Monday, November 21st, 2022
No cold spell for Cards
New Bremen shuts out Fort Loramie to advance
By Gary R. Rasberry
Photo by Paige Sutter/The Daily Standard
New Bremen quarterback David Homan looks for an open receiver as Fort Loramie's Roger Hoying (54) closes in during Saturday's Division VII regional final at Sidney Memorial Stadium.
SIDNEY - Mother Nature made her presence known at Sidney Memorial Stadium with a strong cold wind and occasional snow squalls.
New Bremen brushed off the cold winds and came up big on both sides of the ball to win the Division VII Region 28 football championship with a 24-0 win over Fort Loramie on Saturday night.
The Cardinals (11-3) travels to Wapakoneta this Saturday to face Lima Central Catholic. The Thunderbirds defeated Antwerp 43-7 in the Region 26 final. The Redskins, which defeated MAC teams St. Henry and Minster in the postseason, ends its season at 11-3.
"It's a testament to the kids and the kids before them who made the conscious effort to build the program and try and make it something special," said New Bremen coach Chris Schmidt.
"It feels good to win and beat a quality opponent like (Fort Loramie). It's good to see our kids execute on a high level."
Photo by Paige Sutter/The Daily Standard
New Bremen's Hayden Zeller (83) chases Fort Loramie quarterback Caleb Maurer during Saturday's Divison VII regional final at Sidney Memorial Stadium. The Cardinals advanced to the state semifinals with a 24-0 victory over the Redskins.
New Bremen won the coin toss and deferred, forcing Fort Loramie - and 3,000-yard passer Caleb Maurer - to throw into the wind to start the game. The plan came to fruition perfectly, as the Redskins managed just three yards on the ground on the first series and punted. The Cardinals set up shop on their 43 and needed just five plays to hit paydirt. David Homan used a 33-yard run to get Bremen to the Loramie 2, where Hunter Schaefer punched in 3 1/2 minutes into the game for the winning score.
Fort Loramie tried to drive on its next series, but a third-and-1 turned into a fourth-and-6 as Maurer was brought down in the backfield for a loss. The punt put New Bremen at its own 14, but the Cardinals quickly moved downfield as Homan and Schaefer gained positive yards nearly every play. Schaefer found an opening on a second-and-13 from the Loramie 45 and dashed to the end zone to make it 14-0 after Schaefer knocked in the PAT.
New Bremen's defense kept the Redskins at bay, forcing another punt, and after the Cardinals were flagged for roughing the punter on the next drive, Grant Dicke picked off Maurer. The Cardinals took six minutes off the clock, but stalled at the Redskin 4, where Schaefer booted a 21-yard field goal to make it 17-0 at halftime.
The Cardinals took the ball to start the second half and drove 72 yards on 12 plays, taking nearly five minutes off the clock before Homan called his own number for a four-yard scamper to make it 24-0.
The rest of the game was New Bremen stopping Loramie's offense and the Cardinal offense keeping the clock moving as much as possible as the wind kept howling.
"We just got that early lead and wanted to be smart and keep it in the hands of (Homan and Schaefer)," said Schmidt. "Our offensive line did a great job. They're not big, but they're feisty and try to use our quickness."
The Cardinals outgained the Redskins 326-182 on the night. Homan carried 30 times for 159 yards with Schaefer adding 143 yards on 24 carries. Homan only needed to try five passes, connecting on two for 24 yards.
Photo by Paige Sutter/The Daily Standard
New Bremen's Ben Sailer (23) runs after making an interception during Saturday's Division VII regional final against Fort Loramie at Sidney.
Maurer was 10-of-34 for 93 yards with two interceptions while rushing for 59 yards. Logan Eilerman, the Division VII Offensive Player of the Year in the Southwest District, was limited to just five receptions - going over 100 receptions for the season - and 55 yards.
Now the Cardinals are in the state semifinals for the second time in three seasons.
"I'm so proud of them. I'm proud because they're good kids," said Schmidt. "They do it the right away, prepare the right way and respect the game. They're humble and respect their opponents. As a coach and teacher, you hope if they do it the right way, they'll find success."
