Sims said after the game he had not started a game at quarterback since his sophomore season when he was at Northwest High School.

“I was a little nervous at the start of the game but after one or two snaps we got in the flow and I was fine,” he said of his first start as a Colerain QB.

Sims led an offensive attack that racked up 437 yards of total offense with 381 of it coming on the ground.  The Cardinals defense was stellar as usual in posting their third shutout in the past six games.  Colerain held the Thunderbolts to 225 yards of total offense.

But it was Sims who stole the show on this night.

“He came to us as an option quarterback and we knew he was pretty special,” said Colerain coach Tom Bolden. “We just didn’t know how special,” he added with a smile.  “But we knew he would play well and that the kids would rally after what happened (to Reynolds).”

Sims got Colerain on the board on their second possession of the first quarter, bolting 63 yards down the sideline on a keeper for a 7-0 lead.

Northmont had success moving the ball with 105 yards in the opening quarter and drove 70 yards to the Colerain 5-yard line early in the second quarter.  But the Cardinals’ defense stiffened and on fourth down stopped junior running back Kevin Ringer short of the goal line.  It was a game-changing moment.

“They had us on our heels a little but when they drove down there I think the goal line stand really woke our defense up,” said Bolden.  “That stand was huge and changed the game and the momentum and sealed the deal.”

Colerain struck twice within the final 1:03 of the half to take control of the game.  Sims connected on a 43-yard touchdown pass to Ravelle Sadler.  Northmont gave the ball back one play later when a Ringer fumble was recovered at the Thunderbolts’ 17-yard line.  Four plays later Sims connected on a 5-yard touchdown pass with his brother, Damon, who leaped high to haul in his first career score.

“That was the greatest feeling in the world; that was pretty special,” said Quentin Sims.

Senior running back Dominique Sherrer, who rushed for 56 yards on 10 carries, scored on runs of 3 and 1 yards in the second half before most of the Colerain starters took a seat in the fourth quarter with the game well at hand.  Sadler, making his first start at running back, added 30 yards rushing and 51 yards receiving.

Up next for Colerain (11-0) is Moeller in a regional semifinal contest at Paul Brown Stadium next Saturday.  The Cardinals defeated the Crusaders 34-31 last year in a thrilling 34-31 triple overtime victory in the opening round.

But for tonight Bolden can enjoy his first career playoff win as a head coach.  “It’s awesome, it is everything I thought it would be,” he said.  “Very neat, very special.”