One county, Two football finalists

MERCER COUNTY, Ohio (WDTN) - Students are ripping off tape at Marion Local like their team has rolled off wins, and in both cases one more piece ought to do it.

"The kids are really excited," says Marion Local teacher Shannon Painter-Carpenter. "That makes it fun. They've done really well and they have a lot to be proud of.

Take a drive around Marion Local or Coldwater High Schools, which are both in the football state finals, and you can see that pride on display, from the horn blowing tackling dummy someone put up in Coldwater to the windows students painted at Marion Local.

"They're pumped," says Coldwater teacher Steve Aranyosi. "The spirit is high around here."

At Coldwater, the state title trip means a day off school Friday, since the Cavaliers play in the morning, while at nearby Marion Local students will have to wait until Saturday for their title shot.

They've filled the time creating duct tape megaphones.

"They've really taken off with it," Painter-Carpenter says. "They've made some really big and others really small. Hopefully it'll be really cool."

The creations are part of a contest started by Duck Brand Duct Tape.

Each school in the state finals got 100 rolls of each of their colors and a challenge to come up with something that will stand out from the crowd.

But the two Mercer County schools are bound by much more than tape.

"It's a very close community," Aranyosi says. "Not just in the Coldwater community,  but in Mercer County. We're all supportive of other schools."

Maybe that's why the Midwest Athletic Conference, which Coldwater and Marion Local are a part of, has had more than 10 state championships in football in the last decade.

But whatever the reason for the success, these title trips never get old.

"I couldn't tell you what it is for sure, but I think it's in the water."