'Riders of '93 capture third state title in four years

Former St. Marys running back Shawn Lamb vividly recalls the skepticism prior to his senior year in 1993. Despite his class holding a 37-2 overall record, three straight Western Buckeye League titles and a pair of state titles in 1990 and 1992, there were plenty of fans who embraced the upcoming campaign with a wait-and-see attitude blended with a shade of optimism.

"Our program's main goal each season was to win the WBL and everything after that was just icing on the cake, as coach Skip Baughman always used to say," said Lamb, who was named 1993 WBL Offensive Back of the Year. "We knew we still had some doubters in 1993, though, the senior class from the year before was deep and very talented with two Division I college football players in Mike Elston and Dean Miller.  We ended up having a few tight games during the season, but it helped us to keep our edge moving into the playoffs."

After finishing the regular season 10-0 and earning their fourth straight WBL crown, the Roughriders soared into the playoffs and nabbed victories over Columbus Watterson, Columbus Eastmoor and Piqua before reaching the state championship contest against Uniontown Lake.

"The games against Watterson and Piqua were very physical, which I feel prepared us for the state final game in Massillon," recalled Jeff Kogge, who was a first team All-WBL linebacker in 1993. "I don't recall any specific concerns with Uniontown Lake. We were so well coached that we knew if we trusted our coaches and one other that we would come out on top."

Uniontown Lake received the opening kick and controlled the ground and the clock before setting up for a field goal near the end of the first quarter. With a stiff breeze and precipitation cascading from above, the attempt plunked off of the goal post, keeping the game scoreless as the Roughrider offense marched onto the field for the first time.

St. Marys' initial scoring drive chewed up the remainder of the first stanza and much of the second, and was highlighted by a 36-yard pass from quarterback Tony Hirschfeld to receiver Bill Koeper. On the ensuing play, Lamb punched it into the end zone to bump his team up 7-0 with 4:11 left in the half. A few minutes later, Hirschfeld hooked up with Luke Kleinhenz for six points and following another PAT, St. Marys enjoyed a 14-0 cushion at intermission.

"We didn't have to pass very often throughout the season. Teams knew that we were going to run the ball, but they had to stop it and many had trouble doing that against us," said Kleinhenz, who earned first team All-WBL accolades as a defensive back in 1993. "Uniontown didn't see much film of us passing, so I'm sure it caught them off guard once we opened it up in the air.  Tony Hirschfeld was a great athlete who could throw the ball on the move with accuracy. On that touchdown pass, I told him when we broke huddle that I would be open on the backside post. I clearly wasn't open, but he threw a great ball and I went up between the two defenders to make the catch. Our whole team played with confidence and trusted in each other because, believe me, you heard about it in the huddle if you did not make a play."

Later in the third quarter, Hirschfeld and Kleinhenz teamed up for another score and from there, left it to the defense to polish things off in the 21-0 state championship victory, the third for Hall of Fame coach Baughman in four years.

"Our defense took a few games to gel early in the year, but once we figured out how to play with one another, we had the utmost confidence in coach (Bob) Priddy to put us in position to shut down our opponents," Kogge said. "It really was a great group of guys, and although the title game was on a bigger stage, it was the same philosophy we had all season: play for each other and trust the coaches."

Overall, the Roughrider defense held the Blue Streaks to just six yards rushing in the second half and were led by Ted Liette's two fumble recoveries, while Lamb paced the offense with 95 yards on the ground, finishing his career less than 50 yards shy of becoming St. Marys' all-time leading rusher. Unbeknownst to Roughrider fans, it would be the final game ever coached by Baughman.

"The best part about our back-to-back state championships was that we grew up watching coach Baughman and his staff on the sidelines on Friday nights and couldn't wait wear the Blue and Gold and run through the goal posts while the band played our fight song," Lamb said. "On the field we felt the passion of the entire community. The chants of 'First down! That away!' from the crowd, and the stomping of the boots on the aluminum bleachers during a crucial point in the game. It was a very special feeling to be a part of the team that helped him win the big one in his final year of coaching. It's also gratifying to answer the skeptics who said we weren't big enough or fast enough to compete at that level. Coach Baughman went on to say in the end that we were 'pretty damn good in all areas if you ask me,' and he was absolutely correct."