Coldwater wins first state title with 33-9 win
by Matt Natali
In the only state title game this year that featured a 2004 state champion, Coldwater knocked off defending Division IV champ Youngstown Cardinal Mooney 33-9.
"This is a great thrill for the program," said Coldwater head coach John Reed. "It is great to finally get the ultimate win."
Coldwater went on the board first following a six play, 60 yard drive a minute and a half into the game capped off by a 35 yard touchdown pass from all-state quarterback Steve Borger to Justin Kahlig. The Trevor Stromblad extra point failed and the Cavaliers went up 6-0 early in the title game.
Cardinal Mooney answered three minutes later with a scoring drive of their own marching 53 yards down the field in nine plays before a Will Kandray 32 yard field goal to pull within three of Coldwater.
Coldwater's Gaston Pleiman scooped up a Mooney fumbled following a sack on Cardinal back up quarterback Tony Brunetti and took it 70 yards to the end zone with three minutes left in the first quarter. The point after put Coldwater ahead 13-3 going into the second quarter.
Early in the second quarter, Coldwater was forced to punt in from their own 37 when the kick was blocked by Mooney and taken to the house by Robert Walker to put the Cardinals within four after the failed extra point.
Coldwater regrouped and put together an eight play, 73 yard scoring drive with 8:26 left in the half. Steve Borger hooked up with Brady Grier for a 22-yard touchdown strike for his second touchdown pass of the game. With the failed extra point, Coldwater went into the half with a 20-9 lead going into halftime.
Following the intermission, both Mooney and Coldwater traded possessions back and forth in third until the Cavaliers scored on a
Ross Homan 15 yard touchdown run on the first play of the final quarter following a fumble recovery. The Stromblad extra point put Coldwater on 27-9.
The Cavalier victory was sealed with a 42 yard touchdown pass from Borger to Brady Geier to top off the four play, 65 yard drive.
The championship is the first football title for Coldwater.
"Coming into the season we knew we had all the pieces to the puzzle, we jus needed to put them all together and we did," said Homan, who finished the game with 71 yards rushing on 16 carries and the touchdown on offense with 16 tackles on defense. "We knew it was our time and we had one hundred percent determination."
Geier had 106 yards receiving on four catches and a score while Borger threw for 209 yards and three touchdowns for the champion Cavaliers.
Senior Nate Burney led Mooney with 147 yards rushing on 33 carries.
"We congratulate Coldwater," said Mooney head coach P.J. Fecko after the game. "It was a hard fought game and I congratulate our guys as well."
) play host to Versailles tonight.
