Post has big night in Coldwater victory

PIQUA - Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy came into Friday's Division V regional semifinal looking to avenge last year's loss to Coldwater in the state semifinal.

What the Eagles got was another heavy dose of Cavalier dominance.

Coldwater ran the ball dominantly and kept CHCA in check for most of the game in picking up a 44-14 win at Alexander Stadium in Piqua.

"You look at the eye test, you think they're good. They are good," Coldwater coach Chip Otten said of CHCA. "The kids bought into what we were selling. Coaches did a great job preparing for them."

The Cavaliers (12-0) face Brookville (12-0) in the regional final at a site to be announced Sunday afternoon. The Blue Devils had no trouble with Greeneview winning 49-7 in Xenia.

Coldwater's defense contained quarterback Johnny Noyen for most of the game. Noyen, who entered the game with over 1,500 yards passing and 1,200 yards rushing, was unable to break open any big running plays, twice getting runs of 10 yards or more.

"We just tried not to over-pursue and get to the outside," senior defensive end Malave Bettinger said.

With the Eagles' offense in check, Jack Hemmelgarn went to work managing the Coldwater attack, mixing up screen passes with jet sweeps by Chris Post and Aaron Harlamert and then inside counters with Post and Kraig Schoenherr. Harlamert put the Cavaliers on the board with three minutes left in the first half with a 16-yard scoring run off the jet sweep.

CHCA nearly answered, taking the ball down to the Cavalier eight-yard line, but Noyen was stuffed for no-gain on a fourth-and-two. The Cavaliers promptly marched the ball 92 yards on 14 plays, benefiting from a roughing-the-passer penalty that turned an interception one third-and-four from the Eagle 31 to a first-and-10 from the CHCA 16. After losing five yards to make it third-and-15, Hemmelgarn found Post for a 21-yard scoring pass to make it 14-0.

CHCA cut it to 14-6 on the next drive on Kesean Gamble's three-yard run, but Coldwater quickly went back up 21-6 on a three-yard pass from Hemmelgarn to Kyle McKibben to close out the first half.

The second half started like the first for Coldwater, with Harlamert running the jet sweep for an 11-yard score. After Neal Muhlenkamp picked off Noyen and returned the ball to the Eagle seven, Post carried the ball twice to get the seven yards to make it 34-6. Another Eagle three-and-out resulted in another Post score. He carried the ball three times for 52 yards, finding the end zone on the final run and beginning the running clock.

The Eagles stopped the running clock to start the fourth quarter on Gamble's 10-yard scoring run and two-point conversion reception from Noyen, but the Cavaliers put the lead back to 30 on a McKibben 29-yard field goal.

Noyen was held to 9-of-19 passing for 170 yards and two interceptions and 46 yards rushing. Gamble, who sat out half of the regular season after his transfer from Fairfield but still rushed for 500 yards this year, was held to 19 yards.

"That was the key. Our whole thought was stay on the line of scrimmage, don't get upfield and make (Noyen) run sideways," Otten said. "Then get after him and put some hits on him."

For Post, known as "Petey," the only thing to go wrong for him on the night, besides an early fumble, was having his jersey ripped and forced to trade with a reserve player. Now wearing No. 19 rather than his usual 18, Post rushed for 120 yards with two touchdowns and snagged five passes for 101 yards and another score.

Post credited the offensive line.

"They did great," Post said. "It was hard physical football. You just have to tuck the ball and keep driving your feet. (CHCA) was stripping like crazy. They got me once, but you can't let that affect you. You just have to keep running hard."

The good game in the new jersey doesn't mean a permanent change.

"No way. I like my 18," Post said with a laugh.

Hemmelgarn finished the night 18-of-20 for 208 yards and two scores. Like Post, Hemmelgarn gave credit to the offensive line.

"The O-Line was huge tonight. ... Those five guys worked their butts off every play," Hemmelgarn said. "Those guys deserve a lot of credit for the work they put in."