Ohio: Coldwater clocks Kirtland, in 31-7 victory to win Division VI Championship (PHOTO GALLERY)

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Sykotyk | December 7, 2024

The Coldwater Cavaliers showcased a potent offensive attack and a stifling defense en route to a convincing victory over the Kirtland Hornets. While the final score wasn’t overly reflective of the game’s dominance, the Cavaliers’ superior field position and big-play ability proved too much for the Hornets to overcome. The Cavaliers’ first drive stalled after a mishandled snap resulted in a nine-yard loss, forcing a punt after a mere 15 yards. However, Coldwater quickly found their rhythm. Their second drive, a 77-yard masterpiece, culminated in a 14-yard touchdown run by Miles Pottkotter, fueled by a crucial 55-yard completion earlier in the drive. The Cavaliers continued their offensive onslaught in the third drive, marching 70 yards downfield. This time, it was Baylen Blockberger finding Mason Welsch for a five-yard touchdown pass. Two key penalties aided this drive: a 15-yard roughing the punter penalty and a 15-yard defensive pass interference call against the Hornets. Coldwater wasn’t done yet. Another impressive 73-yard drive concluded with Blockberger connecting with Welsch once more, this time for a 17-yard touchdown, putting the Cavaliers firmly in control heading into halftime.

The second half saw a shift in momentum, with both teams struggling to gain sustained yardage. Coldwater punted on their first possession after gaining only 19 yards. However, the Cavaliers’ defense came up big when defensive lineman Noah Welsch recovered a fumble in the endzone for a touchdown, extending their lead. Coldwater added to their lead with a 24-yard field goal by Bryce Couchout, further cementing their dominance. Subsequent punts by both teams closed out the scoring for the Cavaliers. Kirtland struggled offensively throughout the game, consistently failing to maintain drives. Their longest drive, a 76-yard march in the third quarter, resulted in an 11-yard touchdown run by Jake LaVerde; however, this was a lone bright spot in an otherwise lackluster performance. The Hornets struggled to advance the ball consistently, and penalties hampered their efforts, including a 15-yard personal foul penalty in the second quarter. While the final score wasn’t a complete blowout, the Cavaliers’ superior offensive execution and their defense’s ability to force turnover on downs and capitalize on penalties created a significant gap between the two teams. Coldwater’s ability to consistently gain substantial yardage on their drives ultimately sealed their victory. The Hornets, on the other hand, needed to improve their offensive efficiency and reduce penalties to compete in today’s game.

Coldwater’s Miles Pottkotter led the offense with 127 rushing yards (23 carries, 1 TD, 5.5 yards/carry). Baylen Blockberger added 24 rushing yards and led the team in passing with 133 yards (8-of-12, 2 TDs). Cadin Obringer had 94 receiving yards (2 receptions). For Kirtland, Jake LaVerde led in rushing with 80 yards (13 carries, 1 TD, 6.2 yards/carry) and passed for 44 yards (4-of-11). John Silvestro rushed for 49 yards, and Danny Alfieri added 40. Ryan Caimi led Kirtland’s receivers with 34 yards (3 receptions).

Article courtesy of Yappi.com

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