Coldwater Earns Playoff
Berth with 40-20 Win over Minster
(Wildcats Also Advance
to Postseason)
By
Bruce Monnin
COLDWATER — Two teams met at
Coldwater Friday night, both needing a win to enhance their hopes of qualifying
for the postseason. As it turns out,
both teams get to play next week, as the Coldwater Cavaliers defeated the Minster
Wildcats 40-20 to clinch their invitation, but other results also allow the
Minster Wildcats to join Coldwater in the playoffs.
Coldwater had won the last 16 meetings in this
series by an average of 24 points per game, but the start of the game looked as
though things might be different this year.
The Wildcats took the opening kickoff and used eight plays to complete
an impressive scoring drive, capped off by a one-yard Adam Kaiser touchdown
run.
On the ensuing kickoff, Minster forced a fumble
and recovered at the Cavalier 41-yard line.
In perhaps the play which turned the momentum of the game, Ross Wermert intercepted a pass on the very next play to keep
the Wildcats from extending their 7-0 lead.
Wermert had a banner game, with two
interceptions and four touchdowns on the evening.
In the second quarter, Coldwater’s offense came
to life, posting three touchdowns.
Austin Bruns completed the first drive by throwing an eight-yard scoring
strike to Wermert.
On the next Minster possession, Wermert intercepted
a pass and returned the ball 28 yards for another score. Wermert also scored
the third touchdown of the quarter on a one-yard scoring run to make the
halftime lead 19-7.
The Cavaliers started the second half by using
an eight-play drive to extend their lead to 26-7. The score came on a 17-yard throw from Bruns
to Kurt Schoenherr, part of Bruns’ 335 yards passing for the evening.
But as has often happened this season, the
Minster offense put together their own scoring drive to start the second half,
featuring six runs by Adam Kaiser, who would compile 140 yards rushing for the
game. An 18-yard touchdown pass from
Paxson to Seth Arnold closed the gap to 26-13.
Once again, Coldwater responded with two scores
of their own, putting the game out of reach.
Bruns connected with Troy Otten for a 68-yard scoring pass, and Ross Wermert followed later with a six-yard scoring run to make
the score 40-20.
“It is difficult playing a team that has won
five games in a row,” commented Coldwater coach Chip Otten after the game. “But our guys responded every time that
Minster got close.”
Minster tacked on a late touchdown when Paxson
connected with Mitchell Peoppelman for a 28-yard
score for the final tally of 40-20.
Coldwater, now 7-3, likely travels to play the
8-2 Anna Rockets next Saturday in a first round playoff matchup. Minster (5-5) has also qualified for the postseason
and will likely travel to face 9-1 Springfield Catholic Central next Friday.
|
Score
by quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
|
Coldwater
Cavaliers |
0 |
19 |
15 |
6 |
40 |
|
Minster
Wildcats |
7 |
0 |
6 |
7 |
20 |