Ohio state high school football score | Coldwater vs. Kirtland live OHSAA championship updates

Posted by Admin December 7, 2024 Football

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CANTON — The Kirtland and Coldwater high school football teams will kick off Day 3 of the 2024 OHSAA state championships this morning with the Division VI title game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.

It’s the first of three high school football championship games today as the title games wrap up Saturday at the stadium. Kirtland is 15-0 and seeking a second straight state title. The Cavaliers are 14-1, only losing to powerhouse Marion Local..

Follow along here throughout the day for live updates on the game, which kicks off at 10:30 a.m.

Coldwater makes first play, capitalizes

The Coldwater Cavaliers made the first big play of the game when quarterback Baylen Blockberger unloaded a 45-yard bomb down the right sideline to Cadin Obringer. The pass hit Obringer, open by a couple yards, in stride.

A reverse to Miles Pottkotter caught Kirtland off guard and went for a 24-yard touchdown. Pottkotter came around the right side and was untouched to the end zone. The Cavaliers led 7-0 with 2:03 left in the first quarter.

Kirtland, Coldwater early drives stall

Kirtland started on its own 39 after the opening kickoff and immediately got a 15-yard run from Jack Lessick. Lessick fumbled at the end of another nice run but the Hornets recovered.

Kirtland at times operated out of a classic I-formation with 6-foot-1, 260-pound Ted Prusock at fullback in front of tailback. The Hornets faced fourth-and-5 from the Coldwater 22 when quarterback Jake LaVerde rolled right but threw incomplete.

Coldwater answered the stalled Kirtland drive by advancing to midfield before a fumbled snap set back the Cavaliers. Kirtland took over at its own 29 after a punt.

Coldwater on the field, and it’s pretty cold

The Coldwater Cavaliers wasted no time taking the field as the stadium music began and the first wave of fans showed up for today’s Division VI state championship football game against Kirtland. The temperature is 27 degrees, with mostly cloudy skies.

Coldwater knows the drill, having been in 14 state championship games, winning seven titles, the last in 2020.

Kirtland players waited a while to step into the cold, and none was on the field 57 minutes before kick. The Hornets have matched Coldwater’s seven championships and lost in the finals five other times.

There is no noticeable tailgating in this weather, and it appears the crowd will be late arriving.

How did Kirtland football reach the OHSAA Division VI state title game?

Kirtland routed Northmoor 41-7 in a state semifinal, as all five Hornet playoff wins have been by 34 or more points. The Hornets have scored 41 each of the last three weeks.

How did Coldwater football reach the OHSAA Division VI state title game?

Coldwater defeated Bluffton 28-6 in a state semifinal after scoring 45, 56, 56 and 58 points the previous four playoff games, which included two shutouts.

What to know about Kirtland Hornets football

Kirtland, which has never lost a state semifinal game, is playing in its 13th state final, having gone 7-5 in the previous 12 title games, all under head coach Tiger LaVerde. Over his 19-year career, LaVerde is 244-20. Kirtland rolled to a 32-15 victory over Versailles in last year’s Division VI final for Kirtland’s first title since 2020. Kirtland continues to rely on its running game and arrives in Canton with 5,198 rushing yards this season on 630 carries, good for an 8.3-yard average. As can be expected, Kirtland has a big, strong and experienced offensive line, featuring Matthew Kahley (385 pounds), Jackson Carestio (345), Vince Prusock (315), Casey Carkhuff (315), Teddy Prusock (300), Jackson Turk (295) and Lucci Cantini (285).

Kirtland High School football players to watch

FB Danny Alfieri: Has 178 carries for 1,579 yards and 36 touchdowns.
QB Jake LaVerde: Has (81 carries for 1,135 yards and 11 TDs. The junior missed seven games with a broken left arm, returning for the regional finals. He is 38-2 all-time as a starting QB
RB John Silvestro: Rushed for 101 yards last week, joining Alfieri (149) and LaVerde (146) to give the Hornets three 100-yard rushers in the same game for the first time since 2014.

What to know about Coldwater Cavaliers football

The Cavaliers began the season one day after their starting center Cale Wenning (honorable mention All-Ohio in 2023) died from injuries suffered earlier in August. The team keeps a flag with Wenning’s No. 70 on it on the sidelines for all games. Coldwater’s lone loss is to Division VII state champion Marion Local, which finished its year 16-0 Friday. Aside from that 35-0 loss in Week 10, the Cavaliers have been pretty dominant. They’ve scored 31 or more points 11 times while holding nine opponents to one score or less in reaching their first state final since 2021. Head coach Chip Otten has guided the program to five state titles and Coldwater owns seven OHSAA state championships overall. Otten earned his 200th career win in 2024.

Coldwater High School football players to watch

RB-LB Cody Depweg: Earned Ohio co-Defensive Player of the Year in Division VI a year ago.
QB Baylen Blockberger: Earned first-team All-Midwest Athletic Conference.
WR-S Mason Welsch: Earned first-team All-Midwest Athletic Conference on both offense and defense this year.
OT-DE Will Barry: Earned first-team All-Midwest Athletic Conference on both offense and defense this season.
RB-OLB Miles Pottkotter: Earned first-team All-Midwest Athletic Conference on both offense and defense this year.
K Bryce Couchot: Has made a school-record 60 straight point-after attempts, going 78-of-80 overall this season while going 7-of-7 on field goals.

The Division VI state title game will be televised on Spectrum News 1. Kickoff is at 10:30 a.m.

OHSAA state finals: Ohio high school football state championships predictions, breaking down OHSAA finals

In addition to airing on TV on Spectrum News 1, the game can be streamed using the Spectrum News App or via OHSAA.tv.