Coldwater Overpowers Kirtland 31-7 to Capture 2024 Division VI State Title
In a battle between powerhouses, the Coldwater Cavaliers overwhelmed the Kirtland Hornets 31-7 to win the OHSAA Division VI state championship at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton. The victory marked Coldwater’s eighth state title and gave head coach Chip Otten his sixth championship at the helm of his alma mater.
Setting the Tone Early
Kirtland, appearing in its eighth consecutive state final, opened the game with a promising drive but was stopped short on fourth down when Coldwater’s Miles Pottkotter broke up a critical pass. From there, the Cavaliers took control. On Coldwater’s second possession, quarterback Baylen Blockberger connected with Cadin Obringer on a 55-yard pass, setting up Pottkotter’s 14-yard touchdown run to give Coldwater an early 7-0 lead.
“We have a phrase called TED—toughness, effort, and discipline,” Otten said. “Those three things carry us. That’s why I brought these guys in here, because they’ve got it.”
Building Momentum
Kirtland’s offense struggled to find its rhythm as Coldwater’s defense consistently forced punts. The Cavaliers extended their lead in the second quarter after taking advantage of a roughing-the-kicker penalty and a pass interference call. Pottkotter’s 23-yard run set up a short touchdown pass from Blockberger to Mason Welsch, capping a 10-play, 70-yard drive and putting Coldwater ahead 14-0.
A late first-half drive showcased Coldwater’s offensive depth, as Blockberger found Obringer for a 39-yard gain on third-and-15 before hitting Welsch again for a 17-yard touchdown with 39 seconds left in the half. The Cavaliers entered the break leading 21-0.
Second Half: Cavaliers Seal the Deal
Coldwater continued to dominate in the second half. Early in the third quarter, Will Barry forced a fumble that Noah Welsch recovered in the end zone, extending the lead to 28-0. A 25-yard field goal by Bryce Couchot at the end of the third quarter made it 31-0, triggering a running clock.
Kirtland finally broke through in the fourth quarter with an 11-yard touchdown run by quarterback Jake LaVerde, but it was too little, too late.
Redemption and Resilience
Coldwater’s victory was particularly sweet after a regular-season loss to Marion Local, which ended their bid for an undefeated season. Reflecting on the team’s response to that defeat, Otten said, “We were concerned after that loss. But this is an extremely mature group of seniors. They regrouped and said, ‘Let’s see if we can make a good run.’ And we did it.”
