By Don Bachman
Bradford’s
Railroaders steamed into town Friday night, a two touchdown
favorite, only to find that pre-game prognosticators failed to allow for the
revitalized Wildcats.
When the dust cleared
from Friday’s Tri-County league action the Bradford eleven had been held to a
0-0 tie by the spirited Minster gridders.
For Minster this stout defensive play was especially
encouraging, as the Wildcats had looked weak in their opening game.
The local defensive
unit was superb, especially in the last half when they were called upon to
repel the visitors inside their 30-yard line.
Offensively the Wildcats felt the absence of quarterback Ted Frericks who saw no action due to leg injury.
But what the local
backs lacked in finesse they made up for in determination. Johnny Horstman, who took over Frericks’ punting duties, responded with an average of 31
yards for five boots, twice coming through with fine kicks when the Cats had
their backs to the goal line.
The Wildcats
recovered a Bradford fumble on the opening kickoff, only to fumble two plays
later. A 15 yard
penalty pushed the visitors deep in their own territory before Besecker punted to the Bradford 45. Horstman slanted off tackle for the first
down of the game, to the 33. Hausfeld moved to the 29 and Hogenkamp
carried twice to pick up a first down on the 16. Gudorf, Hausfeld and Horstman put the ball on the seven for a
fourth and one. Horstman smashed over
his own right guard but fell two inches short.
Later in the
quarter the Cats advanced to the Bradford 29, but a 15-yard clipping penalty
stopped the march.
Joe Bornhorst recovered a fumble on the 34 midway
in the second stanza to give the locals another opportunity. After picking up a first down on the 21, the
Cats managed only one yard in two tries.
Hogenkamp passed to Hausfeld
on the 15, but Abernathy broke through to toss Hogenkamp
for a seven yard loss on the next play.
Minster was on the
defense through most of the second half, stopping the Railroaders on the 37 the
first time they had possession of the ball.
Bradford got a break late in the third period when an attempted pass was
batted in the air and caught by Lavey on the Minster
28. Besecker
smashed to the 24 and Abernathy to the 20, but the right side of the Minster
line broke through to throw Besecker for a nine yard loss.
In two plays the
Cats were pushed to their own 11 and Horstman punted to the Minster 43. Besecker retaliated
with a punt that rolled out of bounds on the Minster 11. After three running plays gained only eight
yards, Horstman punted to the Bradford 45.
Abernathy gathered in the punt on the 42 and was smashed on a hard
tackle by Tom Oldiges. Both boys were shaken up and forced to leave
the game.
The Wildcat line
held again and this time Besecker’s punt rolled dead
on the two. Horstman picked up nine
yards on two plays to pace the locals to a first down. Now it was Bradford’s turn to hold and
Horstman punted to the Minster 41 with one minute left. Bradford tried three passes and the Wildcats
took over as the final gun sounded.
Scoring by
quarters:
Minster 0 0
0 0 — 0
Bradford 0
0 0 0 — 0