Caldwell’s Alex Herlan hauls in a perfect pass from quarterback Cale Bender in Friday night’s game against Waterford at the Noble County Fairgrounds. The play turned into a 53-yard touchdown pass as the Redskins rolled to a 41-14 win. (Photo by Mike Morrison)

CALDWELL – Senior quarterback Cale Bender ran for two touchdowns and passed for two more Friday night to lead the Caldwell Redskins to a 41-14 win over the visiting Waterford Wildcats at the Noble County Fairgrounds.

After the Wildcats jumped out to an early 6-0 lead, Bender’s 72-yard touchdown gallop put them in front and they would never look back as they improved to 2-0 on the season.

The Redskins came up empty on their opening possession but the young Wildcats put together an impressive 12-play, 65-yard drive to take the early lead.

Junior quarterback Zavier Heiss, making just his second varsity start at quarterback, keyed the opening drive by connecting on five completions to four different receivers with Dylan Taylor going the final 10-yards after catching a bubble screen from Heiss for the touchdown.

Caldwell wasted little time answering as on the very next play from scrimmage, Bender broke free right up the gut and outraced the Waterford secondary 72-yards into the end zone for a Redskin touchdown.

Chaz Pfeffer’s extra point was good after a play that Caldwell head coach Chance Rucker felt was a key one in the contest.

“We had that play called earlier and checked out of it but obviously it worked and we got a 70-yard touchdown out of it,” said Rucker, in his third season as head coach. “It was good to take back any momentum they had gained on that opening drive.”

After stopping the Wildcats on their next possession the Redskins took advantage of some great field position to add their lead.

Caldwell started at the Waterford 48-yard line and the ‘Skins would need just six plays to score again, this time on a 2-yard plunge by Dylan Wheeler to extend their lead to 14-6.

After allowing the first drive score, the Redskin defense came to life in the second quarter as they made life miserable for Heiss and the Wildcat offensive line.

The Caldwell defense accounted for 12 tackles for loss in the game, including a pair on their next possession as they handed the ball right back to the dangerous Redskin offense.

Sophomore Owen Hunt accounted for three sacks in the game for Caldwell while junior Ethan Crock and senior Jase Norman both tallied two and half sacks.

“This was no doubt one of our best defensive line performances in some time,” said Rucker of his defense. “When you can wreck that kind of havoc in the backfield good things are going to happen. I’m super proud of those guys.”

The Redskins began to open some ground as they scored once again when Bender hit junior receiver Alex Herlan down the sidelines for a 53-yard touchdown pass and a two-score lead.

Caldwell would add to their lead later in second quarter when Bender rushed for his second score of the half to send the Redskins to the locker room with a 28-6 lead.

Waterford committed what would be the only turnover of the game in the third quarter when a snap got over the head of Heiss and the explosive Caldwell offense would make them pay in a hurry.

Bender played receiver for one play and caught a little 4-yard pass from Crock and then moved back into the quarterback slot and connected once again with Herlan, this time on a 34-yard run-and-pass to give the Redskins a 34-6 lead.

“He’s a dual threat guy who can run and throw it and I put him right up there as one of the best quarterbacks in the state in the small school divisions,” said Rucker of Bender. “I may be a little biased but he is at full maturity level right now and whatever comes this season he deserves every bit of it.”

The Wildcats rallied to string together perhaps their very best drive of the game as they marched 60-yards on just seven plays with Heiss connecting with Max Roberts to make it a 34-14 ball game.

“We were able to do a lot of good things and that drive in the third quarter was a good one,” said Waterford coach Eric McCutcheon. “Our guys were still battling we just got ourselves in to big of a hole to climb up out of.”

That would be as close as the Wildcats would get the rest of the way and the Redskins would add an insurance score in the fourth quarter.

Facing a third and eight on their own 28-yard line, Bender found Herlan on a short pass out in the flat and the speedy Herlan carried the ball all the way down to the four-yard line.

Two plays later Crock scored the final touchdown of the game on a four yard-plunge to put things away for good.

Bender rushed for 111 yards on 11 carries while completing 14-of-23 passes for 231 yards while Herlan caught five balls for 179 yards and the two scores.

Rucker had high praise for the development Herlan has made over the last couple of seasons.

“Two years ago he didn’t know how to read a wrist band and now he is putting up stats like no other,” said Rucker. “He’s another one that has developed into a great talent and we will see him playing on Saturdays here in a couple of years.”

Taylor rushed for 104 yards on 13 carries for the Wildcats who slipped to 1-1 on the season while Heiss completed 17-of 39 pass attempts for 211 yards.

McCutcheon gave all the credit in the world to Caldwell but felt the game would serve as a great learning experience for his young team.

“They are a good solid team that did a lot of good things up front and got pressure on our quarterback so credit to Caldwell,” said McCutcheon. “I like our team… we are young and we’ve got a lot of fight and character and we will learn from this and get better from it.”

The Wildcats will host Shenandoah Friday while the Redskins play their first road game at Wellsville.