Journal-News.com

HAMILTON — Dave Wirth knows what most observers think about his Badin High School football team's chances against Kettering Alter.

The Rams have already lost to the Knights 56-7 in Greater Catholic League play this season, but Wirth said his squad won't be deterred by naysayers proclaiming that Badin will get pummeled again in the Division IV, Region 16 semifinals Friday, Nov. 7, at Welcome Stadium in Dayton.

"I'm glad people think that ... I don't," Wirth said. "We know what we're up against, but also know where we've come from and where we're at.

"Some people might say we're crazy, but we're grateful for a second shot," he continued. "It's the playoffs. We're going to let it all hang out. We're going to take our shots, push the envelope a little bit."

The Rams actually took a 7-0 lead in the first meeting when Zach Toerner threw a school-record 93-yard touchdown pass to Alex Rieman.

The rest of the Week 5 contest added up to a beatdown for Badin, which was outgained 511-238 in yardage.

"We were as bad as we could be defensively that night, and they're a real good offensive team," Wirth said. "Put that together with time of possession, and it got real ugly."

The Rams have been a different team since that matchup. Wirth took over as defensive coordinator the next week, leading to significantly better play on that side of the ball and six consecutive victories.

Alter is 9-2, with both losses coming on forfeits because of an ineligible player. The Knights have outscored their opponents 498-77.

Badin advanced to Week 12 in roller-coaster fashion, topping second-seeded Clinton-Massie 33-27 in overtime in Clarksville.

The Rams punished the Falcons for three-plus quarters, then squandered a 27-7 lead to wind up in overtime.

"First and foremost, I admire their coaches and kids," Wirth said of previously unbeaten Clinton-Massie. "They completely took advantage of our mistakes better than anybody else has. They made an adjustment on their strong-side option blocking, and it made a huge difference. The big thing for us was that we gave them three 20-yard fields.

"Some of the plays their quarterback (Logan McCormick) made, you just say, 'Wow, he's really good.' " he added. "We had guys in position several times and couldn't get him. That was an all-state performance."

Wirth said the fourth-quarter meltdown hasn't made him lose faith in his players.

"I thought we played three tremendous quarters of football and got the job done in overtime," Wirth said. "Our goal was to win the game, and that's what we did."

It was Badin's first playoff win since a 42-35, five-overtime triumph over Dayton Oakwood in the 2001 regional semifinals. The Rams lost to Coldwater 23-3 in the "Fog Bowl" at Welcome Stadium the following week.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2194

or rcassano@coxohio.com.