Punt Returns Key Coldwater Victory

By Bruce Monnin

COLDWATER — Sometimes at the end of a game, a brief look at the statistics will lead you to believe the score must have been close. The final statistics between the Coldwater Cavaliers and the Minster Wildcats showed the two teams approximately even in first downs, total yards and turnovers. However, the Cavaliers were able to include two punt returns for touchdowns to get the early jump on the Wildcats and hold on for a 35-13 victory.

“Anytime you get two punt returns for scores in a game it is very good,” commented Coldwater coach Chip Otten after the game. “Sometimes you only get two of them in a season. Our punt return guru, Coach Wright, says if you believe you can return punts all the way, you can get it accomplished.”

The Cavaliers looked like they would run away with the game before the fans had time to settle into their seats. After receiving the opening kickoff, Coldwater needed just seven plays to march 67 yards for a touchdown. Brody Hoying capped off the drive with the first of his three scoring runs, this one from 13 yards out.

The Cavalier defense held Minster to just 2 yards in their opening series, forcing a punt. Drew Otten received the ball near midfield and took it all 52 yards for a second score. The extra point made the score 14-0 less than three minutes into the game.

Later in the quarter the Wildcats would put together their best drive of the half. After Paul Dues intercepted a pass near midfield, Minster would use a mid-range passing attack to complete four passes of over ten yards each. Josh Nixon connected with Ethan Wolf for the 18-yard touchdown pass to make the score 14-7.

At that point, Minster appeared to have recaptured some of the momentum. But early in the second quarter, the Coldwater punt return unit struck again. This time it was Adam Klosterman who broke through the Wildcat coverage team for a 62-yard score, regaining the 14-point lead for the Cavaliers.

The Coldwater defense continued to lock down the Minster offense and the Cavalier offense kept the ball rolling with two more Hoying touchdown runs before half. A 32-yard score made the score 28-7 and another 17-yard run in final minutes of the half sent Coldwater into the locker room with a 35-7 lead.

Coldwater used a dominating performance by their defensive line to limit the Wildcat rushing game and to bat down a number of passes at the line of scrimmage. “We owned the defensive line,” confirmed Otten. “We felt like we were in control, but it got a little shaky in the fourth quarter.”

The third quarter saw each team have the ball only one time, with each team reaching inside the opponent’s 30-yard line before turning the ball over on downs. But Minster struck early in the fourth quarter, as Nixon found Eli Wolf streaking down the middle of the field for a 62-yard touchdown reception, making the score 35-13.

The Wildcats would threaten two more times, but the Coldwater defense would rise to the occasion each time. Minster would reach the Coldwater nine-yard line with a little over four minutes remaining, but a fourth down sack ended that threat. Minster would again reach the Coldwater 18-yard line in the final two minutes, but Brandon Kuck stopped the final Wildcat drive with an interception.

Coldwater, now 4-1, takes to the road to face rival St. Henry (1-4). 2-3 Minster will return home for an Oktoberfest special against 2-3 Anna in a huge region 22 matchup.

Score by quarter 1 2 3 4 Total

Coldwater 14 21 0 0 35

Minster 7 0 0 6 13

First Quarter:

CW – Brody Hoying 13 yd run (Matt Kramer kick), 10:17

CW – Drew Otten 52 yd punt return (Matt Kramer kick), 9:19

MIN – Ethan Wolf 18 yd pass from Josh Nixon (Jason Schultz kick), 4:05

Second Quarter:

CW – Adam Klosterman 62 yd punt return (Matt Kramer kick), 10:10

CW – Brody Hoying 31 yd run (Matt Kramer kick), 8:10

CW – Brody Hoying 17 yd run (Matt Kramer kick), 2:20

Fourth Quarter:

MIN – Eli Wolf 62 yd pass from Josh Nixon, 7:04

Team statistics CW MIN

First downs 17 17

Rushes - yards 26-200 31-106

Passing yards 148 234

Comp - att - int 13-25-1 15-37-1

Total yards 348 340

Return yards 180 30

Punts - average 2-26.0 5-30.6

Fumbles - lost 2-1 1-0

Penalties - yards 2-20 1-10

Time of possession 21:01 26:59

Individual statistics

Rushing: Coldwater, Hoying 13-153, Post 10-28, Klosterman 2-12, Schoenherr 1-7; Minster, Stechschulte 19-77, Nixon 8-19, Eli Wolf 1-6, S Dues 1-2, P Dues 2-2

Passing: Coldwater, Hoying 13-25-1-148; Minster, Nixon 15-37-1-234

Receiving: Coldwater, Kramer 4-40, Klosterman 3-77, Otten 2-12, Schoenherr 1-8, Bills 1-5, Harlamert 1-5, Post 1-1; Minster, Eli Wolf 6-114, Ethan Wolf 5-52, Stechschulte 2-13, J Dues 1-31, Huelsman 1-24