The return had its share of fanfare and optimism, but it just couldn’t deliver the magic.

Legendary coach Stan Dakosty returned to the Marian sidelines this season after a three-year absence to try and resuscitate Marian’s once vaunted football program.

Friday’s loss 41-10 loss to Williams Valley, the new juggernaut in the District 11 Class A field, was the seventh setback against just one victory.

While the season didn’t produce a lot of immediate success, it did produce a lot of promise for the future.

“We’re far from done,” Dakosty said. “We only had seven seniors. These kids grew up from just youngsters to young men. I’m more determined than ever to make this work.”

One of those seniors, Mike Baloga capped off his solo year at Marian with a 35-year field goal, he also added the extra-point on Marian’s only touchdown of the game.

In between, the Vikings were taking command methodically. They misfired on their first possession, then put things into gear scoring five touchdowns on their next six possessions to build a 35-0 lead at the halfway point.

“We just wanted to play a clean game with no turnovers,” said Williams Valley head coach Tim Savage. “I just said to the guys ‘you’re only going to get a quarter and half, please come out and play good football.’”

Williams Valley zoomed 42 yards on two plays to hit the end zone for its first touchdown. Splendid quarterback Bryce Herb, the school’s all-time passer, fired a 24-yard completion to Jake Herman, before flipping a perfect 24-yard scoring strike to another school record holder, receiver Jesse Engle.

Just before the first quarter closed, Herb marched his team to a solid 91-yard drive. Herb hit Engle for a 17-yard completion, speedy freshman running back Alex Ackerman chewed off a 25-yard run and Logan Williard hauled in a 26-yard touchdown grab.

The Colts coughed up the pigskin on a muffed punt giving Williams Valley a short field of nine yards and Engle was latching onto a Herb pass for six more points.

The Vikings then upped the margin to 27-0 when Ackerman scored on a 1-yard run on their next series.

When Williams Valley forced a Marian punt, the visitors needed two plays to strike for another six points. This time Herb high-tailed it 46 yards when he attempted to throw a pass, but the receivers were covered, allowing him to run to paydirt for a 35-0 lead at the half.

Marian cracked the end zone on its first possession of the second half. Senior Julian Cerullo moved from quarterback to receiver and junior Matt Rehrig tossed a 33-yard completion to the 1-yard line before Matt Martin cashed in on a 1-yard plunge.

“I want to be very clear about our program, I’m very excited,” Dakosty said. “There were some games when we started six, seven freshmen.”

The Vikings capped off their scoring night when Gage Miller raced 12 yards for a touchdown.

SAYING GOOD BYE … Seven Colt seniors played bid adieu to their high school football career as Blake Bianco, Owen Brady, Robert Sunder, who had a big night on defense, Corey Rehnert, Fristick, Cerullo and Baloga played their final game for the Colts.

CLASS ACT… Dakosty let Baloga, who could easily be a Division I kicker, kick his field goal with seven seconds to play.

HE SAID IT …“Coach Dakosty has a lot of young kids and the more playing time they get it will be helpful for him. It was nice to see a lot of our young guys play as well.” said the Vikings’ Savage.

DITTO TO SAVAGE … “If there is one guy who is a class act it’s Tim Savage. I have a lot of respect for him and his football team.” Dakosty said.