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Home > Blogs > High School Huddle > Archives > 2009 > November > 28 > Entry
Alter advances to state final with 31-6 win against Coshocton
COLUMBUS — Alter will get a chance to defend its Division IV state championship at 11 a.m. Saturday in Canton after defeating Coshocton 31-6 in a state semifinal on Saturday, Nov. 28, at Hamilton Township High School.
Alter trailed 6-0 after the first possession but scored 31 straight points. It was similar to last week against Clinton-Massie, when the Knights trailed 7-0 after one possession and won 32-7.
The Knights got 140 yards and two touchdowns from running back Cody Taulbee and 109 yards and two scores from junior quarterback Zane Pitzer. The defense also stiffened against a Coshocton offense that scored on the opening possession and drove to the Alter 18-yard line on the second possession.
Fourth quarter, 7:21 left: After throwing an interception on the previous drive deep in the red zone, Alter stopped Coshocton and got a 2-yard touchdown run from Cody Taulbee — his second of the night —Â to take a 31-6 lead. Taulbee has rushed 18 times for 140 yards with scoring runs of 8 and 2 yards.
Third quarter, 3:49 left: After Cody Conley’s interception, Alter went 40 yards in five plays and got the second touchdown of the night by quarterback Zane Pitzer on a 4-yard run to take a 24-6 lead.
Third quarter, 5:41 left: Alter’s Andrew DiMario kicked a 24-yard field goal to close a 12-play, 74-yard drive as the Knights took a 17-6 lead after the first drive of the second half. Alter had first-and-10 at the Coshocton 11-yard line but failed to push in for a touchdown as DiMario kicked just his second field goal of the season.
Alter then quickly got an interception by linebacker Cody Conley on Coshocton’s first play of the next possession to set up first-and-10 at the 40-yard line.
Halftime: Four Alter players have combined for 180 rushing yards as Alter has taken a 14-6 halftime lead in its Division IV state semifinal against Coshocton.
Junior quarterback Zane Pitzer has led Alter with 63 rushing yards on 8 carries in the half, including a 3-yard touchdown with 50.5 seconds left in the first half. Cody Taulbee has added 58 yards on 11 carries and the other touchdown, an 8-yard run with 3:21 left in the first quarter.
Alter, like it did last week, rebounded from giving up a rushing touchdown on the opponent’s first drive — in this case a 25-yard run to Coshocton’s Marcus Johnston — to take a halftime lead.
Second quarter, 50.5 seconds left: Declining to kick a field goal on fourth-and-2 from the 3-yard line, Alter got a touchdown from Zane Pitzer to take a 14-6 lead. The score gave the junior quarterback 63 yards rushing on 8 carries.
Second quarter, 5:14 left: After stopping Coshocton on a fourth-and-1 play at the Alter 18-yard line, the Knights were stopped on their second possession at the Coshocton 41-yard line and have punted. Alter still has its 7-6 lead.
First quarter, 3:21 left: Alter followed a Coshocton touchdown with an 80-yard drive closed by an 8-yard scoring run by Cody Taulbee, and the Knights took a 7-6 lead with the extra point by Andrew DiMario.
First quarter, 10:02 left: Coshocton, like Clinton-Massie did last week against Alter, has opened with a touchdown on its first possession. On the sixth play, Marcus Johnston ran for a 25-yard touchdown, but the extra point was missed for a 6-0 Coshocton lead.
Pregame, 5:56 p.m.: Several members of the Coshocton football team just took the Hamilton Township High School field for warm-ups, and the Coshocton crowd is already rowdy in the home-side stands, with bells and cheers roaring.
Alter came next to prepare for the Division IV state semifinal, the Knights’ second straight after they won last season’s D-IV state title.
Alter (13-0) is hoping to make its third appearance in the state title game. The Knights lost to Steubenville in 2006 before winning the title last season. In getting this far, Alter has topped Jonathan Alder, Carlisle and Clinton-Massie by a combined score of 115-7.
Coshocton (11-2) got out of D-IV, Region 15 as the No. 5 seed by beating Zanesville West Muskingum (55-35), Amanda-Clearcreek (15-12) and Ironton (20-14 in overtime). The Redskins are making their first state semifinal appearance.
Here’s a piece of trivia about D-IV. Alter is making its seventh state semifinal appearance. Each of the other semifinalists — Coshocton, Chagrin Falls (13-0) and Ottawa-Glandorf (11-2) are all making their first trip this far into the tournament.
Permalink | Comments (15) | Post your comment | Categories: Football
Comments
By ramfan
November 28, 2009 10:05 PM | Link to this
As long as Alter remians in D4, nothing they do is impressive. At least there are a few quality opponenets in D3.
By Vet-n-Pat
November 28, 2009 10:41 PM | Link to this
Divisions are established by OHSAA to ensure like-sized schools compete against like-sized schools. I am certain Alter’s administration would be happy to have a student body that moved them up to Div 3, 2, or 1.
By brutus
November 28, 2009 11:20 PM | Link to this
Since it cost $8,000 a year to attend Alter , I agree Vet-n -Pat yes they would love a few more students…and they would still win. Its about good kids who want to excel at books and sports. Choshocton players came out talking trash before the game even started, for those that were there you know what iam talking about. The Alter kids kept it classy and and left it on the field. Go Knights
By Tom_R
November 28, 2009 11:58 PM | Link to this
Ramfan and all others bashing Alter saying they limit students to stay in D IV….wasn’t Coldwater in D IV last year and now in D V? Using your logic are we to believe they “dropped” to D V so they could win football games?
By MTP
November 29, 2009 4:52 AM | Link to this
Well Tom_R, I wonder if Coldwater is now allowed to go get more talent from surrounding school districts?
By Tim
November 29, 2009 8:09 AM | Link to this
It amazes me how many people come on here and try to downplay the achievements of a team like Alter just because their team is no longer playing. My local team fell in week 11 but I have to admire a team like Alter that still has a chance to win it all. Good luck next week in the Championship game!
By Uncle Dave
November 29, 2009 9:08 AM | Link to this
Brutus- You’re right. #6 on Choshocton should have been ejected for crossing the trash talk line. That’s why nobody cared when he lay hurt in the endzone in the second quarter. Alter is a class act. People whine about “recruitment”. I like to think of it as choice. Choice of a better place to send their kids in order to make them responsible, respectable and educated adults. Do those crybabys realize that we pay taxes in addition to tuition that support THEIR local schools? As far as size or division, Alter does more with less. There is still only 11 players on the field at one time. I say bring on the bigger schools. They will fall like the others… GOOD LUCK KNIGHTS!!! I’ll be there in Canton next week to cheer you on to your BACK TO BACK STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS!!!
By Andrea
November 29, 2009 9:30 AM | Link to this
If Alter was a Division 1 or 2 team, people would cry they are stealing all the good players. If they were Division 6 they would cry about not playing with the BIG boys. These are good kids, smart kids and kids that will grow up and be YOUR kid’s bosses. Their bumper stickers should say: MY KID WILL REPRESENT YOUR KID IN COURT SOMEDAY. Go Knights. Win State!
By Ron Ullery
November 29, 2009 9:44 AM | Link to this
Did anyone ever stop to think it’s not the kids that make the difference but the Coaching staff? I like the trivia part. “Alter is making its seventh state semifinal appearance. Each of the other semifinalists — Coshocton, Chagrin Falls (13-0) and Ottawa-Glandorf (11-2) are all making their first trip this far into the tournament”. Good Luck Coach Domicites and all your team Coaches and Trainers. You have built one heck of a program!
By Alter Parent
November 29, 2009 10:08 AM | Link to this
Well said Mr. Ullery! Alter’s coaching staff is among the top in the area. Just take a look at the other school sports that have made it into the State Championships. Alter Lady Knights Basketball, Cross Country and Track. These kids play well because of the respect they have for their teammates, coaches and school.
By zman
November 29, 2009 11:55 AM | Link to this
Well Well here we go again the whiners complainers and the jealous hearted. Alter is on the move again doing what it takes to win(legaly that is) a state title. Hey heres a tip if you want to know how its done sit back and take note on building a “Program”. Its starts with a coach with Integrity. Then a adminstration who is supportive of that coach. Then it takes parents who are committed to that coach and his rules and expectations of the student athelete. Work hard be smart and be fair….
By zman
November 29, 2009 11:55 AM | Link to this
Well Well here we go again the whiners complainers and the jealous hearted. Alter is on the move again doing what it takes to win(legaly that is) a state title. Hey heres a tip if you want to know how its done sit back and take note on building a “Program”. Its starts with a coach with Integrity. Then a adminstration who is supportive of that coach. Then it takes parents who are committed to that coach and his rules and expectations of the student athelete. Work hard be smart and be fair….
By zman
November 29, 2009 11:56 AM | Link to this
Well Well here we go again the whiners complainers and the jealous hearted. Alter is on the move again doing what it takes to win(legaly that is) a state title. Hey heres a tip if you want to know how its done sit back and take note on building a “Program”. Its starts with a coach with Integrity. Then a adminstration who is supportive of that coach. Then it takes parents who are committed to that coach and his rules and expectations of the student athelete. Work hard be smart and be fair….
By Vet-n-Pat
November 29, 2009 12:39 PM | Link to this
Thanks to all who understand that little schools aren’t little on purpose. Small schools don’t play small football. As a point of reference, the QB who led the team that beat Alter two years ago led #5 UC to four wins this year. Also, thanks for talking about the qualities that draw people to Alter. I was a scholarship student at Alter for my freshman year, paid for by my parish. I worked and paid my tuition The only sports I played was tennis as a sophomore, the first year Alter had tennis. Forty years later I see attending Alter one of the key decisions in my life.
By dude
December 1, 2009 9:46 AM | Link to this
Mr. Ullery, you should learn how to spell Ed Domsitz name before you post and make the real Ron Ullery angry. Alter parent dosen’t even know who Ullery is and had no idea that Ed’s name was spelled wrong. Andrea, you kid will not represent my kid in court one day. My kid will be sitting behind the bench telling your kid to sit down and shut up. Zman, if you would quit dotting all you T’s and crossing all you I’s you wouldn’t be posting the same thing three times. This is correct, Ed Domsitz is a good football coach. He learned from one of the best.