Playoff preview: Badin vs. Coldwater

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Robert Leifheit/The Badin Rams hosted their rival the Fenwick Falcons on Saturday, October 17th, 2009. Badin is going to playoffs as the No. 7 seed for Division V, Region 20.

Coldwater has two titles in the last four years, but Tenore says Rams wanted a game like this.

By Rick Cassano, Staff Writer Updated 8:56 AM Friday, November 6, 2009

HAMILTON — Badin High School’s football team will jump right into the fire tonight, Nov. 6, as the Division V, Region 20 playoffs kick off around the state.

The Rams visit perennial small-school power Coldwater, which is riding a 13-year streak of postseason berths and captured Division IV state titles in 2005 and 2007.

“They know who they are,” Badin coach Bill Tenore said. “I’m sure they’re pretty confident and expect to win.”

That said, Tenore also believes his players can’t wait to get to Mercer County and take their best shot at the 9-1 Cavaliers.

“If you’re a real competitor, you want a game like this,” Tenore said. “Our players are happy we got Coldwater. Let’s go in and find out who’s better right now.”

The Cavaliers are led by quarterback Keith Wenning. The 6-foot-4, 222-pound senior has committed to Ball State University for football, and Coldwater coach John Reed said he also might get drafted in baseball.

Wenning directs the Cavaliers’ spread offense. He’s completed 168-of-248 passes for 2,200 yards and 25 touchdowns, also leads the squad in rushing (108 carries, 562 yards, five TDs).

His favorite target is senior Adam Rammel (45 catches, 590 yards, 10 TDs).

“Wenning is special, there’s no question about it,” Reed said. “He’s the guy that’s really allowed us to reach the level we’re at this year.”

Tenore said the Coldwater spread is very similar to Badin’s offense. Defensively, the Cavaliers are generally a 4-3 team that’s pretty quick, but not real big.

The ends — seniors Eric Lefeld (6-7, 222) and Keith Uhlenhake (6-5, 200) — are exceptions in terms of size. Lefeld has committed to the University of Cincinnati.

“The defense is probably the biggest surprise of our team,” said Reed, whose squad has outscored its opponents 331-126 this year. “When we started out, we really didn’t know if we had the defensive strength to match up with the better teams we play against.”

Coldwater has more than a few players going both ways and plays a meat-grinder schedule in the Midwest Athletic Conference.

Reed is very impressed with the Rams’ athleticism and said their schedule has hardened them for the postseason.

“They’re not going to be intimidated by us,” Reed said. “They have a high, high, high skill level. I couldn’t imagine having the skill level Badin has across the board. They just jump off the DVD at you. They’ve got the skill level to beat anybody they’re going to play in Division V.”

Today’s game

Who: Badin Rams (7-3) vs. Coldwater Cavaliers (9-1)
What: Division V, Region 20 football quarterfinal
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Cavalier Stadium, Coldwater
Radio: WMOH-AM (1450)
Playoff history: Badin is 18-16 in 17 years of playoff competition. Coldwater is 33-12 in 14 trips to the postseason.