MASSILLON — The St. Paul senior class created a lifetime of memories Saturday afternoon in Paul Brown Tiger Stadium. As freshmen, most of them watched from the sidelines as the Flyers lost a state semi-final game. The past two seasons, the team lost in the regional final so close to state.
Livengood said the difference in this group of kids was determination.
“I feel very close to this senior class,” he said. “Most of these kids have been starting since they were sophomores. They have experienced success all the way. As freshmen, they were able to make it to the state semifinals. Eric (Schwieterman) started as freshman at safety. As sophomores and juniors they made it to regional finals and just about all of them were rotating or starting. They have experienced a lot of success. They were 11-2 as sophomores, 12-1 last season and lost a heartbreaker to Hopewell-Loudon.
“These guys have perservered and worked hard. We talked from the start of the season. There is something different about these guys. There is a determination that they were not going to be denied. I think you got to see that in the last few minutes of the game.”
Senior lineman Darren Hainline said that watching as freshman planted a seed in this class.
“It means a lot to me because football is the only sport I play,” he said. “From freshman year I stood around and watched a lot. It is not always the funnest thing, but you get invaluable experience by making it to the playoffs and being successful. That played a big part of this.”
Senior Dan Tracht agreed that the success of the program before him drove him to succeed.
“Going to the state semis you see how fun and exciting it is for the players who actually play,” he said. “It made me drive to get there myself and fortunately we got a little farther than they did.”
The family atmosphere built at St. Paul brought the team closer.
“When you have success every year, you set the bar high.,” quarterback Eric Schwieterman said. “We come into every season hoping that we can make it to the state championship and win it. So when you get here and you win it, it is a great feeling. After working so hard for four years with your friends and teammates to get this far. “ Senior Joel Boose agreed with all of his teammates.
“I remember freshman year the regional finals game where we beat Hopewell with a two point conversion at the end,” Boose said. “It was a great feeling. I always wanted to get that feeling back. So I did anything I could to win and our class stuck together.”
And then winning on the final play with time running out just added to the thrill of bringing home the school’s first state title.
“We were all determined and had the same goal.,” Tracht said. “I don’t think it could get much better than this.”
A community of champions
John Livengood has been the head football coach at St. Paul for two decades. His career record is now 180-49. For those outside of the community some note has been taken that his record in state title games was 0-3.
All of that was changed thanks to two goal line stands. His kids held their ground on the defensive end and found a way on the offensive end.
Livengood said the state championship wasn’t his or even just this team’s — it was for something bigger. When asked about what it felt like to win a state title, he gave this emotional response.
“It’s a community win,“ he said “It is our entire school community, our football program, our boosters, all the people who help out. This team is more than just the players, it is the managers, the coaches, the parents, it’s the mom’s club and the boosters and you look at the fabulous facilities — the new weight room and fitness room — it is all that. It is our parishioners and the church, it is everybody. These guys are the guys that get to represent that and represent all the guys that played in the program.
“A lot of these former players, you see them in the stands and they are crazy. They live and die with it. That is something we remind our players about all the time. It is not just you guys you are representing. We have pictures of all our championship teams on our wall. We talk about that. It is not just you. Everyone of those guys that put that uniform on and dressed in this locker room, you represent them and they live and die with what you do on the field. They want you to win so bad. We have former players who come to practice and watch and give them an opportunity to talk to the team and talk about how much they miss it and how much they wish they were in the shoes of these guys right now and not to take it for granted. I think these guys take that to heart and understand what it means and understand they represent not just themselves but their families, their friends, their school community, the former players - they understand that.”
Norwalk’s first family
Livengood shared what a special year it has been for his own family. His daughters played for the state championship in volleyball and his son CJ and nephew Isaac are members of the football team.
“It is wonderful.,” Livengood said. “ It meant a lot to me personally to change our second round playoff game so I could personally see them play for the state championship. I like to tease my daughter that she got to win a gold medal before I did as a freshman when the volleyball team won state. I guess we are even now.
“As for the football side, I get to share this with my son and nephew. It has been a wonderful experience and it has been a great, great year. Not just because of this game but because of what I have gotten to experience with my family. I am so thankful for it.”
Comeback kid
Schwieterman downplayed breaking his hand and having work to get back. He missed the first five games of the season.
“I think it is just as significant to all of us,” Schwieterman said. “It means a lot I was able to come back and get 10 games in but it means a lot I was able to do it with my friends. We had people stepped up the entire season. I didn’t do everything. It was a team effort and it feels great to win as a team.”
Livengood credited Dan Tracht for stepping up in Schwieterman’s absence.
“When Eric was out at quarterback, I was so proud of Dan’s leadership,” Livengood said. “Dan is not normally a vocal kid, he is kind of a quiet kid but we had some tight games early in the season when I noticed something different about Dan. He was leader and said the right things. He showed that determination of this class. It showed up again at the end of the third quarter when he caught that pass. He was in the huddle firing up the rest of his team.”
Losing returns
In 1997 and 1999, St. Paul returned kickoffs for touchdowns and lost to St. John’s. Livengood was asked if it was in the game plan to let St. John’s return one while telling his team not to run one back.
“We never discussed that. I said if you have a chance to score take the points.”
Notes
Both high school bands played the National Anthem together before the game ... St. Paul head coach John Livengood’s oldest daughter Hannah participated in a Punt, Pass and kick contest at halftime. By vote of noise, she lost to the St. John’s Blue Jay mascot ... When asked how close the final play was? Schwieterman said, “I got the ball across the line.” creating a huge laugh in the press conference room ... For the final drive it seemed like all of Huron County was at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium. “It was pretty loud,” Livengood said.
