Mershman, Blue Devils not afraid to roll the dice

CANTON -- For much of Saturday's Division VI state final in Canton, Carey coach Jonathan Mershman appeared to be assuming the role of a riverboat gambler.Five times, Mershman had his offense go for it on fourth down against Coldwater. Twice, he had his team attempt the two-point conversion after a touchdown.And with 3:41 left in the first half and his squad – consensus underdogs – leading 15-7, Mershman rolled the dice with an onside kick.The results of these risks were mixed. The Blue Devils only converted two of their fourth down attempts, though they were 2 for 2 on 2-point conversions.And the onside kick? It bounced out of bounds, giving the Cavaliers the ball at midfield.It's been said that everyone loves a gambler until he loses. And yet, despite his gambles not always paying off, Mershman and Carey hit the jackpot.The Blue Devils were able to celebrate a 26-14 win over defending champion Coldwater, and their first state title since 1975.Afterward, Mershman sounded less like a Vegas high roller, and more like a coach who had supreme confidence in his players.Whether the risks he took succeeded or not."The attitude was, these seniors and these captains for sure, have my back, and whatever I decide, they're gonna go with it," Mershman said. "They're not gonna second-guess it, they're not gonna cry about it, they're gonna make it happen, and if it doesn't happen, they're gonna suck it up and make it better for me. They make me look good."The players were more than happy to roll with their coach."It puts a lot of confidence in us, because, personally, I like being aggressive," said Carey right tackle Easton Korody. "So when he does that, even if we don't get it, I still think it sends a message to the other team."There was another factor: Even if the chances Mershman took didn't go Carey's way, his team seemed to always have an answer.With the Blue Devils leading the Cavaliers 8-7 in the second quarter, Jordan Vallejo was stopped short on a fourth down at the Coldwater 40.On the Cavaliers first play after the stop, quarterback Reece Dellinger was intercepted by Anthony Bell. Bell returned the ball to the Cavs' 24. A few plays later, QB Derek Lonsway was in the end zone and Carey was up by eight.After the failed onside kick, Coldwater appeared to be set up for a game-changing drive. Instead, Carey defender Lance Woods came from Dellinger's blindside, drilled him, and forced a fumble that Landon Kemerly recovered.The Blue Devils converted that into another touchdown.So, Mershman really looks like a genius, right?Not so fast."Part of it is, (the players) also ask for some of that, too," Mershman said. To illustrate the point, Mershman recalled a conversation, initiated by Lonsway."They come up to me, and say 'We're going for it!,'" Mershman said, imitating his quarterback. "'It's not the smart decision.''I don't care!'"Lonsway said that was pretty much how things went on the fourth down attempt."I saw our special teams coordinator come over, and I said 'No, we're going for it,'" Lonsway said. "We've just gotta live with consequences. If we get it, great. If not, all right, toughen up. Let's go defense."Time and time again, the defense – and the entire team – delivered."With this group, we talked about it at the beginning of the year," Mershman said. "We're just gonna play us."That's one gamble that certainly paid off.