Cavaliers roll past Kenton

COLDWATER - The word of the night for Coldwater football coach Chip Otten was efficiency.

The Cavaliers scored on their first six possessions and totaled nearly 400 yards of offense as the defending Division V state champions shutout Kenton 42-0 on opening night at Cavalier Stadium.

Coldwater tallied 395 yards of offense (208 rushing, 187 passing) on 57 plays, an average of nearly seven yards per play, and held a 20-6 advantage on first downs.

"That's efficiency," Otten said. "If we can spread the wealth, hopefully we can keep moving the chains. A lot of those drives were several plays."

After stopping the Wildcats on the opening drive of the game, quarterback Jack Hemmelgarn engineered a nine-play drive covering 72 yards and ending with a six-yard touchdown strike to Kyle McKibben with 5:22 left in the first quarter.

McKibben set up the Cavs' next scoring drive with an interception of Kenton quarterback Trent Hites. Four plays later, Kraig Schoenherr worked the end-around for a 10-yard score to make it 14-0.

Kenton was able to muster just one first down on its next three possessions and punted away each time. Coldwater responded with touchdowns each time. Chris Post punched in from five yards out with 10 1/2 minutes to go in the half to make it 21-0. Next, Hemmelgarn found Aaron Harlamert for a 10-yard passing score with 6:54 left to make it 28-0. McKibben made a curtain call to round out the scoring - and set the stage for a running clock in the second half - with





an eight-yard scoring catch to make it 35-0 at the half.

With the game clock running throughout the second half, all that remained was for Coldwater to keep things moving. Cory Selhorst tallied the last score with 7 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter to make it 42-0. Otten started withdrawing the starters right from the start of the third quarter, with the second string playing most of the fourth quarter.

After throwing for more than 4,100 yards and leading Kenton to the Division IV state semifinals last season, Hites was held in check by the Cavalier defense. The junior was 16-for-27 for 101 yards and the interception. Only on the Wildcats' final drive of the game were they able to get into the red zone, but they were quickly pushed back.

"They're so young," Otten said of Kenton's offense, "Their receivers are all young and our DBs (defensive backs) are young guys."

While Coldwater is known for its use of multiple receivers in the Cav-Gun offense, Otten made sure the wealth was shared in the running game as well. Eleven different players had carries in the game, with Post leading the way with 91 yards on 11 carries.

"With all those good skill guys, my job is to spread the wealth," Otten said. "Five touchdowns in the first half and four different players scored. (Kenton) started out focused on Aaron and they doubled (teamed) him. (When) the other guys made plays, it was like 'Well, we can't double him anymore.' "

Hemmelgarn was efficient at quarterback, completing 15-of-18 for 179 yards and three scores. Harlamert had five catches for 74 yards, Post had two catches for 28 yards and McKibben had three catches for 22 yards and two scores.

"If we can spread the wealth with these guys and keep other teams guessing and Jack can stay accurate as he has been, hopefully we can continue," Otten said.

Coldwater stays at Cavalier Stadium next Friday to host another set of Wildcats in Delphos Jefferson. The Jeff-Cats beat Shawnee 49-0 in their opening game.