Minster 21 – Bradford 18

Dave Seger’s extra point kick after Minster’s third touchdown provided the winning margin as the Wildcats nipped Bradford 21-18 in a Tri-County League game.

Minster kicked off to open the game but intercepted a Bradford pass on the first play from scrimmage. After intercepting the aerial on the Bradford 32, Wente brought it to the 24. Brown drove it to the 19 and Wente sprinted around end to the 4. Wente smashed to the 2 and Froning scored on a quarterback sneak. The extra point kick was blocked.

Bradford tied the score 6-6 on Staudt’s 40-yard jaunt around end six plays after the kickoff. A plunge for the extra point was stopped.

The Wildcats started a drive late in the initial period that carried them to the Railroaders 28, but Kiess intercepted a Froning pass and romped 70 yards for the score. A run for the point was short and Bradford led 12-6 as the first period ended.

Minster downed a short kick on its own 42 and Wente took it to the 49 and the second canto opened. Brown drove hard over tackle for a first down on the Bradford 47. Runs by Wente, Davis and Froning and two Bradford penalties took the ball to the 25. Brown slashed his way to the 11 and Wente followed around end for the TD. A pass for the point fell incomplete.

Dave Rump recovered a Bradford fumble on the Railroaders 24 to set up the third Minster six pointer. After five plays, Bradford stopped Wente for a yard loss to bring up a 4th down and 2 from the four yard line. Davis then smashed off tackle, and after being temporarily stopped on the three came up with a sudden burst of speed that carried him into the end zone. Seger’s placement was perfect and the Maltinskymen led 19-12.

Bradford came back in two plays, one a 13-yard run by Bob Hill and the other a 48 yard end run by Besecker to make it 19-18. A pass for the point was short.

Besecker’s punt out of bounds on the Cats’ three kept the locals in hot water in the third period. After a trio of running palys gained six yards, Seger punted to HIll who fumbled and Wente recovered on the Cats’ own 32. Minster moved to the Bradford 29, but a fourth down pass was incomplete.

Besecker was thrown for a loss back to the 16 as he attempted to pass and was swarmed under by the Minster forward wall. A 15-yard penalty pushed Bradford to the one, and Dave Rump tackled Bob Hill in the end zone for a safety that moved Minster ahead 21-18.

Bradford took over on its own 30 with 5-1/2 minutes remaining and began to move downfield. With Besecker and Hill doing most of the work the Railroaders advanced to the Minster 36 only to have a desperation fourth down pass fall short.

The victory proved costly, however, as John Froning suffered a broken bone in his right hand that will keep him out for the next four games and possibly the remainder of the season. The quarterback duties will be taken over by Ken Gudorf, a promising freshman who has been seeing some defensive action.

Scoring by quarters:

Minster 6 13 0 2 — 21

Bradford 12 6 0 0 — 18