‘Reality check’ turns around Badin QB

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Teammates congratulate Badin's quarterback Patrick Coyne, center, after he scored a touchdown during Badin High School's opening football game against Woodward.

Staff photo by Samantha Grier Teammates congratulate Badin's quarterback Patrick Coyne, center, after he scored a touchdown during Badin High School's opening football game against Woodward.

By Rick Cassano, Staff Writer Updated 8:25 AM Friday, November 6, 2009

HAMILTON — Patrick Coyne has finally found a comfortable place as Badin High School’s offensive leader.

It hasn’t been an easy road for the junior quarterback, a La Salle transfer who struggled through the first half of the year and faced a possible benching before finding his groove for the Rams, who will visit Coldwater tonight, Nov. 6, for a Division V, Region 20 football opener.

“I came into the season with two college scholarship offers (Toledo and Cincinnati), and I wouldn’t say I was bigheaded, but I was like, ‘OK, this is my job. I’ve got to do whatever I can and fill Zach Toerner’s shoes,’ ” Coyne said. “I think I tried too hard. I tried to do too much and didn’t take what the defense gave me.”

By the time Badin reached Game 6, Coyne had thrown one touchdown pass and seven interceptions. So the decision was made to rotate Coyne and classmate Jeff Smith against Purcell Marian.

It turned out to be fantastic motivation for Coyne, who launched a long TD pass to Tyler Sanders on Badin’s first play and finished with 349 yards and seven touchdowns (rushing and passing). Smith was the QB for just one play and threw an interception.

Coyne has thrown for nearly 1,000 yards since midseason and solidified his position as the No. 1 signal-caller. Overall, he’s 110-of-176 for 1,565 yards, totaling nine touchdowns and 11 picks.

“Best thing that happened to me all season,” Coyne said of being forced to battle for his job. “It was a reality check. I had to step back and say, ‘You’ve got to get yourself together or you’re not even going to have a starting job.’

“What really changed is my understanding of the offense and what my role is,” he continued. “I had to take time to settle down and realize I don’t have anything to prove. I had to let my receivers and line do the work and just find my open guy.”

Coyne’s 1,565 passing yards are the fourth-best single-season total in Hamilton Catholic/Badin history. He’s tied with Pete Arno (1989), and they’re only 54 yards away from Ryan Riegert (2006).

Cavaliers reload

Coldwater lost 21 seniors from the 2008 squad that went 12-1 and fell to Kettering Alter in the Division IV regional finals.

But tradition didn’t graduate. The Cavaliers are 9-1 this year and have only lost to unbeaten Delphos St. John’s.

“I think people that are familiar with our program are surprised where we are this year,” Coldwater coach John Reed said. “It’s tradition and knowing how to do things. A lot of kids want to win, but not everybody wants to prepare to win.

“Our kids are willing to do all the extra things in the offseason that you have to do to be good,” he continued. “A lot of people just don’t understand the importance of the offseason program.”

Quotebook

• Badin coach Bill Tenore: “It’s mistakes that will beat you against a team like Coldwater. The missed tackle, the big play, the penalty. Our margin for error is zero. We can’t afford to mess around.”

• Rams junior Nick Seither on defensive coordinator Joe Schlager: “He pushes us, loves physical football, and just inspires all of us to play tough and hard. He tries to simplify everything and just make you concentrate on beating the person over you. I love his style.”

How to get there

Here are directions to Coldwater:

Take Ohio 127 north for about 80 miles. Turn left on Ohio 219 and go three miles. Turn right on North Second Street and the school will be on the left.

According to Coldwater Athletic Director Eric Goodwin, Cavalier Stadium has a seating capacity of 4,600. The field is grass.

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