EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was originally published by the Ohio High School Athletic Association.
CANTON — Baylen Blockberger completed 8-of-12 passes for 133 yards and two touchdowns, Miles Potkotter ran for 127 yards and a score, and Coldwater defeated Kirtland, 31-7, in the Division VI state championship game.
Coldwater (15-1) claimed its eighth state title, becoming the sixth school with at least eight OHSAA football state championships. All eight of Coldwater’s titles have come since 2005.
Kirtland (15-1) finished runner-up for the sixth time. The Hornets have played in 13 state championship games in the last 14 years and are 7-6 in those games.
Coldwater built a 21-0 halftime lead on the strength of three consecutive scoring drives that each covered at least 70 yards.
Potkotter scored first, a 14-yard run late in the first quarter that capped a 5-play, 77-yard drive that was jump-started by a 55-yard throw from Blockberger to Cadin Obringer on the first play.
Kirtland punted, and Coldwater covered 70 yards in 10 plays with Blockberger tossing a 5-yard touchdown pass to Mason Welsch on third-and-2. Potkotter’s 23-yard run was the biggest play of the drive.
On its next possession, Coldwater faced first-and-25 from its own 34-yard line after a pair of penalties. It was third-and-15 when Blockberger hit Obringer for 39 yards, and on the next snap the Blockberger-to-Welsch connection clicked for a 17-yard touchdown pass as the first-half clocked ticked under a minute.
Coldwater added a defensive score midway through the third quarter. Kirtland mishandled the ball deep in its own territory, and Noah Welsch recovered the fumble in the end zone for a touchdown.
Bryce Couchot, who also converted all four of his extra-point attempts to improve to 82 for 84 on the season, tacked on a 25-yard field goal for Coldwater on the final play of the third quarter to stretch the lead to 31-0.
Quarterback Jake LaVerde scored Kirtland’s lone touchdown, an 11-yard run with 7:42 remaining that capped an eight-play, 76-yard drive.
