Coldwater Easily Defeats Wheelersburg

            Finally, it will all come to an end. After covering two, separate Ohio High School Football Games (during the past two weeks), it all ends today (Friday, November 27, 2015). After Xenia High School’s (XHS) Home Football Games concluded, I never thought that I would be returning to Doug Adams Stadium (DAS). Not once; Not twice; but today equals #3!!! Every single year, my Journalism Career experiences a brand-new “MILESTONE.” I truly love my job as a Sports Journalist for: “Xenia’s Word On The Street” (www.xeniaword.com). The Lord has truly blessed me with some unique experiences. Tonight, I honestly believe that this will be the very best experience (of them all). Next weekend, the State Of Ohio will present its set of Ohio High School Football Championship Games. Before that happens, something else must happen first. Semifinal Games must be played! Tonight inside of Xenia, Ohio’s Doug Adams Stadium, the state’s only meeting which contains 2-UNDEFEATED TEAMS will be taking place. The Coldwater High School (CHS) Cavaliers (14-0) will host The Wheelersburg High School (WHS) Pirates (14-0). One fact is certain. One team has to lose! There will be a Winner and a Loser. Which team will possess each spot? I do not know. I cannot answer that question. However, I am about to find out!

            Wheelersburg won the Official Coin Toss. The Pirates deferred until the Second Half. Coldwater started the game on offense first. After a nice Kickoff Return by Neal Muhlenkamp, the Cavaliers started on their own 42-Yard Line. At 11:48, Kraig Schoenherr took the ball to Wheelersburg’s 49-Yard Line. On 2^nd Down and 1, Running Back Chris Post picked up 5-Yards (11:02). On 2^nd Down and 10, CHS was still positioned on the Pirates’ 44-Yard Line. At the 10:35 mark, Quarterback Jack Hemmelgarn completed a 6-Yard Pass to Wide Receiver Aaron Harlamert. After an incompletion on 3^rd Down, the Cavaliers faced a 4^th Down and 4 from the Pirates’ 38-Yard Line. Instead of punting the ball away, CHS decided to go for the First Down. That was a wise decision. Hemmelgarn completed a pass to Harlamert. The ball ended up on WHS’s 29-Yard Line (9-Yard Gain). With 9:15 on the scoreboard, the Cavaliers faced another, critical Third Down Play. On 3^rd Down and 10 from the Pirates’ 29-Yard Line, Hemmelgarn rushed the ball to WHS’s 17-Yard Line (12-Yards).

            For CHS,  critical plays just would not end. At the 8:24 mark, the Cavaliers’ Offense was positioned on WHS’s 13-Yard Line. Hemmelgarn completed a Touchdown Pass to Harlamert. The catch was spectacular. Harlamert was located on the end zone’s right side. When he made the catch, it looked like he was out of bounds. However, the officials did not see it the same way. Their view is way better than mine. After the successful conversion of the Extra Point Kick, CHS led WHS 7-0. On the ensuing kickoff, the Pirates were penalized for a Block-In-The-Back Violation. Therefore, WHS’s Offense had to start back on its own 7-Yard Line. The Pirates went three plays and out. At one point, the Pirates committed a Chop Block Violation. On 4^th Down and 4 from their own 15-Yard Line, the Pirates had to punt (6:37). The Cavaliers took over on their own 49-Yard Line.

            Instead of moving the ball forward, CHS’s Offense lost yards. Before the Cavaliers ended up going three plays and out, they missed a chance on making a huge play. With 5:42 remaining in the 1^st Quarter, CHS faced a 2^nd Down and 16 on its own 43-Yard Line. Hemmelgarn threw a deep, downfield pass. The intended receiver had the Defensive Back beat. Unfortunately, the ball was too far in front of the receiver. Although he was wide-open, he was unable to make the catch. With 4:55 on the clock, CHS had a 4^th Down and 14 from its own 45-Yard Line. The Cavaliers punted the ball away. WHS’s Offense took over on its own 26-Yard Line. The Pirates went three plays and out. On 4^th Down and 7, the Pirates were on their own 29-Yard Line. At the 4:04 mark, WHS’s Special Teams Unit had to deal with a complete disaster. At the snap-from-center, the ball flew high up. The Punter was able to obtain possession. Then, he ran with the ball. His kick was blocked.

            At the conclusion of the play, CHS took over possession on WHS’s 24-Yard Line. Two, consecutive runs (by Post) placed the ball on the Pirates’ 17-Yard Line. On 3^rd Down and 3, Schoenherr rushed the ball to the 8-Yard Line (2:51). On 1^st Down and Goal, Schoenherr was given the ball again. This time, he managed to move the ball only for a 2-Yard Gain. After Hemmelgarn threw an Incomplete Pass, the Cavaliers faced a 3^rd Down and Goal on the Pirates’ 6-Yard Line. At the 1:55 mark, Hemmelgarn completed a Touchdown Pass to Wide Receiver Zach Homan. Kyle Mckibben’s Extra Point Kick was good. CHS’s lead was now 14-Points (14-0). On 3^rd Down and 2, WHS was on its own 28-Yard Line. With 24.5 Seconds left, the Pirates’ Quarterback Kyle Davis rushed for 11-Yards (to the 39-Yard Line). At the 11:18 mark of the 2^nd Quarter, WHS had a 2^nd Down and 11 on its own 38-Yard Line. Davis completed an 11-Yard Pass to Wide Receiver Jake Darnell. Led by Davis, the Pirates’ rushing attack got the ball to the Cavaliers’ 38-Yard Line. By utilizing the legs of both Keaton Newsome and Jordan Howard, WHS continued to pound the ball. On 3^rd Down and 2, WHS’s Offense was on CHS’s 30-Yard Line. At 8:10, Davis completed a 21-Yard Pass to Darnell. That play gave the Pirates a 1^st Down and Goal on the Cavaliers’ 9-Yard Line.

            Howard took the ball to the 7-Yard Line. On 2^nd Down and Goal, Tanner Bivens rushed into the end zone. No Extra Point Kick was performed. The snap was botched. By the score of 14-6, WHS trailed CHS. The Pirates went on to perform an Onside Kick. To the Pirates’ dismay, they were unable to obtain possession of the ball. With 6:29 remaining in the Second Quarter, CHS had a 2^nd Down and 7 on its own 40-Yard Line. Schoenherr rushed to WHS’s 25-Yard Line (35-Yards). 2-Holding Penalties pushed the ball back to the 42-Yard Line. With 5:17 remaining before the Halftime Break, the Cavaliers faced a 1^st Down and 22 from the Pirates’ 42-Yard Line. Hemmelgarn completed a 26-Yard Pass to Homan. The ball now rested on the 16-Yard Line. Two, ensuing rushes (by Schoenherr) placed the ball on the 7-Yard Line. On 2^nd Down and Goal at 3:28, Hemmelgarn completed a pass to Mckibben. Mckibben was in the end zone. Unfortunately, he was out of bounds. On the very next play, Hemmelgarn completed the 7-Yard Touchdown Pass to Harlamert. After the successful completion of the Extra Point Kick, CHS led WHS 21-6.

            WHS’s Offensive Drive started on its own 17-Yard Line. The Pirates proceeded to go three plays and out. At the 2:34 mark, the Pirates had a 4^th Down and 11 on their own 16-Yard Line. The ball was punted away. On the Punt Return, the Cavaliers fumbled the ball. Fortunately, the Cavaliers recovered the fumble. CHS’s Offense started on its own 46-Yard Line. Schoenherr moved the ball to Midfield (50-Yard Line). A False Start Penalty moved the ball back to the 45-Yard Line. On 3^rd Down and 11, Hemmelgarn completed a 15-Yard Pass to Homan (1:40). The ball was now on the Pirates’ 40-Yard Line. On 2^nd Down and 10, the Cavaliers struck gold. At 1:18, Hemmelgarn completed a 40-Yard Touchdown Pass to Schoenherr. The Extra Point Kick was good. CHS’s lead increased to 28-6. At the end of the First Half, CHS led WHS 28-6.

            After Halftime, WHS started on offense first. The Pirates went three plays and out. On 4^th Down and 2, the Pirates were positioned on their own 23-Yard Line. At the snap-from-center, WHS did a Fake Punt Run. Quickly, the play was whistled dead. WHS was penalized for a False Start Violation (10:13). When the down was replayed, there was no Fake Punt Run or Pass. However, the Pirates’ Offense committed another False Start. At 9:34, the ball was finally punted away. CHS’s Offense started its Offensive Drive on WHS’s 47-Yard Line. On 1^st Down and 10, Schoenherr took the ball to the 42-Yard Line. On 2^nd Down and 5, CHS effectively ended the game. With 8:35 remaining in the 3^rd Quarter, Schoenherr rushed the ball again. Until he reached the end zone, Schoenherr did not stop running. Instead of attempting an Extra Point Kick, the Cavaliers decided to go for the 2-Point Conversion. If the team was successful, it would have a 30-Point Lead. As a direct result, the game clock would be continuously running. Well, the Cavaliers made the perfect decision. CHS now led WHS 36-6. For the remainder of the game, neither team would score again. By the Final Score of 36-6, Coldwater was guaranteed a spot in The 2015 Ohio High School Division 5 Football Championship Game.