Versailles 18 – Minster 12

The Versailles Tigers spoiled Minster’s home opener with a 18-12 victory over the Wildcats in a Tri-County League game Friday night. The Versailles victory marked the third consecutive year the locals have bowed to the Tigers, each time by one touchdown.

A bad pass from center set up Versailles’ opening score late in the initial period. With the ball on the Versailles 42 on fourth down and seven, a high pass from center went over Brown’s head and down to the Minster 30 for a 28-yard loss. Gigandet then raced around end to the Wildcat’s 10, and after Kueterman moved to the three Gigandet blasted over takle for the 6-0 lead.

Minster took the ensuing kickoff and moved to the Versailles 24 before Froning fumbled and the Tigers recovered. On another possession, the running of Bob Wente and the throwing of Froning gave the locals three first downs to the Versailles 29. With first and 10 a pass to Connaughton was incomplete and Wente was stopped on the 28. Following an incomplete toss to Hausfeld, Froning completed a throw to Brown but he was stopped a yard short of a first down and Versailles took over with two minutes left in the half.

Deagle raced around end to the Minster 32 for a gain of 47 yards. After two line plays netted five yards, Marty Davis recovered a Tiger fumble and the half ended with Versailles leading 6-0.

Versailles scored its second touchdown five plays after Berger had run the kickoff to the Versailles 46. Kueterman picked up 30 yards in two plays to the locals’ 24. Two line bucks put the ball on the 19 and Berger raced around right end to score and take a 12-0 lead.

The Wildcats bounced back for a six pointer, moving 65 yards on 11 plays. Wente, Davis and Brown smashed through the visitors forward wall fir three straight first downs to the Versailles 18. Brown, Davis and Froning then alternated to put the ball on the 10-yard line. With fourth down and two yards needed, Wente drove over to the four yard line for the first down. Davis cracked over tackle for the score, but a high pass from center foiled the PAT attempt.

Versailles applied the clincher early in the final period. A great tackle by Hogenkamp stopped Kueterman from a 65-yard touchdown run and dropped him on the Cat 45. Berger went around end to the 15, and Deagle and Gigandet drove to the 10. Kueterman drove around end to make the score 18-6.

Minster stopped a Versailles drive on its own three late in the game to set the stage for the final scoring play. Two running plays put the ball on the 16, then Froning hit Hausfeld with a 29-yard pass and Hausfeld outran the defenders the remaining 55 yards to make it 18-12.

Versailles then took the ball and held it for the remaining time.

Scoring by quarters:

Versailles 6 0 6 6 — 18

Minster 0 0 6 6 — 12