“We’ve had several close games like this during the year,” Otten said. “Even though we came back with two returning starters from last year, throughout the season the experience of playing in close games has taught these guys how to compete.”
Greeneview quarterback Collin Matt scored on a 49-yard touchdown run with 8:04 left in the third quarter. The touchdown, which put the Rams up 24-14, came after one of four Coldwater turnovers.
Neal Muhlenkamp scored on a 16-yard touchdown run with 6:52 left in the third quarter to bring Coldwater within 24-21. Then with 7:52 left in the fourth, Muhlenkamp again scored on a run from 16 yards out to put the Cavaliers on top 27-24 after a missed extra point.
“I had great support from my offensive line on both those runs,” Muhlenkamp said. “If it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t have got in there.”
Greeneview, who had only three first downs in the second half, had a chance to tie the game after recovering a fumbled punt return by Coldwater. The Rams tried for a 21-yard field goal with about 1:30 left, but it was partially blocked.
Griffin Mangan put Greeneview up 7-0 on a 2-yard touchdown with 2:43 left in the first. The Cavaliers were forced to punt on their next drive, but the snap sailed over the head of Thobe and was recovered by Greeneview. The Rams scored on the resulting drive on a 21-yard field goal by Bryce Wilson. Mangan followed with another 2-yard touchdown run with 3:38 left in the second to put the Rams up 17-0.
Coldwater battled back with two touchdowns in the final two minutes of the second quarter. Quarterback Dylan Thobe scored on a 6-yard touchdown run with 1:39 left, and the Cavaliers then forced Greeneview to punt with less than a minute left. After two plays, Thobe threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Muhlenkamp with 20 seconds left before halftime to cut Coldwater’s deficit to 17-14.
“Those scores gave us a little bit of momentum going into halftime,” Muhlenkamp said. “We got all our defensive things straightened out, and I think we came out and played with some heart.”
Coldwater (11-1) advances to play CHCA in a regional game for the third-straight season. The Ohio High School Athletic Association will announce all locations for round-three games on Sunday afternoon.
Greeneview finishes the season with a 9-3 overall record. It’s the third-straight year that the Rams have lost in a regional semifinal playoff game.
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