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By Rick Cassano, Staff Writer 12:32 AM Wednesday, November 4, 2009

HAMILTON — Luke Wurzelbacher will likely be busy Friday night, Nov. 6. And that’s fine with him.

Badin High School’s sophomore free safety is expected to be a key figure when the Rams visit Coldwater for a Division V, Region 20 football opener.

The Cavaliers use a pass-happy spread offense headed by quarterback Keith Wenning. The 6-foot-4, 222-pound senior has completed 168-of-248 passes for 2,200 yards and 25 touchdowns.

“I wasn’t aware of that,” Wurzelbacher said of Wenning’s monster statistics. “I would rather have them throw the ball than run it. I guess it’ll be exciting.”

Wurzelbacher said he has confidence in his defense and its coordinator, former Badin linebacker Joe Schlager.

“I think he’ll do a great job getting us ready for the game,” Wurzelbacher said. “He’s definitely a motivator. I think he relates to us very well. He understands what it’s like to be our age, and he just knows the game so well.”

The 6-3, 190-pound Wurzelbacher has been starting since Week 4 against Kettering Alter. He said there is some pressure involved with being a sophomore starter, “but when you get on the field, that all goes away.”

Wurzelbacher has two interceptions this season, one in each of the last two games. “Just trying to get ready for the playoffs,” he said. “I feel like our game plan has me in the right spot at the right time to make plays.”

A coach looks back

Badin coach Bill Tenore was only involved in one postseason game as a player. In 1987, he was the nose guard when the Rams went to Welcome Stadium in Dayton and got blasted by Brookville 33-12.

Asked if he had any memories of that game, Tenore replied, “None that are very good. It was a thrill to be in the playoffs, but that was a royal butt kicking.”

He was a Badin assistant coach under Terry Malone when the Rams and Coldwater squared off for the first time in the 2001 playoffs. That was the “Fog Bowl” contest at Welcome Stadium, and the Cavaliers won 23-3.

“Foggy, very cold,” Tenore said. “I remember we had a nice team that year. They just beat us that night.”

Kugler eyes return

Badin junior linebacker Andrew Kugler suffered a shoulder injury in Week 9 against Dayton Carroll and didn’t dress for last week’s game against McNicholas.

Tenore listed him as questionable for the playoff opener. Kugler said he’s playing.

“Sitting out last week was very tough,” Kugler said. “I told my team they had to win for me so I can play another week. And they did.”

Tenore described his injury as a shoulder sprain last week, though Kugler said it was actually a grade 2 AC separation.

He’s testing the shoulder in practice this week and plans to start against Coldwater.

“The only way I won’t be out there is if I start the game off and I re-separate it,” Kugler said. “I’m starting the game no matter what.”

He got hurt hitting the ground while diving at Carroll quarterback Thomas Milord in the second quarter.

“At halftime, it was hurting me real bad,” Kugler said. “At first, I just thought it was a stinger and would go away. I started the third quarter, but I kept hitting and pounding on it, and it kept hurting more. After I missed a tackle and they got a first down, I decided to call it a day. I figured if I’m going to keep on missing tackles, I should get out.”

Kugler has 54 total tackles this season with 7.5 tackles for loss.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2194 or rcassano@coxohio.com.