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[Rocketcorner News]

By Tom Galdeen

The top ranked Coldwater Cavaliers continued their march toward a possible state championship with a pretty convincing 41-22 win over the West Liberty-Salem Tigers at Alexander Field in Piqua on Saturday, November 11. Cavalier quarterback Austin Bruns was a one-man wrecking crew, gaining 91 yards and scoring 3 touchdowns on 19 carries along with throwing for 214 yards on 17 of 24 passing with a TD through the air.

West Liberty-Salem took the opening kick-off, but couldn’t crack the Cav defense, going 3 and out. A Jordan Chapin 22-yard run quickly put the Cavs in the red-zone. Bruns put Coldwater on the board with a 7-yard TD run. After another WLS 3 and out, the Cavs set up their offense on their own 34 yard line. Five straight passes that were completed behind the line of scrimmage and featured long runs after the catch quickly put Coldwater at the 10 yard line. Bruns went over from 2-yards out and the Cavs had a 14-0 lead.

West Liberty Salem had been unable to get much going offensively, but after taking the ensuing kick-off, Travis Mayse electrified the crowd with an 82 yard scoring run that featured several broken tackles to get the Tigers on the board at 14-7.

The teams traded punts the next couple possessions. The Cav special teams came up with a big play with a little more than 2 minutes left in the first half, blocking a WLS punt at the Tigers 29 yard line. A couple plays later, Bruns had a 15-yard TD run brought back due to a holding penalty. Undaunted the Cav’s picked up a first down after going for it on 4th and 1, getting the first and goal at the 5 yard line. Bruns hooked up with Mitch Schoenherr for the 5-yard scoring toss with just 46 seconds left in the half, giving Coldwater a 21-7 lead at halftime.

Coldwater took the second half kickoff, bringing it out of the end-zone and only getting to the 14 yard line. They used big plays on the ground to quickly move down the field. Bruns had runs of 12, 4, 6,and 17 yards during the drive. Chapin contributed a 16 yard run before taking the ball the final 2-yards of the drive into the end zone, putting Coldwater up 28-7

The Tigers got a couple first downs before the drive stalled at the Cav 49 yard line. The punt sailed out of bounds, pinning the Cavs back at their own 9 yard line. Bruns ran for 18 yards, then 22 yards getting close to midfield in 3 plays. An 18 yard pass to Brody Hoying and a 9 yard pass to Caleb Siefring moved them to the 20 yard line. Bruns ran it from there completing the 91 yard drive in only 8 plays to put the Cavs up 35-7.

West Liberty-Salem responded with a drive that took the game into the 4th quarter. Riley Simms completed passes to Landon Hormann for consecutive first downs. On a 3rd and 9 play, Simms ran for 15 yards to set the Tigers up at the Cav 20 yard line. After an 8 yard pass to Hormann, Simms ran the final 12 yards to pay dirt, making the score 35-14.

The Tigers executed a controversial on-side kick. Coldwater coach Chip Otten argued to no avail that the Tigers touched the ball before it went 10-yards. The Tigers were able to generate one first down, but the Cav defense sacked Simms way back at mid-field and forced a fumble that Jordan Harlamert recoverd at the 45 yard line. Using mostly second stringers, the Cav offense moved down field . With 5:15 left in the game, Mitch Feltz went the final 7 yards for a TD to put Coldwater up 41-14. WLS turned the ball over on downs on their next possession before Coldwater punted to give WLS the ball at their own 36 yard line with just 1:46 left in the game. After a short gain on first down, Kameron Evans ran for 60 yards for the final score of the game. Evans also ran the 2-point conversion in, making the final score 41-22.