Coldwater jumps on Oakwood early and never lets up

PIQUA - Coldwater remained unbeaten on the season as it jumped on Dayton Oakwood early en route to a 35-7 win in the Division IV regional semifinal Friday at Alexander Stadium in Piqua.

The win sends Coldwater (12-0) to the regional championship on Friday against Kettering Archbishop Alter at a site to be determined.

The Cavaliers scored on their second possession when quarterback Cory Klenke ran it in from 14 yards out. Klenke finished the game with eight rushes for 40 yards and one touchdown.

"We had a lot of guys make big plays for us tonight," Coldwater coach John Reed said.

It was through the air that Klenke hurt the Lumberjacks (8-4). The senior was 15-of-22 for 368 yards and touchdowns of 64, 31 and 90 yards.

Coldwater struck quickly on its next possession when Klenke found Dusty Rutschilling on a 64-yard strike to give the Cavaliers a 14-0 lead.

The Cavaliers finished their first-half scoring when senior Tony Harlamert dove in from 1-yard out to give his team a 21-0 lead, following the extra point. Harlamert finished the game with 14 carries for 32 yards.

The Coldwater defense punctuated the first half with a goal-line stand that held the first-half shutout in tact.

"That was an unbelievable stop," Reed said. "We had a lot of guys make big plays there. It's a great testament to the will of our defense."

Neither team could manage a score in the third quarter, but on the third play of the fourth quarter Klenke found junior Adam Rammel for a 31-yard touchdown pass. Rammel weaved through the defense on his way to the end zone. He finished the game with four receptions for 133 yards and two scores.

As a team, the Coldwater offense generated 399 yards on 60 plays. Defensively, Coldwater allowed Oakwood 47 rushing yards and 174 passing yards.

"We were hoping to take the run away from them, make them throw," Reed said. "They threw it well."

Oakwood's sole score came with 5:19 left in the game when quarterback Robby Sherk connected with Will Garner for an 8-yard touchdown pass. Sherk finished the game 8-of-19 for 174 yards and one touchdown.

"We did not do things offensively," Oakwood coach Paul Stone said. "Defensively we held our own."

The Cavaliers finished the scoring on the next possession when Klenke hooked up with Rammel for a 90-yard touchdown pass to give the Cavaliers a berth in the regional championship.