Coldwater stops CHCA for 20th straight win

The Coldwater Cavaliers have embraced their 2015 team slogan: Fast, Loose and Focused.

Friday night they unleashed it on another opponent with a defense that was all three. When Coldwater’s 44-14 triumph against Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy was over, CHCA coach Eric Taylor added another word — aggressive — to the Cavs’ battle cry.

“They play fast on defense and are very aggressive,” Taylor said. “We knew we had to score some points against them. Obviously 14 is not going to get it done.”

It hasn’t yet.

The Cavaliers (12-0) entered Friday’s Division V, Region 18 semifinal outscoring opponents 423-48. That the Eagles trailed 21-6 at halftime was actually an accomplishment. Their TD was the second the Cavs had allowed in the first half all season.

Coldwater’s 20th straight victory took a little bit to get going. Coldwater led 14-0 midway through the second quarter before putting the game out of reach with three third-quarter scores.

It was 41-6 before CHCA scored again with nine minutes left in the fourth quarter

“It’s kind of nice to have the target on our back sometimes,” Coldwater quarterback Jack Hemmelgarn said. “But you have to be ready for it, though. It was a great team win.”

Hemmelgarn completed 18-of-20 passes for 208 yards and touchdowns to Kyle McKibben and Chris Post. Post, who had 101 yards receiving on five catches, also rushed for 120 yards and two TDs on 20 carries.

Coldwater finished with 410 yards of offense to CHCA’s 273.

“We have a lot of confidence, but it takes a lot of discipline and hard work,” Hemmelgarn said of keeping the Cavs’ march toward a fourth straight Division V state title going. “Offensively we did what we had to do and the defense did great.”

Up next for Coldwater is Brookville (12-0), a 49-7 winner against Greeneview. Coldwater and Brookville play 7:30 p.m. Friday at a site to be announced Sunday afternoon by the Ohio High School Athletic Association. The winner advances to the state semifinals

“When you get there it’s hard to go back (to not winning state championships),” Coldwater coach Chip Otten said. “There’s going to be a time when it’s not going to go our way. I guess I’m old enough to understand that’s going to happen.”

Friday night wasn’t that time.

About the Author