Loaded with a big and talented senior class that has been to three straight state championship games, Coldwater head football coach Chip Otten hoped for the best this season.

On Monday night, another phase of those great expectations came to fruition when the unbeaten Cavaliers (10-0) were named the Division V high school football poll champions.

“We knew it could be a good team, but the outcomes have been better than what we really expected,” said Otten of the Midwest Athletic Conference champs.

“We don’t talk about it too much, as far as polls go,” he continued. “We feel good that we’re recognized as a good program. The kids understand that. They take pride in that. They know who all the other good teams and big boys are.”

Coldwater was the only area team to be selected No. 1. Weekly voting was done by media throughout the state and forwarded to the Associated Press for distribution.

It’s the fifth time that Coldwater has been crowned a poll champ since 2002, but first in D-V. The other four were in D-IV. Coldwater also was voted poll champs in 2002, ’04, ’05 and ’08.

This was a sparse showing of high placing for area teams compared to other years. Thurgood Marshall (9-1) and Alter (8-1-1) owned the next-best positions, No. 4 and No. 5, respectively, in D-III. Covington was seventh in D-V, Marion Local seventh in D-VI and Trotwood-Madison ninth in D-II. There were no area teams among the top 10 in Divisions I and IV.

Through last season, 54 of the 188 poll champs have gone on to win a state title.

That’s what Coldwater is hoping to do. Last season Kirtland beat Coldwater in the D-V state final. Kirtland, also 10-0, was No. 2 to Coldwater in the state poll all season. The Cavs host Miami East (7-3) in a D-V, Region 20 opener on Saturday.

“Hopefully, we can get back (to their fourth straight state title game) and see what happens,” said Otten.