BY JOHN SCHUTTE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The Colerain football team has been used to playing in close games all season. Saturday night against Centerville was no exception.
Senior defensive back Jason Miller made a diving play in the end zone to knock away a possible game-winning two-point conversion with 24 seconds remaining and Colerain held on for a 28-27 victory over Centerville in the regional semifinals in front of 8,100 fans at Middletown's Barnitz Stadium.
Colerain won its 11th straight game and fifth decided in the closing minutes or overtime.
"Usually I try to rush and block the kick," Miller said. "When I saw the quarterback leap up from the holding crouch, I ran to the back of the end zone and got my fingers on the ball."
With Colerain trailing 21-20 and less than six minutes to play, the Cardinals were in need of a big play. Colerain drove 20 yards in six plays out to its own 39-yard line.
On a 4th-and-one, coach Kerry Coombs ordered a triple option play.
Colerain ran the play to perfection. Quarterback Kyle Funk ran 61 yards for the touchdown and B.J. Askew added a two-point run to put the Cardinals up 28-21 with 2:17 remaining.
"Running the triple option I have to be able to read the defense," Funk said. "B.J. Askew threw a great block and I was able to turn the corner."
Colerain forged a 14-7 halftime lead on the strength of a stubborn defense and explosive running game.
Colerain 7 7 6 8 - 28
Centerville 7 0 0 20 - 27
Col-Robinson 6 run (Rolfert kick)
Cent-Huston 1 run (Nugent kick)
Col-Robinson 69 run (Rolfert kick)
Col-Askew 17 run (kick blocked)
Cent-Hawk 1 run (Nugent kick)
Cent-Hawk 5 run (Nugent kick)
Col-Funk 61 run (Askew run)
Cent-Kennard 18 pass from Hawk (pass failed)
Records Col 11-0, Cent 9-2.
