Credit: DaytonDailyNews
When Marion Local needed a big play, Leugers consistently provided one. He had a couple of drive-saving passes that Marion Local receivers caught with heavy pressure from Mechanicsburg’s defense, and he had several big runs.
It’s the second-straight year Marion Local has ended Mechanicsburg’s season. The Flyers beat Mechanicsburg 9-7 on a late field goal last year in a regional final before eventually losing to Kirkland for the D-VI state championship.
Leugers, a senior, said the loss in last year’s state final has fueled the team, and they didn’t want Mechanicsburg getting in their way of winning the title this year.
“We just knew we had to fly around like madmen for four quarters, and then after that we can take showers and rest up for next week,” Leugers said. “I put it all on our offensive line. Our offensive line did a terrific job tonight. They worked their tails off and got after everybody every chance they could. Me and these 20 seniors want to win it all, and hopefully we get where we want to go.”
Romero has set dozens of records at Mechanicsburg and has been voted the Associated Press Southwest District D-VI offensive player of the year each of the last two seasons. Though Marion Local couldn’t stop Romero, they contained him. He rushed for 166 yards and threw for 69.
“Playing him last year did help us prepare this time,” Marion Local coach Tim Goodwin said. “When you play a team the second time you have an idea of what worked and what didn’t work, and you’re more used to the style.”
After Marion Local took a 13-0 lead in the first half, Mechanicsburg battled back in the third quarter. Romero scored on a one-yard touchdown with 46 seconds left to cut the Flyers’ lead to 13-7.
But Marion Local responded quickly. Leugers threw a 42-yard pass to Ryan Thobe, then followed several plays later with a one-yard touchdown run. The Flyers failed a two-point conversion try but increased their lead to 19-7 with 9:16 left.
After a muffed punt gave the Flyers the ball at Mechanicsburg’s 23-yard line, Leugers scored on a six-yard run with 5:58 left to extend the lead to 26-7.
Romero threw a seven-yard touchdown pass to Alex Rhine and then followed with a two-point conversion pass with 2:13 left, but Marion Local recovered the kickoff attempt and ran out the clock.
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