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11/26/05

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By JOHN S. HULLINGER
419-993-2088
jhullinger@limanews.com

COLDWATER — Wide-open, sideline-to-sideline.
That’s the way Coldwater likes to play football.
It’s also the way the Cavaliers’ state semifinal opponent, Lemon-Monroe, like to play, which means the Hornets may be the biggest threat to Coldwater’s defensive dominance.
Coldwater and Lemon-Monroe square off in the playoffs Saturday night at Dayton’s Welcome Stadium for a trip to the Division IV state title game.
Lemon-Monroe is averaging 30.7 points per game in the playoffs. Coldwater hasn’t given up a touchdown, just two field goals, in its three postseason games.
“It’s really kind of a mirror image of ourselves,” Reed said of the Hornets’ offense. “It’s a team that tries to spread you out to be able to run the ball and tries to spread you out to be able to throw the ball.”
The Hornets (12-1) have been a surprise under third-year head coach Jason Krause. This is their deepest trip into state playoffs. The last time Lemon-Monroe had a winning record, won its conference (Mid-Miami League) or went to the playoffs was 1994.
“We were 2-8 last year, and we’ve had a real big turnaround,” Krause said. “The community has been very supportive, and we’re happy to be in this position. … We had a real good senior class that hung in there and decided to make a commitment in the weight room.”
Krause centers his spread offense around two quarterbacks, senior Tad Kilburn (6-foot, 175 pounds) and sophomore Tyler Osterman (6-1, 160 pounds). They rotate in and out every two series, regardless of the game situation.
Kilburn is the more athletic of the two. Osterman, more of a pure passer, has thrown for 1,480 yards (91-of-155, 58.7 percent) with 12 touchdowns. Osterman was selected second-team All-Southwest District despite never starting a game. His 75-yard touchdown pass to tight end Shae Michael broke open the Hornets’ 35-21 regional final win over Germantown Valley View.
“When I did the original (game film) report, I didn’t see the one quarterback doing anything different than the other quarterback,” Reed said. “I think they just feel they have two good quarterbacks and they let them both play.”
Lemon-Monroe has two 1,000-yard receivers in senior Pat Harrington (6-2, 200 pounds) and junior Josh Herron (5-11, 190).
Sophomore running back Jared Ferguson (6-1, 180) has 996 rushing yards. He rushed for two TDs in the win over Valley View.
But those yards won’t come as easily against a Coldwater defense — led by Division IV Northwest District Defensive Player of the Year Ross Homan — that has been stingy, to put it mildly, all season long and especially in the playoffs.
In the Cavaliers’ regional title win over Huron, Coldwater held the Tigers to 116 total yards of offense and frustrated quarterback Nick Basting (3-of-13 passing, 28 yards, three interceptions).
“Yes, our secondary is playing really well. But I think our defensive front is starting to bring more pressure,” Reed said. “That combination is pretty good. The best pass defense is when that quarterback is throwing the ball when he doesn’t want to throw it.”
Offensively, senior quarterback Steve Borger — the Division IV Northwest District Offensive Player of the Year — has been superb in the postseason. After missing on his first four pass attempts in the win over Huron, Borger completed 18 of his next 21 attempts for 291 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. He has thrown just two picks all year.
“When I got to watch film and see some of the decisions that he made, he made some great non-throws that would have been picks,” Reed said.
Said Krause, “They’re very athletic. We notice the quarterback has a lot of time to throw the ball, so the offensive line must be doing the job. And, obviously, they have a great player in Ross Homan.
“Our key defensively is to weather the storm, kind of bend but don’t break,” he said. “They’re going to make plays, but we don’t want to let them get into the end zone.”
The Hornets will counter on defense with senior outside linebacker Michael Majors (6-3, 175 pounds), the Southwest District Player of the Year. Kilburn earned All-District honors as a safety.