Flyers defense too much for Cavaliers

MARIA STEIN - As much publicity as the Marion Local and Coldwater offenses get, each teams' defense is just as blistering.

The Cavaliers got to experience the Flyer defense up close Friday night, as Marion shut out Coldwater 20-0 in a battle between two of the top teams in the state at a jam-packed Booster Stadium in Maria Stein.

Marion, top-ranked in Division VII, takes over sole possession of first place in the Midwest Athletic Conference at 7-0 overall and 5-0 and extends its win streak to 29 straight games. The loss by the Cavaliers, the top team in Division V, snaps a 13-game win streak. It's the first time they have lost since falling to Marion last season.

"We haven't been on top of them a whole lot during my time here," said Marion coach Tim Goodwin, referring to his 6-10 record against Coldwater in his career. "That makes it extra special for me, personally."

"That's a good team," Coldwater coach Chip Otten said of Marion. "We didn't make the plays. They did."

Both defenses played well, but the Flyers were able to get two strong showings on their first two offensive drives of the game to score points.

After forcing Coldwater to punt on its opening drive, the Flyers started on their own 45-yard line. Even a 15-yard chop block call could not slow Marion as quarterback Dustin Rethman converted a fourth-and-four from the Coldwater 18 with a 13-yard pass to Ryan Bruns. On the next play, Jacy Goettemoeller punched in from five yards to make it 7-0.

Marion's defense forced another three-and-out by holding Coldwater to just three yards. Hunter Wilker's punt return took Marion to the Coldwater 38. Marion ran the ball nine out of its next 10 plays and the drive was capped off by a seven-yard punch-in from Goettemoeller minutes into the second quarter to make it 13-0.

At that point, the Cavaliers defense started to clamp down on the Flyers. After Marion ended a Coldwater drive with an interception of Brody Hoying by Goettemoeller, Rethman was picked off by Aaron Harlamert deep in Cavalier territory, resulting in another three-and-out.

"They were who we thought they were," Goodwin said of the Coldwater defense. "We knew they had a great defense. We knew we weren't going to score 40 points. It wasn't a surprise."  

The Cavaliers' deepest push into Marion territory came late in the second quarter as Brody Hoying attempted to get on track after Flyer pressure hampered him early. Hoying hit Kyle McKibben for a 29-yard pass to get into Flyer territory at the 31, but four straight plays resulted in a negative eight yards as an attempted backward pass was fumbled on fourth down.

"We know what they do and they do it well," Otten said. "When we had the chances to make the plays, we didn't make them."

"Football is all about matchups," Goodwin said. "We matched well against an offense like this with our smaller, speedier guys on defense. (Hoying) is a great player and they have other weapons, but our guys just played great."

While Coldwater kept the Flyers from getting another offensive score, the Flyers kept the clock moving and the yardage churning. The biggest time consuming drive came late in the fourth quarter as Marion marched 71 yards and took seven minutes off the clock before its drive stalled at the five-yard line. Hoying tried to move the team, but on a first-and-10 from the 27, Jacob Kunkler stepped in front of a Hoying pass at the 30 and ran it back for his second interception return touchdown in as many weeks to put the nail in the Cavaliers' coffin.

"He's a great linebacker and Joe Schwieterman next to him is pretty darn good, too," Goodwin said of Kunkler. "... Jacob is coming off pretty tough shoulder surgery in the offseason. He's played with a lot of pain."

"They bring it, and they're good," Otten said. "They're like us, they're fast. They prevented the big plays. Really, our defense prevented the big plays."

Goettemoeller rushed for 61 yards and two scores to lead Marion Local. Rethman was 9-of-12 for 52 yards and converted two fourth downs in the game.

Hoying was held to just 42 yards rushing on 20 carries and was 9-of-24 passing for 81 yards and two interceptions. Chris Post rushed for 48 yards.

Marion heads west on State Route 119 to face Fort Recovery next Friday. Coldwater will try to rebound against a tough Versailles squad at Cavalier Stadium.