D5 State Semis: Coldwater vs. Hicksville (at Lima)

• ernest_t_bass

  

  Tradition vs. newbies. Hicksville made it to D6 state semi-finals in 2004, lost to Norwalk St. Paul. Coldwater going for 3rd straight finals appearance, 4th in 5 years. Coldwater is the obvious favorite, but Hicksville has been on a tear, winning 11 straight.
  
  Hicksville - 11-2
  Coldwater - 10-3
  
  Coldwater beat Hicksville week 2, 51-13. That was Hicksville's last loss.
• thavoice

  Should be an interesting matchup. Even though a finals birth is on the line it is inevitable for kids to overlook a team they beat handily. A staff can harp all they want all week but it is human nature to think that way. I have coached teams who have played in games that would get them to a state tournament (albeit a diff sport and on a diff level) and when you play a team you have previously beaten it can be tricky.
  
  CW lost 2 of their last 3 games of the season to Division six teams.
  
  6 of COldwater's regular season opponants made the playoffs and the Cavs were 3-3 against them. 4 of those opponants have made it to the state semi finals and CW was 2-2 in those matchups this regular season.
  
  It will def be a difficult ballgame
• OQB

  

  It's hard to pick against the Cavaliers!
  
  Good luck Cavs!
• Mr. 300

  

  Was in Coldwater yesterday at Pla-Mor Lanes for a tournament. Great little town with a rich sports tradition.
• isadore

  Coldwater has been really inconsistent.
  vs minster, new bremen
  all the turnovers last week
• thavoice

  Isadore.
  
  True, The last three weeks of the regular season Coldwater struggled. They got shut out against a DVI team. The next week they were only ahead 24-21 with 2 minutes to go and the other team with the ball, and that team was winless, and then in week 10 they were down 22-0 late in the game against another DVI team.
  
  Three turnovers last week could have cost them against a quality opponant.
  
  It seems like they found their mojo back in the playoffs. They beat a team that perennially has a good regular season and then get trampled by a MAC team in the playoffs, then got lucky against Versailles as their QB went out in the second drive.
  
  
  CW needs to really be focused. Revenge is best served cold and Hicksville really wants the payback.
• Delphosfan

  thavoice;983641 wrote:Isadore.
  
  True, The last three weeks of the regular season Coldwater struggled. They got shut out against a DVI team. The next week they were only ahead 24-21 with 2 minutes to go and the other team with the ball, and that team was winless, and then in week 10 they were down 22-0 late in the game against another DVI team.
  
  Three turnovers last week could have cost them against a quality opponant.
  
  It seems like they found their mojo back in the playoffs. They beat a team that perennially has a good regular season and then get trampled by a MAC team in the playoffs, then got lucky against Versailles as their QB went out in the second drive.
  
  
  CW needs to really be focused. Revenge is best served cold and Hicksville really wants the payback.

  'voice, you might want to mention the Div VI teams that beat Coldwater the last three weeks of the season were Marion Local and Minster. You kind of make it sound like it was an embarrassment to lose to Div VI schools. Those were two very good teams.
• thavoice

  Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
  
  
  Quite using the whole truth!!!
  
  
  I think it is safe to say that most Cavalier fans are extremely surprised that they have made it this far. For most of the season the offense seemed like it was missing something, and then they struggled in the last few weeks. True, two were against DVI teams that were very good, but also against a winless team they barely won. There is getting beat, and just looking uninspired and lethargic. The team looked lost after week 10. I think that they have regained their legs though. Coach talked about how they scaled back practice a little bit and that is after I noticed them practicing later than normal late in the season. It is quite possible the team was suffering from dead legs late in the regular season.
  
  
  I would have rather played anyone but Hicksvilled because of the emotional ramifications that come from playing a team you beat handily earlier in the season. Too many people think it will be a cake walk, and it will be anything BUT that. If CW comes out and turns the ball over like last week, or get a case of the goo offensively like they did last week then this will be their last game.
• ernest_t_bass

  

  thavoice;983697 wrote:I think it is safe to say that most Cavalier fans are extremely surprised that they have made it this far.

  Not to take anything away from Coldwater, b/c they are pretty damn GOOD... But look at their region, I would hope that no fans are surprised. Their region was pretty weak, outside of Versailles. I have a feeling that they were a lot better than West Jefferson, than the score showed.
• thavoice

  ETB--When i say many fans have to be surprised it was because how they limped down the stretch. The telling game being against a winless DVI team that had the ball, and driving, for the winning score with 2 minutes to go.
  
  
  In all honesty, the region was weak. CW shoulda put 49 on WJ if they hadnt made some mistakes. Thing it though, it is not uncommon come playoff time to run into some weak teams. In looking back through playoff games there have been more than their fair share of blowouts.
  
  
  Looks to be good weather for the game friday night so that is good. Do yo know who the home team is? I havent been to Lima stadium since they redid one of their sides of the field with stands. Back in the day you wanted to have the visitors seating for more seats. Both sides were the same but the home side had the big pressbox that took a few rows in the middl.e
• ernest_t_bass

  

  I would have much rather seen Coldwater vs. West Liberty-Salem in the Regional finals. West Liberty-Salem got bumped to the #1 seed b/c Riverside got a forfeit "W" from Lima Perry. That was just enough to give them the #1 seed. WL-S is my alma mater, and many of the coaches felt that they matched up well with all the teams to get them to the Regional finals, had they been the #2 seed. They played poorly against a good Versailles team, and look what happened.
• ernest_t_bass

  

  WANE - Channel 15, Ft. wayne.
  
  
  http://www.wane.com/dpp/sports/high_school/aces-prepare-for-rematch-with-coldwater
  
• Old Rider

  

  Good Luck Coldwater. Continue with that great tradition and I look forward to watching you play in Massillon next week!
• Abe Vigoda

  

  Got to root for Hicksville. Story of the year if they can knock off Cold H2O.
• isadore

  Coldwater this year is not the Coldwater of the recent past. They are the 3rd or 4th best team in the MAC.
• Heretic

  

  thavoice;983697 wrote:I would have rather played anyone but Hicksvilled because of the emotional ramifications that come from playing a team you beat handily earlier in the season. Too many people think it will be a cake walk, and it will be anything BUT that. If CW comes out and turns the ball over like last week, or get a case of the goo offensively like they did last week then this will be their last game.

  That is a good point. Last year in the regional finals, Hartley beat Ironton on their way to winning D IV. In the regular season, Ironton beat Hartley and, while not a blowout like that Cold-Hick game, it was two scores or something reasonably decisive. Those repeat match-ups can bite you.
• thavoice

  heretic-It is only human nature for a person to think a certain way when you beat the team handily earlier that year. I know it is the semi's and a state berth is on the line and that should be motivation enough, but human nature comes through many times. It may not come through at game time when the bright lights turn on, but it most def can creep into the minds during the week of preparation. A good week of getting prepared for an opponant can beat ya just as much as turnovers can.
  
  On a much smaller scale, yet still HS kids, I have coached teams that have had a state berth on the line and going through a tournament. When you face a team you have beaten before, especially easily, it is so easy to let the mind wonder in the time up to the game. Even as a coach you kinda think ahead because of it. I woudl much rather face a team you didnt in the regular season, or a team ya played and maybe lost to. It is so much easier in preparation for a game when the opponant is an unknown so to speak.
  
  Will it matter friday? Who knows. It may, or may not. But I bet if you could get inside the minds of both sides in a matchup such as this I bet the team that came up on the short end of the score last time is a little bit more in tune in game prep. It may not matter......but that is alwyas out there.
• Captain Cavalier

  

  What a great year for Hicksville. Definitely a better team than in week 2. I was impressed and glad to see the support your community brought to the game. And when the game was over I noticed that after the team had their talk the whole crowd erupted in cheers for their team.
  
  THAT is what helps make a team and binds them together.
  THAT is what keeps the desire for the underclassmen to continue the ACE winning spirit.
  THAT is what will make the seniors proud to have played for the "Ville"
  And THAT is what will make the Aces a force next year.
  
  It starts at home.
  
  Support your team.
  
  You'll be amazed at how far they may go.
  
  Again, great run Hicksville. Walk with pride...you earned it.
• Ace21

  Coldwater played a great game and I can guarantee that all Hicksville players are rooting for them at state. They played hard and showed class throughout the entire game.. Good luck cold water