St. Paul head coach John Livengood has his team back in the state title game for the fourth time. His undefeated Flyers take on Delphos St. John’s on Saturday for the Division VI championship. On Wednesday night, Livengood was honored as the D-VI coach of the year and seven of his players were named to the 2009 Associated Press Division VI All-Ohio high school football team.

“I am really proud of the kids,” Livengood said. “They have worked really hard and it is a nice honor.”

As for being coach of the year, Livengood is appreciative for the honor but more for what it means about his staff and the program as a whole.

“I don’t think much about it,” Livengood said. “It is not something I got into coaching for. It is a great honor but it is more a reflection of the entire coaching staff. It is the same thing for the players. It is nice to get individual awards but they come more of a result of what the team does.”

Flyers making the first team were four seniors: wide receiver Dan Tracht, lineman Alex Simon, running back Brian Griffin and linebacker Justin Wilde. Named to the second team was senior linebacker Joel Boose. Senior punter Jim Roth was named to third team and senior quarterback Eric Schwieterman was a honorable mention.

To have seven seniors on the All-Ohio team means a lot this group of seniors.

“It’s a great accomplishment for all of the hard work we have put in for the last four years,” Wilde said. “But we want the ultimate goal of being the state champion.”

Wilde said the individual accomplishments were a by-product of the team’s goals.

“Our goal last season was state and when we lost we really worked hard to make it this year,” Wilde said. “We have an All-Ohio board in our locker room and it will be sweet to see my name on it when I come back.”

In Division V, Oberlin’s Anthony Barnhill, Aaron James and Gib Harris were named special mention.