Rockets run past Cavs

ANNA - Anna quarterback Bart Bixler and running back Riley Huelskamp were referred to as a two-headed monster by Coldwater coach Chip Otten leading up two Friday's game.

That duo was scary good against Coldwater.

Bixler accounted for five touchdowns (three rushing, two passing), while Huelskamp added a pair of scoring runs as the fifth-ranked Rockets stunned Division VI's top-ranked Cavaliers - and everybody else paying attention to the game - with a 49-8 victory at Booster Field.

"We didn't think we'd win by that many points," Anna coach Nick Marino said. "We played well and they didn't. They're a better football team than what they played tonight and we expect they're going to be good the rest of the year. I expect them to maybe win two more games and get into the playoffs."

Rockets-Cavaliers Part 2 could happen again in the playoffs, too. With two games remaining in the regular season, Anna, Coldwater, Minster and Marion Local are in a four-way tie for the Midwest Athletic Conference lead. The Wildcats edged the Flyers on Friday, leaving all four teams with one loss in conference play. Coldwater and Marion Local meet in Week 10.

Anna (7-1, 5-1 MAC) scored the first five times it touched the ball on Friday, took a 42-0 lead into halftime and outgained Coldwater for the game 397-172.

Coldwater (7-1, 5-1 MAC) never sniffed midfield in the first half. A good portion of the Cavaliers' yardage total came on Alex Knapke's 61-yard with 8:16 remaining in the game.

"They physically took it to us," Coldwater coach Chip Otten said. "We talked about their two backs. Even the times when we were in position, they were quicker and faster and just beat us. When we had chances, we dropped some balls, you know, they batted some down. Their 'D' line was getting some movement and driving us back. Overall, they were more physical."

Anna had three third-down conversions and one fourth-down pick up in its first two drives. Anna went on an eight-play, 66-yard drive on its opening possession - the key play was a 21-yard scramble by Bixler on a third-and-12 from the Cav 44. He had a 23-yard touchdown sprint on the next play, with an extra point by Zach Ambos giving Anna a 7-0 with 8:49 to play in the first quarter.

Bixler was just getting warmed up.

After another short series by Coldwater and a nine-yard punt, Bixler faked an option pitch to Riley Huelskamp and burst through a gap for a 26-yard touchdown with just over four minutes left in the first. And Bixler capped the quarter his third TD run, this one from 12 yards out.

Coldwater got stopped going for it on a fourth-and-one from its own 33 early in the second quarter. What followed immediately after was Bixler hitting a wide-open Jeffrey Richards for a 33-yard touchdown, making it 28-0 with 10:56 remaining in the half.

It went from bad to worse for Coldwater, which fumbled the ball away to begin its next series. And less than a minute after that score, Huelskamp rolled into the end zone from nine yards out.

With 13 seconds left before halftime, Bixler capped his five-touchdown half with a three-yard dime to Hayen Huelskamp.

Coldwater's lone highlight in the first half came next with Zack McKibben busting off an 80-yard kick return. But Jake Hemmelgarn's pass to the end zone went through the hands of a receiver … it was just that kind of night for the Cavs.

Huelskamp had an athletic scoring run on Anna's opening drive of the second half - breaking to the outside, tip-toeing the sideline and leaping about a couple yards to avoid a tackle before getting in for a 32-yard score.

Finally, Coldwater had something to cheer about in the fourth quarter as Knapke ran for his 61-yard score.

Hemmelgarn finished 9-of-20 passing for 72 yards, and was held without a touchdown for the first time this season. Noah Miller had four catches for 37 yards.

"We matched up pretty well in the secondary," Marino said "Our defensive front seven also played really well. They got after it tonight."

"Physically up front, the things we thought would work didn't," Otten added. "They were just getting after us and their front three guys are just big, stout kids. They were mixing blitzes. Their secondary is good. They can afford to play man on your wideouts and they press them. We didn't make them pay, so then they walked their safeties down in there and had extra guys getting in on those plays when the safeties normally aren't in there."

Anna's two-headed monster ran amok, with Bixler tallying 161 yards on 15 carries and Huelskamp adding 148 on 20 totes.

"Both of them did a lot tonight," said Marino, whose team has won three straight since losing to Marion Local 17-14 on Sept. 27. "A lot of attention goes to Riley and that leaves Bart open. It's hard to defend."

Now it's back to the drawing board for Otten and the Cavaliers, who realize there's still a lot of football left to be played.

"If we can beat St. Henry and we can beat Marion Local, then we can still get a share of the title," Otten said. "If we can win those two games, then we'll be in the playoffs. You try to regroup. … Not many teams go undefeated - I think there were 10 undefeated teams in Division VI at this point. You just try to regroup, and we will."

Coldwater hosts St. Henry next week in the Backyard Battle. Anna visits Parkway.