Losing 15 starters is enough to send any coach into a panic, but Coldwater’s Chip Otten has been there and done it before…quite well as a matter of fact.
The Cavaliers replaced 19 starters a year ago and still ended up playing in an eighth straight state championship game.
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Otten certainly has some holes to fill before his team opens the season at home against Kenton on Aug. 25.
“We’ll have a new quarterback,” Otten said. “We’re confident in Sam Broering. He played receiver last year and was the back up quarterback…we do have some skill spots to fill in right now.”
Broering has a bit of experience lining up behind him. Senior running back Brad Giere contributed in a back-up role in 2016.
Coldwater was denied a fifth straight state title when they lost to Canton Central Catholic in the 2016 Division V championship game, but the coach says he doesn’t think his guys have a chip on their shoulders.
“Maybe amongst themselves, but I don’t feel that,” Otten said. “We haven’t talked a lot about it, we’ve got to get there first. We just worry about getting them ready and trying to get them in the playoffs and then you go from there.”
The Cavaliers slide down to Division VI this season where keeping that streak alive won’t come easy. Defending state champion and arch-rival Marion Local is now in the same region.