'Locked in' Cavaliers end Bluffton's season

WAPAKONETA – Coldwater coach Chip Otten described his players well after Friday's 28-6, Division VI state semifinal win over Bluffton in Wapakoneta."They feel good," he said, "and they're locked in."It sure looked that way.Cody Depweg ran for three touchdowns, intercepted a pass on defense, and the Cavaliers cruised to a spot in next week's state final game.Bluffton's offense worked its way into Coldwater territory three times, but only once came away with points.That was on a Landen Worcester 6-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter, when the game already was decided."Fact of the matter is, Coldwater's a great team," said Bluffton coach Jeff Richards, whose squad was making its first state semifinal appearance since 1991."They deserve to be playing for a state title."The Pirates ended the season at 13-2, their only losses coming to teams who reached the state semis.Coldwater will be returning to the state finals for the first time since 2021. The Cavaliers will face Kirtland, which dismantled Northmor in the other Division VI semifinal, 41-7.The Hornets and Cavaliers have met twice before for the state crown, each winning once.Coldwater enters the game at 14-1; Kirtland 15-0.On Friday, Bluffton started the game with the ball, but a fumble led to a big loss and essentially ended the drive.Coldwater took the lead when Miles Pottkotter scored a touchdown from 5 yards out with 6:38 left in the opening quarter.Bluffton was able to move the ball a bit in the first half – quarterback Tayte Giesige found Griffin Stackhouse for a 23-yard pass that pushed the Pirates into Cavaliers' territory – but failed to dent the scoreboard."They kind of threw us out of our rhythm; we couldn't get back into it until late," Richards said.Meanwhile, the Cavaliers added to their lead halfway through the second quarter.Facing a fourth-and-12 in Bluffton territory, quarterback Baylen Blockberger completed a 21-yard pass to Mason Welsch, which set up Coldwater's second score."When we need a huge, huge catch, (Brockberger) really has confidence in Mason," Otten said, "to give him a chance, and for him to go make the catch."Welsch certainly rewarded that confidence. He finished the game with seven catches for 92 yards.Richards said Bluffton's defense was where it needed to be most of the night."Defensively, we'd be in position, we just couldn't make the play," he said. "We had a few opportunities for interceptions, or just to stop them, and they outplayed us and out-executed us at times. Second half we were able to get the ball going a little bit."Bluffton trailed 21-0 at the break, and gave up another touchdown to Depweg on the first possession of the third quarter, which followed a long kick return by the Cavaliers.But Bluffton didn't fold. It recovered a pair of fumbles in the second half, and held Coldwater scoreless for the final 22 ½ minutes of regulation."I credit that to our seniors; they've led since Day 1," Richards said. "I'm extremely proud of them for it."For Bluffton, Stackhouse finished with three catches for 63 yards. Giesige had 13 carries for 42 yards, and completed 10 of 22 passes for 98 yards with an interception.Worcester capped a brilliant high school career with 13 carries for 49 yards.Richardson said this year's class of seniors this season was "special.""They've held this group together, they've pushed this group," Richards said. "This group of seniors has done more in four years than just about anybody you could find at Bluffton." First QuarterCW-- Miles Pottkotter 5 run (Bryce Couchot kick), 6:38 Second QuarterCW-- Cody Depweg 2 run (Couchot kick), 6:00 CW – Depweg 4 run (Couchot kick), :28 THIRD QUARTERCW – Depweg 1 run (Couchot kick), 10:29FOURTH QUARTERB -- Landen Worcester 6 run (pass fails), 5:33