Colerain coach Kerry Coombs (center) poses with his seniors and assistants. (Craig Ruttle photo) | ZOOM |

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        One of the three goals the Colerain football team sets before each season is winning the coaches poll championship. For the fourth time in the past seven years, the Cardinals were voted The Enquirer's Division I poll champions.

        “We're proud of this accomplishment,” Colerain coach Kerry Coombs said. “Winning the league and qualifying for the playoffs are the first two goals, followed by the city championship.”

        Edgewood, the 1999 Division II-VI poll champion, was a repeat winner, finishing the regular season 9-1.

        Colerain, ranked No.6 in the preseason poll, finished the regular season 10-0. The Cardinals also won poll championships in 1994, 95 and 98 (although the '95 team later forfeited its 13 victories after the school discovered it had been using an ineligible player).

FINAL POLLS

DIVISION I   1. Colerain (11) 110   2. Moeller 99   3. St. Xavier 84   4. Elder 74   5. Anderson 55   6. Western Hills 49   7. Fairfield 48   8. Lebanon 39   9. Lakota West 27   10. Princeton 14   Others: Winton Woods 3, Milford 2, Harrison 1.   DIVISION II-VI   1. Edgewood (11) 119   2. Reading (2) 111   3. McNicholas 81   4. Glen Este 78   5. New Richmond 69   6. Purcell Marian 64   7. Loveland 47   8. Wyoming 43   9. Blanchester 21   9. Madeira 21   Others: Indian Hill 11, Badin 10, Williamsburg 10, Summit 8, Bethel-Tate 6, Cin. Country Day 4, Batavia 4, Mariemont 2.

        “Beating Elder (preseason No.1) in the first game set the tone for the season,” Coombs said. “We had a lot of inexperienced kids and the confidence grew from there.”

        Colerain fell behind, then fought back to edge Elder 14-7.

        “We had an untested quarterback (Sean Jones) and a sophomore tailback (Maurice Johnson),” Coombs said. “When kids start believing in themselves, they become dangerous.” The Cardinals followed with wins over Hughes and Oak Hills, then swept six games in the Greater Miami Conference.

        Colerain's defense played a major role in its undefeated season, allowing only 86 points.

        Edgewood lost only to Miamisburg, a Division I playoff qualifier.

        Last season, Edgewood was 10-0 in the regular season and 13-1 overall after reaching the Division II state semifinals. The Cougars returned 10 defensive and seven offensive starters from that team.

        Edgewood averaged nearly 400 yards a game and holding opponents to an average of fewer than 150 this season. It scored 369 points and allowed 127.

        Complete prep football coverage at Enquirer.com/prepfootball

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