Patriots' season ends

FINDLAY, Ohio - Patrick Henry didn't expect to reach the football state semifinals, so a loss Friday night to Coldwater didn't take away from a season full of accomplishments.

The Patriots ultimately fell 35-24 to the Cavaliers, a team with several athletes headed to Division I college programs.

Patrick Henry didn't start the game on a great note, with Justin Buenger fumbling on the opening possession. Coldwater would take advantage. Keith Wenning, headed to Ball State next year, found Reese Klenke for an 11-yard score and a 7-0 Coldwater advantage.

However, PH made it a ballgame when Luke George intercepted Wenning. On the resulting drive, George scored on a keeper to tie the game at seven. Heading into the half, the Patriots led 10-7.

But that lead was short lived.

Coldwater came out of the locker room and immediately went downfield and scored on a 27-yard pass from Wenning to Adam Rammel. Later in the third quarter, the Patriots turned the ball over, resulting in another Coldwater touchdown and a 21-10 lead.

As the game was ending, Coldwater head coach John Reed collapsed on the sidelines, but he was able to get back up to shake Patrick Henry head coach Bill Inselmann's hand.

For the season, Inselmann led his team to a 13-1 record and an eighth straight playoff appearance. The team had said earlier in the week that they expected to qualify for the playoffs, but to be 13-0 heading into the state semifinals, that result exceeded expectations.

So to have a year finish 13-1, albeit short of a state championship, and to lose to a talented Coldwater team, takes nothing away from a year where Patrick Henry continued its stretch of football dominance in Northwest Ohio.