ground game was never able to get untracked, rushing for 71 yards on 45 carries. Senior Tommy Zirzow led the Cubs with 66 yards on 20 attempts.
Senior QB Logan Niswander, forced to pass more than any other game this season, completed 10 of 17 passes for 121 yards and one interception near the end of the game.
Junior Ethan Sauder was held to 24 yards rushing on nine carries, though he led the Cubs with four catches, good for 48 yards.
Marion Local rushed for 227 yards on 37 carries, led by 133 yards on 21 carries by Fleck. Senior QB Kyle Muhlenkamp completed eight of 12 passes for 55 yards. He was picked off twice, with interceptions from Niswander and Hauger.
