Monday, December 9th, 2013
Hoying, defense shine in Cavaliers repeat
Coldwater knocks off Hartley in D-V state title game
By Gary R. Rasberry
Photo by Mark Pummell/The Daily Standard
Coldwater's football team celebrates its second straight Division V state championship on Saturday in Massillon after the Cavaliers knocked off Columbus Bishop Hartley 24-7.
MASSILLON - As has been the case for most of the season, when an opponent began to make things interesting, Coldwater's football team worked its magic to put the game out of reach.
The Cavaliers made numerous defensive stops and quarterback Brody Hoying put the game on ice in the fourth quarter as Coldwater captured its second straight Division V state football championship with a 24-7 victory over Columbus Bishop Hartley on Saturday at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium in Massillon.
It's the fourth state title in nine years for Coldwater (13-2) while Hartley ends its season at 13-2, with both losses coming to the Cavaliers.
"For our seniors, I'm proud of them," said Cavaliers coach Chip Otten. "They came back with just about three returning starters and not sure who would fill spots and how the pieces fit. The talk around town was that this would be the year that breaks the streak of not making the playoffs (Coldwater made its 18th straight postseason appearance this season). For us to be sitting here, and winning, I'm so happy for them. They proved that if you hang together, stick together and work hard, you have a shot."
Hartley moved the ball well on its opening offensive possession, taking over six minutes off the clock with a 16-play drive led by Hawks running backs Sam Mackowiak and Quri Hickman. But when the Hawks got to the Coldwater 16-yard line, the Cavaliers defense stepped up and prevented a score.
That proved to be the theme for the Hawks most of the game. Hartley had decent drives that included five trips into the red zone, but turnovers on downs or giveaways only allowed the Hawks to score seven points.
"That first drive, you always adjust to the speed," said senior defensive end Andrew Schwieterman. "We had an idea what's going on because the scout team and coaches got us ready during the week. Got the feel for it and went from there."
"The first time we played them (a 41-16 Cavaliers' win in week two), we had success between the 20s, so to speak. Once you got inside the 20, you were hard-pressed," said Hartley coach Brad Burchfield. "(Coldwater is) so well-coached and well-disciplined. You fight for every yard against a ball team like that,"
After a scoreless first quarter, Coldwater's offense went to work and drew first blood as Matt Kramer booted a 30-yard field goal with 7:45 on the clock before halftime.
After Coldwater stopped another Hartley drive, the Cavaliers' offense heated up once again. Hoying connected on a 23-yard pass to Mitch Schoenherr to move the chains and the duo found success through the air again to give the Cavs the ball on the Hawks' 9-yard line. Hoying then did the rest of the work on a nine-yard run that put the Cavaliers on top 10-0 at halftime.
The Cavaliers had possession of the ball to start the second half, but on the first play, Schoenherr fumbled and Hartley recovered the ball at the Cavaliers' 45-yard line. The Hawks' offense then struck quickly. Hartley receiver Alonzo Saxton hit Jacob Mercier with a 30-yard pass and then Hawks quarterback Jared Brandewie, son of former Fort Loramie and Ohio State basketball player Tom Brandewie, rushed for the final 15 yards for a score to cut Coldwater's lead to 10-7 with 10:44 remaining in the third quarter.
"We were joking in practice earlier in the week, running through it (the receiver pass play) and thought it would actually work," said Saxton, the Division V state co-defensive player of the year. "I had never passed before, so everyone would come down (towards the line) and Jacob would be open deep. We felt like we had something with it."
Coldwater punted the ball away on its next possession but looked to have caught a break when Mitch Fullenkamp recovered a Brandewie fumble at Hartley's 19-yard line. However, the Cavaliers' attempt at a trick play misfired as Kramer's receiver option pass was picked off by Mercier.
Hartley then gobbled up time off the clock with a 15-play drive, but as the Hawks entered the red zone on a first-and-10 at Coldwater's 16-yard line, Nick Clune sacked Brandewie. Then on the next play, Hoying came up with an interception to give the Cavaliers the ball at the 36-yard line.
"A change in momentum can change the game. Everyone knows that," said Hoying of the interception. "We got the swing of momentum and never lost it."
Hoying and Schoenherr kept the ball on the ground, grinding out a 10-play drive that took 5:13 off the clock. Hoying capped the drive with a three-yard TD run that put the Cavaliers on top 17-7.
The Cavaliers defense then stepped up again as Brandewie was sacked on two straight plays and then overthrew Saxton on a fourth-and-17 to give Coldwater the ball on the Hawks' 37-yard line. After a Schoenherr five-yard run, Hoying iced the game with a 32-yard rushing score with just 2:46 left to play in the game.
"That was the best feeling I had," said Hoying of his third touchdown run of the game. "When I turned around (to see if any defenders were behind him), I was like 'We just did it!' That was the play that sealed the victory. That's an indescribable feeling."
Coldwater's offense kept the ball on the ground for the most part, with 33 rushes for 190 yards with Hoying (145 yards) and Schoenherr (45 yards) doing all the toting. Hoying was 7-of-12 passing for 83 yards.
"It's been like that all through the playoffs," said Otten about keeping the ball on the ground. "Between Brody and Mitch, we try different formations and run the same plays. We don't have a lot of plays. The linemen have about four run plays."
"He's really good," said Burchfield of Hoying. "I thought a lot of times until the very end, I thought we did a good job. He's going to get some (yards) and scramble some, but I thought defensively we did a good job on him for a while. A great football player, no question."
Hartley edged Coldwater in total offense by a 278-273 margin. Hartley had 206 rushing yards but 2,000-yard rusher Mackowiak was limited to 58 yards on 20 carries. Brandewie was 4-of-11 passing for 42 yards.
"Both defenses played well," said Brandewie. "They did a good job getting pressure on us today."
Photo by Mark Pummell/The Daily Standard
Coldwater's Mitch Fullenkamp, 50, and Mitch Schoenherr, back right, lead the way on a running play for quarterback Brody Hoying during Saturday's Division V state championship game against Bishop Hartley in Massillon. Coldwater defeated Hartley 24-7 to repeat as Division V state champions.
Photo by Mark Pummell/The Daily Standard
Coldwater's Mitch Schoenherr runs away from the Bishop Hartley defense during Saturday's Division V state championship game in Massillon. Schoenherr rushed for 45 yards in the Cavaliers' 24-7 win.
Photo by Mark Pummell/The Daily Standard
Coldwater football coach Chip Otten talks with a player on the sideline during Saturday's D-V state championship game against Bishop Hartley.
Photo by Mark Pummell/The Daily Standard
Coldwater's Austin Klosterman sacks Bishop Hartley quarterback Jared Brandewie during Saturday's Division V state championship game.
Photo by Mark Pummell/The Daily Standard
Coldwater's Matt Kramer kicked a 30-yard field goal to give the Cavaliers a 3-0 lead early in the D-V state championship game. He also added a trio of PAT kicks in Coldwater's 24-7 win.
