ST. JOSEPH, MI (WTVB) – The Coldwater Cardinals have done what no football team from Branch County has been able to do in the 41-year history of the MHSAA Playoffs: claim a Regional championship. They did so with a strong second-half performance to prevail over the St. Joseph Bears 20-6 in a Division 3 Regional Final played at Dickinson Stadium. The first half featured a pair of Coldwater turnovers, one of which helped lead St. Joseph to its only score of the game, a 1-yard run by quarterback Griffin Beaudette early in the second quarter. It was a 6-0 halftime score favoring the Bears – the first time the Cardinals had trailed at halftime all season. St. Joseph had 81 yards on the ground and 31 through the air in the first half for a total of 112 yards, compared to the 90 yards that Coldwater had at the half, all on running plays.
Luke Beckhusen that tied the game up with a 33-yard run midway through the third quarter. Joey Severn scored early in the fourth on a 5-yard run. Sam DeMeester had a 5-yard touchdown run halfway through the quarter, with Beckhusen completing the scoring on the ensuing two-point conversion. St. Joe’s last-ditch effort to add to their score was stopped a yard shy of the end zone with 15 seconds left in the game, preserving the 14-point margin of victory for the Cardinals, who remain undefeated at 12-0. The Bears ended their season at 10-2.
Coldwater finished the game with 307 rushing yards and 22 passing yards for a total of 329, while holding St. Joseph to 193 total yards, 81 of those coming in the second half. Individually, Spencer Burns had 18 carries for 122 yards, Luke Beckhusen 17 carries for 127 yards, Joey Severn 14 carries for 35 yards, and Sam DeMeester 11 carries for 31 yards. Luke Beckhusen was also 1-for-3 passing for 22 yards, no touchdowns, and an interception; the lone completion was to Burns. Defensively, Luke Beckhusen, Brandon Lewis, and Joey Severn each had 6 tackles, while Spencer Dudek had 5 tackles and a quarterback sack. In recognition of Coldwater’s total team effort, the entire team earned McDonald’s Players of Game honors.
The Cardinals now advance to next Saturday’s Division 3 Semifinal against Chelsea, who defeated Allen Park 35-12 last night in another Division 3 Regional Final. Time and location of the game will be announced by the MHSAA on Monday.
In some other Regional Final scores from around the area:
- Division 5: Ida 43, Buchanan 20
- Division 6: Clinton 49, Lumen Christi 20
- Division 7: Pewamo-Westphalia 40, Cassopolis 3
Today’s Regional Final games include Constantine at Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian in Division 6 and Ottawa Lake Whiteford at Climax-Scotts in Division 8. And in an 8-player football semifinal at Battle Creek Central’s C.W. Post Field, undefeated St. Philip hosts 10-1 Deckerville. The winner will face Powers North Central in next Friday’s 8-Player Final at Greenville.
