Coldwater too much for Badin

Rams blanked by Cavaliers 41-0, while being outgained 506-68, to finish season 7-4.

Badin High School’s Eric Flum gets a hug from Robin Coyne after the team’s 41-0 loss to Coldwater in a Division V regional football playoff game Friday, Nov. 6, at Coldwater High School.

Staff photo by Pat Auckerman Badin High School’s Eric Flum gets a hug from Robin Coyne after the team’s 41-0 loss to Coldwater in a Division V regional football playoff game Friday, Nov. 6, at Coldwater High School.

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By Rick Cassano, Staff Writer 3:47 AM Saturday, November 7, 2009

COLDWATER — Badin High School’s game plan didn’t include a beatdown, but there wasn’t much the Rams could do to stop it.

Host Coldwater scored on six of its first seven possessions and earned a 506-68 advantage in yardage Friday night, Nov. 6, burying Badin 41-0 in a Division V, Region 20 football quarterfinal at Cavalier Stadium.

“That’s a well-put-together football team,” Rams coach Bill Tenore said of the Cavaliers, who improved to 10-1. “I think our kids gave their best effort. We just got beat. My hat’s off to Coldwater.”

Badin had little to cheer about on a cold evening in Mercer County. Patrick Coyne completed 11-of-23 passes for 77 yards and was intercepted twice, and the Rams got smothered on the ground (23 carries, minus-9 yards).

Corey Cramer’s first-quarter interception in the end zone was one of the few highlights for Badin, which finished 7-4 in Tenore’s first year at the helm.

“We started the game in a slump and didn’t know how to get out of it,” said senior linebacker Matt Combs, the Rams’ tackle leader with 11. “If we could’ve executed a little more consistently, it could’ve been a close game. But they’re very good.”

Keith Wenning converted 19-of-26 passes for 286 yards and five touchdowns for Coldwater, which led 34-0 at halftime. Wenning also fired a lateral to teammate Adam Rommel, who then connected with Reese Klenke for a 27-yard touchdown.

“Picking and choosing, that’s what it’s all about,” Wenning said of the balanced CHS aerial attack. “The line did a great job, and we had a lot of fun out there. It started this week in practice. We came out with the mind-set that we were going to take it to them from the beginning.”

The 6-foot-4, 222-pound senior looked like Ben Roethlisberger at times, showing the ability to shed tacklers while throwing with power and accuracy. He had five rushes for 78 yards.

Still, it was the defense that drew the highest praise from Coldwater coach John Reed.

“The defense is what really dominated the football game,” Reed said. “They took away everything Badin wanted to do. Defensively, we changed up a lot. I think Badin came out with a lot of confidence and expectations, but when your bubble is burst right off the bat like that, it does kind of sap you.”

Badin started a junior-laden lineup this season, and Tenore believes the program’s future is bright.

“This has been a very good year for Badin football,” he said. “This game wasn’t the thing that defined the season. What defined the season was the great group of people we have and what we put together.”

Said Combs, “I’m proud of what this team accomplished this year. This game was hard, but when I think about this season, I’m going to think of all the good things.”

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

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