Grinding it out: Davidson erases 13-point deficit with deliberate second-half drives to beat Coffman
Steve Blackledge The Columbus Dispatch
Nov. 18, 2006--
Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
That's what Hilliard Davidson changed in its game plan that turned a 13-point halftime deficit into a 28-20 victory over Dublin Coffman in a Division I regional final last night at Upper Arlington's Marv Moorehead Stadium.
At least that's the story Davidson coach Brian White and his players offered after an almost unimaginable turnaround.
"We really didn't make any adjustments at all," White said. "Coaching had nothing to with it. What it came down to was determination and a group of senior players simply refusing to go down like this, especially to Dublin Coffman."
Davidson (13-0) will face Cincinnati Colerain (13-0) at 7 p.m. next Saturday in a state semifinal, either in Welcome Stadium in Dayton or at Miami University in Oxford. Colerain beat defending state champion Cincinnati St. Xavier 24-7 last night in Nippert Stadium.
After being shredded for 194 yards by the Shamrocks' passing game in the first half, Davidson turned to the most effective form of defense -- a clockchewing, ball-control offense -- to turn the tide.
The Wildcats opened the third quarter with a 17-play, 80-yard scoring drive, capped by a 1-yard TD plunge by quarterback Connor Dietz.
"At halftime, Coach talked about setting the tone and establishing something positive on the opening drive," Dietz said. "It wasn't a matter of changing anything. We just stuck to what we always do. We just kept grinding away. On that drive, we started to get a feel for where our blocks had to be. We just ran harder and blocked harder."
Stopped for minimal rushing gains in the first half, Davidson starting gaining five and six yards after halftime, relying more on running back Bo Delande than Dietz. To counter the Shamrocks' overpursuing linebackers, the Wildcats bounced their option pitches to the outside and sprinkled in more cutback runs.
"We've been putting games on the defense's shoulders all season," White said. "Today, we put on the offense to bring us back. Bo got a little angry and started to run harder, but it all started with the offensive line pushing the pile forward. That first drive gave us a little confidence and maybe put a little doubt in (the Shamrocks') minds."
Delande finished with 109 yards (100 in the second half) on 26 carries.
"We turned the game into a street fight, and we took it to them instead of letting them take to it us like the first half," Delande said.
Coffman coach Mark Crabtree didn't argue White's assertion that Davidson's halftime adjustments were minimal at best.
"They just did what they do, but they did it a lot better and with a greater sense of urgency," Crabtree said. "You've just got to give Davidson's kids credit for turning it up when they had to."
Davidson then forced Coffman to punt and went back to work again.
Delande capped an 11-play 86-yard drive with a 25-yard TD run on fourth-and-2 for a 21-20 Davidson lead.
Coffman (9-4) responded with a nice drive into Davidson territory, but two crucial holding penalties forced a third-and-16 play on which quarterback Zak Kristan was intercepted by Grant Hamill.
Chewing up five more minutes, Davidson methodically marched 67 yards in 11 plays for the clinching score, a 1-yard plunge by Delande with 1:46 left.
"I wanted the offense to climb on my back the second half," Delande said. "Our whole offense can make plays, and a lot of guys came through in the clutch tonight."
Kristan completed 18 of 31 passes for 238 yards, with Jake Stoneburner hauling in seven receptions for 120 yards and a 13-yard touchdown with 25 seconds left in the first half.
Davidson, however, ran 37 plays to just 17 for Coffman after halftime, when the Wildcats defense, sparked by linebackers Brad McKinley and J.B. Strahler, limited the Shamrocks to 74 yards and three first downs.
"In the second half, we felt good about what we were doing offensively," Crabtree said. "Due to their offense holding on to the ball so long, we just didn't get many opportunities."
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Nov. 18, 2006--
Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
That's what Hilliard Davidson changed in its game plan that turned a 13-point halftime deficit into a 28-20 victory over Dublin Coffman in a Division I regional final last night at Upper Arlington's Marv Moorehead Stadium.
At least that's the story Davidson coach Brian White and his players offered after an almost unimaginable turnaround.
"We really didn't make any adjustments at all," White said. "Coaching had nothing to with it. What it came down to was determination and a group of senior players simply refusing to go down like this, especially to Dublin Coffman."
Davidson (13-0) will face Cincinnati Colerain (13-0) at 7 p.m. next Saturday in a state semifinal, either in Welcome Stadium in Dayton or at Miami University in Oxford. Colerain beat defending state champion Cincinnati St. Xavier 24-7 last night in Nippert Stadium.
After being shredded for 194 yards by the Shamrocks' passing game in the first half, Davidson turned to the most effective form of defense -- a clockchewing, ball-control offense -- to turn the tide.
The Wildcats opened the third quarter with a 17-play, 80-yard scoring drive, capped by a 1-yard TD plunge by quarterback Connor Dietz.
"At halftime, Coach talked about setting the tone and establishing something positive on the opening drive," Dietz said. "It wasn't a matter of changing anything. We just stuck to what we always do. We just kept grinding away. On that drive, we started to get a feel for where our blocks had to be. We just ran harder and blocked harder."
Stopped for minimal rushing gains in the first half, Davidson starting gaining five and six yards after halftime, relying more on running back Bo Delande than Dietz. To counter the Shamrocks' overpursuing linebackers, the Wildcats bounced their option pitches to the outside and sprinkled in more cutback runs.
"We've been putting games on the defense's shoulders all season," White said. "Today, we put on the offense to bring us back. Bo got a little angry and started to run harder, but it all started with the offensive line pushing the pile forward. That first drive gave us a little confidence and maybe put a little doubt in (the Shamrocks') minds."
Delande finished with 109 yards (100 in the second half) on 26 carries.
"We turned the game into a street fight, and we took it to them instead of letting them take to it us like the first half," Delande said.
Coffman coach Mark Crabtree didn't argue White's assertion that Davidson's halftime adjustments were minimal at best.
"They just did what they do, but they did it a lot better and with a greater sense of urgency," Crabtree said. "You've just got to give Davidson's kids credit for turning it up when they had to."
Davidson then forced Coffman to punt and went back to work again.
Delande capped an 11-play 86-yard drive with a 25-yard TD run on fourth-and-2 for a 21-20 Davidson lead.
Coffman (9-4) responded with a nice drive into Davidson territory, but two crucial holding penalties forced a third-and-16 play on which quarterback Zak Kristan was intercepted by Grant Hamill.
Chewing up five more minutes, Davidson methodically marched 67 yards in 11 plays for the clinching score, a 1-yard plunge by Delande with 1:46 left.
"I wanted the offense to climb on my back the second half," Delande said. "Our whole offense can make plays, and a lot of guys came through in the clutch tonight."
Kristan completed 18 of 31 passes for 238 yards, with Jake Stoneburner hauling in seven receptions for 120 yards and a 13-yard touchdown with 25 seconds left in the first half.
Davidson, however, ran 37 plays to just 17 for Coffman after halftime, when the Wildcats defense, sparked by linebackers Brad McKinley and J.B. Strahler, limited the Shamrocks to 74 yards and three first downs.
"In the second half, we felt good about what we were doing offensively," Crabtree said. "Due to their offense holding on to the ball so long, we just didn't get many opportunities."
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