Tuesday, November 29, 2005
The Coldwater High football team has lost two state championship games.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
The first two times the Coldwater High football team made it to the Division IV state final, it lost.
Could the third time be the charm?
"Well, you always hope so," said Cavaliers coach John Reed. "We're so thrilled to be here and we try not to get caught up in what has been or might have been.
"It's just a great thrill to represent Coldwater, Ohio."
The Cavaliers (14-0), the top-ranked team in Division IV, will meet defending state champion Cardinal Mooney (12-2) at 11 a.m. Saturday at Canton Fawcett Stadium.
Coldwater lost to Ursuline 49-37 in the state final in 2000 and fell to Orrville 23-21 in 1998. Ohio State quarterback Justin Zwick was a freshman starter on that Orrville team.
"In 1998, we went ahead late in that ball game and they came back and scored on a pass in the end zone," Reed said. "The official said it was a good catch so it must have been."
Record-setting game
The 2000 game was a shootout, with both teams setting several state records for points and yardage.
"They ran up and down the field and we passed up and down the field," Reed said.
"Unfortunately, we came out on the short end of that."
Coldwater has arguably its best team this season and the Cavaliers are playing some of their best football at the right time.
They're averaging 40 points per game but their defense has been the big story.
Coldwater posted its third straight shutout in last Saturday's 35-0 win over Monroe Lemon-Munroe.
Elyria Catholic is the only team to score on the Cavaliers in the postseason and that came on an interception return.
"They're an outstanding football team," Fecko said.
"I think they play well in all phases of the game, they're solid offensively and on defense and special teams.
"They're playing with a tremendous amount of confidence and they're beating up people score-wise and physically."
Strong defense
Only two teams have scored more than seven points against the Cavaliers this season: Versailles (which lost to Mooney in last year's state final) and Delphos St. John's (which is playing in the Div. VI state final).
"The defense is really playing well," Reed said. "We've just gotten stronger and stronger as the year's gone on."
On offense, the Cavaliers play a spread offense with a lot of four- and five-wide receiver sets.
Quarterback Steve Borger has completed 153-of-223 passes for 2,445 yards, 27 TDs and two interceptions.
His main target is Brady Geier, who has 44 receptions for 765 yards and 12 TDs.
Running back Ross Homan (199 carries, 1,341 yards, 25 TDs) will see the bulk of the carries, but Borger is also a threat to run. Homan also is the team's leading tackler (188, 11 for loss).
"He's a tremendous athlete and he has a good feel for the game," Fecko said of Homan.
"He definitely has all the intangibles."
Some similarities
Coldwater and Versailles are both in the Midwest Athletic Conference. While they play different styles of football (Versailles is a little more run-based), Fecko sees some similarities.
"I think they're physical like Versailles and they have a winning attitude like Versailles," said Fecko.
That said, Reed doesn't plan to seek advice from former Versailles coach Al Hetrick, who retired after last year's loss to Mooney in the final.
"We approach the game so differently," Reed said. "Not philosophically, but from an Xs and Os standpoint.
"I'm sure Al could help us, but the only reason I would talk to him is to congratulate him on his career."
scalzo@vindy.com