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| Offensive lineman Luke Schumacher, linebacker Drew Wheater, quarterback Brady Kelly, defensive back Henry Ryan. Coe athletics photo |
By Brian Lester
D3sports.com
Coe College’s NCAA Division III football postseason officially begins Saturday.
You could argue, however, that the 24th-ranked Kohawks have been in playoff mode since the end of September when they were sitting at 2-2 and every game the rest of the way became a must win.
“Every game beyond that is a playoff game if you want to keep your playoff hopes alive,” head coach Tyler Staker said.
Six consecutive wins later, the Kohawks feel good about what they have accomplished so far, capping the regular season with one more playoff-like game as they beat then No. 19 Central 13-7 on the road.
That victory helped keep Coe in the playoff discussion and it officially earned a berth when the bracket was revealed Sunday.
It was a long way from 2-2. Because as senior offensive lineman Luke Schumacher will tell you, the Kohawks weren’t sure what the future held back on Sept. 27 after a 17-7 loss to now-No. 5 Wartburg.
“When we were sitting there at 2-2, we didn’t know if we would get to this point, but we found a way,” Schumacher said. “We kept our head down and kept winning games. Every game from here on out now is a bonus.”
Coe (8-2) takes on Concordia Wisconsin (9-1) on the road on Saturday for its first opportunity at bonus football.
And the Kohawks go into it knowing they have been tested often this year and are ready for the moment.
“They are used to playing in pressure situations,” Staker said. “Knowing that you need to come up with a win every week if you want a chance to play beyond the regular season, that is a big thing for the players. It really helps get you ready.”
The Kohawks are in the playoffs for the third consecutive year, the longest streak in program history, and Staker is proud of his team for making it happen.
“I’m really proud of our players," Staker said. "To be 2-2 four weeks in, that’s a tough spot to be in, but we quietly kept winning games and put ourselves in a position to make the playoffs.”
The win over Central marked its third game of the season against a nationally ranked opponent. Coe played now-No. 3 UW-River Falls in Week 2 and lost 59-47 before losing to Wartburg.
Still, even in defeat in the first two games against ranked opponents, valuable lessons were learned and some added confidence was gained.
“Playing two tough programs on the road, and playing them tight, we understand we can play with the best teams in the country,” Staker said. “We gained confidence from those games, and we want to roll that into postseason play.”
Schumacher is definitely confident.
“We know we can play with anybody. It’s just a matter of getting the opportunity to show that again,” Schumacher said. “When your last game (of the regular) season is win or go home, we showed that we could get the job done.”
For Schumacher, all he’s known in his college career is the feeling that every game truly does matter.
The Kohawks have had to thrive in big moments the last three seasons to earn a playoff spot. And even three seasons ago, when Schumacher was a freshman, Coe played Wartburg for the ARC championship in the final game of the 2022 season with a chance to make the playoffs.
“It’s been such an honor,” Schumacher. “Every single game has mattered in my career. “Every game you were playing to have a chance to go to the playoffs. It’s really cool.”
Coe has found different ways to win. Sometimes it’s been by scoring a lot of points, and at other times, the defense has had to deliver, much the way it did against Central.
The Kohawks are averaging a little over 500 yards (504.8) per game while allowing 310.5.
Brady Kelly has thrown for 2,600 yards and 28 touchdowns, with three receivers racking up more than 500 yards, including Devo Kollasch, who has caught 34 passes for 701 yards and five scores.
Jeron Senters has 39 catches for 668 yards and five touchdowns while Latrell Taylor has snagged 10 touchdown passes. He has 36 catches for 595 yards.
The rushing attack is led by Quincy Drummer, who has rushed for 596 yards and seven touchdowns. Tre’sean Cunningham has 542 rushing yards and six scores.
Two players have 60-plus tackles for the Kohawks. Linebacker Noah Tolbert leads the team with 66 and defensive back CJ Johnson has 60 tackles.
“We’ve been able to play complementary football,” Staker said. “To watch our offense and defense play off each other, it’s been fun to see.”
There’s also the resilience factor this team has put on display in having to battle week to week to stay in the hunt for a playoff berth.
“It’s a resilient group,” Staker said. “They didn’t stop fighting. They have come to practice every day ready to work, and I attribute that to the culture of the program overall. “It’s an earn-it mentality, and the guys have embraced it. And our coaching staff has done a phenomenal job of preparing the team to play.”
For Staker, he can relate to what it means to play in the postseason at Coe. He did it twice in his career while here and has been the head coach of the program since being named to the position in November 2015, replacing his dad, Steve, as head coach.
“I think back to my days at Coe and being in the playoffs. It’s an experience I will never forget,” Staker said. “One day these guys will look back at the playoff opportunity as one of those shining moments in their college careers.”
Schumacher has tried to grasp what it truly means to get another chance to go to the playoffs. He loves that he is part of school history.
“It’s really exciting to be part of a group that is going three straight times to the playoffs,” Schumacher said. “The opportunity to keep playing football is a big deal.”
Coe’s season could have gone one of two ways back in September. The fact that it went in the direction the Kohawks hoped it would is meaningful to the team.
“It’s bonus football,” Schumacher said. “We’ll be juiced up and ready to go. We’re excited to get a chance to go out and play Kohawk football again.”