Saturday, August 24th, 2024
Cavs stay focused to win on emotional night
By Michael Frank
Photo by Nick Wenning/The Daily Standard
Coldwater's Cody Depweg tries to get past a group of Valley View runners during Friday's season opener at Cavalier Stadium. The Cavaliers picked up the 38-0 victory.
COLDWATER - It was an excellent performance under very difficult circumstances.
The Coldwater football team opened its 2024 season Friday with a 38-0 win over Valley View at Cavalier Stadium.
The victory came just a day after senior center Cale Wenning died from the injuries suffered in an electric bicycle accident. A moment of silence was held before the game as fans from both teams wore orange and black and the Coldwater team carried a flag bearing Wenning's number 70.
"You have to compartmentalize," was what Coldwater coach Chip Otten said to his team before the game. "We have a saying 'Be where you are at.' It's good that we played. Otherwise, the kids would be just sitting around."
While Otten, who tied John Reed for career wins at Coldwater with his 168th victory, noted that his team was able to focus on the game, he added "but obviously, there will be feelings as they deal with the visitation and so forth."
The Cavaliers scored two touchdowns in each of the first two quarters, and another to start the second half. The rest of the game was played with a running clock.
Coldwater won the toss and deferred. Valley View started at the 22. They got just across midfield in seven plays before having to punt.
The kick traveled less than five yards before going out of bounds, giving the Cavaliers a short field on their first possession.
On second down, Baylen Blockberger faked a handoff then ran to the right, gaining 26 yards. After a couple short runs, Blockberger moved the chains with an 11-yard throw to Cody Depweg. The Spartans made a stop, but Blockberger then found Ethan Elander in the end zone for a 12-yard score with 6:15 to play.
Valley View's ensuing drive ended when Aaron Kaup picked off Anthony Vanetti to set the Cavaliers at the Spartan 44.
Blockberger wasted no time, dropping back and finding Cadin Obringer streaking down the middle of the field for the touchdown with 4 1/2 minutes to go in the opening quarter.
Photo by Nick Wenning/The Daily Standard
Coldwater's Miles Pottkotter gets ahold of Valley View's Anthony Valenti during Friday's game at Cavalier Stadium. The Cavaliers won an emotional 38-0 game while paying tribute to teammate Cale Wenning, who died on Thursday.
Coldwater's next score came with 6:53 left in the first half. After a Spartans' pass interference call put the Cavlaiers at the Valley View 12, Braxton Taylor went the distance to make it 21-0.
After Valley View went three-and-out, Coldwater needed four plays to get the final score of the half on Blockberger's 36-yard strike to Mason Welsch with 4:48 to play in the half.
The Cavaliers started the running clock when Caleb Schroer caught a pass from Blockberger on a slant route for an 11-yard score to make it 35-0 with 6:48 to play in the third quarter. returned the second half kick to their 33. Pottkotter broke loose for his longest run of the night, a 20-yarder to get across midfield to the Spartans' 43.
Bryce Couchot, who connected on all five PATs, wrapped up the scoring with a 32-yard field goal with eight minutes to go.
Blockberger finished his night completing 10 of 12 passes for 163 yards. Obringer had 44 yards on his scoring catch with Schroer and Welsch each finishing with 41 yards. Taylor rushed for 68 yards. As per usual for Coldwater, six different players caught passes and eight got at least one carry on the night.
"We like to spread the wealth," Otten said. "When you can have six or eight guys get involved, that's a good night."
For the Spartans, Valenti ran 11 times for 44 yards. Tristan Smith ran four times for 25 yards.
Coldwater (1-0) will travel to Clinton-Massie next Friday for the team's first meeting since 2018. The start time will be at 7:30 p.m.
