Neal Muhlenkamp scored a key fourth-quarter touchdown and intercepted a pass on CHCA’s last drive to secure a 35-21 win and a Division V regional championship for Coldwater. The Cavaliers, who have won regional titles each of the last eight seasons, advance to face Coshocton in a state semifinal Saturday at a site to be determined.
Muhlenkamp, a senior two-way starter, was one of few Coldwater players on the field Saturday who played against CHCA last season. The Cavaliers won 44-14 in a regional semifinal game a year ago and 34-3 in a state semifinal in 2014. Coldwater looked like it could turn Saturday’s contest into another running clock affair after amassing a 28-7 lead by halftime, but CHCA made it close in the second half.
The Eagles scored on a 4-yard touchdown run by Kesean Gamble early in the third, and quarterback Danny Venatsky followed with a 5-yard touchdown run with 10:45 left in the fourth to cut Coldwater’s lead to 28-21.
But it took only 13 seconds for Coldwater to respond. After the kickoff, Muhlenkamp took a handoff and ran left and raced 75 yards up the home sideline for a touchdown. Muhlenkamp booted his fifth extra point after the run to give Coldwater a 35-21 lead with 10:32 left in the fourth quarter.
“That was a lot of fun,” Muhlenkamp said of his game-clinching touchdown run. “I was focusing on just holding onto the ball, no turnovers. We struggled with turnovers last game, but I had to focus on holding that ball, fight and get in there. I wouldn’t have gotten through without my offensive line.”
CHCA twice turned the ball over on downs in the final 10 minutes, and Muhlenkamp picked off a Venatsky pass with about 1:30 left to end CHCA’s chances at a comeback.
The Cavaliers’ offense consistently moved in the first half outside of a fumble in the first quarter. Brad Giere scored the game’s first touchdown on a 51-yard run and Nate Rindler followed later in the first to boost Coldwater’s lead to 14-0.
Gamble scored on a 2-yard run late in the first for CHCA, but Dylan Thobe threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to Zack Klosterman and a 10-yard scoring pass to Sam Broering in the second quarter to increase the lead to 28-7.
Coldwater has won four consecutive state titles, and Muhlenkamp said he and his fellow seniors don’t want the streak to stop.
“We have to forget this week now,” Muhlenkamp said. “Next week is a totally new week. We’ve got to get ready at practice, watch some film and get back at it.”
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