COLDWATER – Facing a test on Saturday night to slow down a high octane passing game the Coldwater defense rose to the occasion as they rolled past West Jefferson 42-7 and into the regional finals.
Roughrider junior QB Tyler Buescher entered play with nearly 2,800 yards passing and 27 touchdowns on the season but was held largely in check by the Cavaliers defense who kept him from completing a pass in the first half of play.
The Cavaliers themselves had no issues on the offensive end in the first half of play as they rolled up over 300 yards behind QB Myles Blasingame.
Blasingame started the Cavs scoring on the eighth play of the first drive of the game as he sprinted in from three yards out to put his squad on top 7-0 with 8:35 remaining in the opening period.
Three incomplete passes from Buescher and a punt and the Roughriders were forced to punt away the football on their first drive. Starting in opponent territory the Cavaliers again used eight plays to run their lead to 14-0 with just under five minutes in the quarter on a six yard touchdown run by Luke Sudhoff.
After a second punt from the Roughriders the Cavaliers found themselves on top 21-0 as Blasingame sprinted 57 yards through the heart of the West Jefferson defense and into the endzone for his 12th rushing score of the year in the opening moments of the second stanza.
Coldwater continued to attack the scoreboard and push ahead to 28-0 just plays later after recovering a fumble on the ensuing kickoff and quickly turning a would be incompletion of a pass in the endzone through the hands of intended receiver Tyler Schwieterman to a score thanks to the quick hands of Jay Muhlenkamp who hauled in the tipped pass in the back of the endzone with 10:14 before the half.
After a trio of punts the Cavaliers pushed their halftime lead to 35-0 on a 42-yard touchdown reception from Muhlenkamp on a throw by Myles Blasingame with 52.5 seconds remaining that capped off a seven play drive that covered 83 yards.
Though West Jefferson was able to move the ball on their opening drive of the second half they were again forced to hand away the football as a fourth down completed pass didn’t gain enough yards for a first down.
Working with a short field for the second time in the game the Cavaliers utilized their passing attack with backup QB Reece Dellinger and upped their lead to 42-0 with 2:33 remaining in the fast moving quarter thanks to the running clock as Jay Muhlenkamp hauled in an 18-yard reception for his seventh touchdown catch of the season.
West Jefferson’s lone score of the game came with 7:31 left in the contest as Buescher hooked up with Adam Fry for an 84-yard score to cut the lead to 42-7.
On the evening the Cavaliers outgained their opponents 415-205 overall, and 241-82 on the ground.
Buescher’s streak of seven straight 300+ yard passing games came to an end as he was held to just 3/15 for 123 yards and the lone touchdown pass. Hayden Salyer led the rushing game with 71 yards on 16 carries for the Roughriders.
Myles Blasingame led the Coldwater rushing attack with 108 yards and a pair of touchdowns while connecting on 6/10 for 107 yards and a pair of scores through the air.
West Jefferson sees their season come to an end at 7-2 while the Cavaliers move to 9-0 and will play host to 9-0 Mechanicsburg in Saturday night’s regional finals at Cavalier Stadium.
Despite the Indians being no strangers to facing teams from the Midwest Athletic Conference they have never faced the Cavaliers.