Bumpy road to perfection for state champs

Editor's note: This is the second of two profiles for the St. Paul High School Hall of Fame Class of 2025. The induction ceremony is at 5:30 p.m. Saturday. The benefit of hindsight often changes the viewpoint. To many, the 2009 St. Paul football team was a story of perfection. It was one that capped the program's best stretch of years in the most fitting way possible. The 15-0 record and the Division VI state championship marched on until it needed everything and then some on that cold December afternoon in Massillon. But as the 56-player roster and coaching staff of nine are inducted into the St. Paul Hall of Fame on Oct. 11, those involved know the dream finish had more than its share of bumps in the road. In fact, there was a general acknowledgement prior to the campaign that the 2009 version of Flyer football wasn't what it was just the year prior. "I didn't feel any added pressure, nor did I go into 2009 and say this is our state championship team," St. Paul head coach John Livengood said. He coached the Flyers from 1991 to 2023 and won 310 games at the school. "To be quite honest, talent-wise on paper, 2008 was probably the best team that we had that had an opportunity to (compete for a state title)," Livengood said. In 2008, the Flyers were 12-0 when they lost to Hopewell-Loudon in a regional championship game, the fourth straight meeting in the trophy round between the two schools. From 2003 to 2008, the Flyers had two perfect regular seasons, five Firelands Conference championships, four straight regional title game appearances, two regional titles, and a Div. VI state runner-up finish in 2004. The 2009 team had questions, particularly on the interior lines, if it was to add to the 64-15 record those past six teams had compiled. "We were going to be significantly smaller up front," Livengood said. "We had experience; four of our five on the offensive line had rotated in the year before ... but they were very undersized." That group of linemen included Joel Boose at center, Kyle Bundschuh and Darren Hainline at guards, and Alex Simon and JP Pressley at the tackles. What was clear, however, was how loaded the Flyers were at the skilled positions. Not only were the likes of Dan Tracht, Brian Griffin, Justin Wilde, and Daren Smith big threats, but they were led by Eric Schwieterman. As a junior, the quarterback was the Div. VI All-Ohio Offensive Player of the Year. However, the adversity for the 2009 team proved to be much more than just replacing the previous seniors. In late August, Livengood found himself with sleepless nights of regret. As a standout safety on defense, Schwieterman went on to be an NCAA Div. II All-American at the position at Ashland University. But as the starting quarterback for the Flyers, he was always held out of certain defensive drills out of fear of an injury. But on the last day of preseason two-a-day practices, Schwieterman begged his coach to participate in a drill called "outdoor war." The drill focused on the running back's ability to keep their shoulders low and "run over" a tackler. "He begged me to do it because it was the last one of his senior year," Livengood said. "We let him do it, and he breaks his thumb. It was the biggest mistake of my coaching career." With Schwieterman out indefinitely, Tracht switched from receiver to quarterback. All he did in three-plus games was complete 51 percent of his pass attempts for 460 yards with seven touchdowns and one interception. The Flyers opened with wins over St. Mary Central Catholic (47-0), Tiffin Calvert (37-13), Huron (42-3), and Crestview (27-7). Schwieterman returned to the QB position during the game at Crestview, but it was a struggle. "That adversity early on in the season, while it was pretty nerve-wracking for our kids, also served to galvanize us to a certain degree," Livengood said. "The scores were not reflective of how hard we had to play in those games. "Eric was not able to do the things we had hoped initially, but Crestview was also probably the best team we played after Wynford and Delphos St. John's. That game was a huge test." After those four games, the Flyers were never tested again during the regular season. They buzzed through the remaining six FC games by a combined score of 328-27. The Flyers then opened the state playoffs with a pair of dominant wins over Berlin Center Western Reserve and Mogadore, winning by scores of 45-0 and 48-7. But to improve to 13-0 and win a regional championship, facing unbeaten Bucyrus Wynford at Ashland High School proved to be a big challenge. The Royals — winners of 54 of 55 regular season games — struck first. But the Flyers pulled ahead midway through the fourth quarter and turned away Wynford twice in their own territory in the final six minutes. The Royals featured two University of Kentucky recruits on their team. The Flyers' Brian Griffin scored the game-winning TD on a third-and-goal from the 4 on the first play of the fourth quarter in the 28-21 win. St. Paul returned to Ashland for a second straight week and overwhelmed Grove City Christian in the state semifinals. The 52-7 win sent the Flyers back to the state title game. Though it took more than five months of summer workouts, practices, and games, the 2009 season will be remembered for the drama of Week 15. In 1997 and 1999, the Flyers were defeated by Delphos St. John's in Div. VI state championship games in Massillon and Canton. Standing across from them once again in 2009 was an undefeated Blue Jays team from the powerful Midwest Athletic Conference. The third meeting was back at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium in Massillon, named after the Norwalk native and legendary coach. St. Paul grabbed a 7-0 lead when Schwieterman scored on a 73-yard run on a third-and-22. After adding the extra point, Jim Roth later kicked a 19-yard field goal for a 10-0 lead with 5:09 left in the half. However, that also proved to be the harbinger for a momentum shift. St. Paul had it first-and-goal from the DSJ 1-yard line, but a false start pushed the offense back, and it settled for the three points. The Blue Jays then returned the ensuing kickoff 86 yards for a TD, and in 15 seconds, it was just a 10-7 lead. The Jays then scored on their opening possession of the third quarter for a 14-10 lead, and more special teams disaster hurt the Flyers. Forced to punt, DSJ returned the kick 89 yards all the way to the St. Paul 7. Two plays later, the Flyers suddenly trailed 21-10 with just 14:52 remaining in the game. Faced with a third-and-24, Schwieterman and Tracht connected for 45 yards to keep their next drive alive. Schwieterman capped a 12-play, 84-yard scoring drive with a 1-yard TD to make it 21-17 with 10:19 left in the game, St. John's appeared on the verge of putting the game away with a 12-play, 58-yard drive that took nearly seven minutes off the clock. But on second-and-goal from the St. Paul 1, a DSJ running back flinched and was whistled for a false start. Then, despite giving up almost 100 pounds in size, Flyers' defensive back Justin Wilde forced out star running back Jordan Leininger on fourth-and-goal at the St. Paul 2. "We get the stop, and the guys I'm watching get the stop are Joel Boose and Brian Roberts, fighting for everything they can," Livengood said. "Then the smallest guy on the field knocks him out of bounds. "Our team was about fighting, overcoming, and ignoring the disadvantages. That's just who we were." Forced to go 98 yards with 3:22 left, Schwieterman and Wilde connected for a 38-yard gain on fourth-and-3 to the DSJ 14 with just over a minute left. Five straight rushes by Schwieterman had the Flyers faced with a third-and-goal from the 1 with seven seconds left. Out of a timeout, Schwieterman shifted directions on a QB sneak and just did push across with five seconds left for the go-ahead TD — and ultimately the state championship trophy — in front of 5,850 in attendance who saw an instant classic. The final drive was 12 plays and covered 98 yards in 3:17 for the 24-21 win. Tracht, Simon, and Griffin were All-Ohio first team selections on offense, while Wilde was first team at defensive back. Boose was second team (DL), and Roth was third team at punter. Schwieterman was honorable mention, and Livengood earned Ohio Coach of the Year honors. Entering 2025, the 2009 team still owns the team records for wins (15), playoff wins (5), points scored (678), points in a quarter (42), shutouts (6), yards gained (6,147), and sacks (67).