By Don Bachman
BRADFORD - A pair
of speedy halfbacks, a fine passing attack and a big boost from old lady luck
helped Bradford to their first win over a Minster high football team as the
Railroaders took a 26-13 decision at Bradford Monday night. The victory was the second straight league
win for the Railroaders while the loss was the second in a row for the Cats.
The Orange and
Black were unable to stop Bradford’s brother halfbacks, Bob and Marvin Reck,
and the pinpoint passing of quarterback Ken Stoler. M. Reck scored two touchdowns and Stoler passed for two and set up a third with his serial
display.
Minster took the
opening kickoff and moved to the Bradford 30 before they bogged down, and
Bradford took over. The Railroaders
picked up one first down before Besecker punted to
the Minster 26. On the first play from
scrimmage, Hogenkamp fumbled, and Bradford recovered
on the 27. After a pass fell short, Brunnell and M. Reck picked up a first down on the 16. The Reck boys moved the oval to the seven and
with fourth down and one to go for a first down M. Reck shot over his own right
tackle for a score. A pass from Stoler to Francis was good for the extra point.
Jon Hogankamp brought the crowd to its feet immediately as he
took the kickoff on the fifteen, got a couple of good blocks from Ken Gudorf and John Seger, cut for the sidelines
and went all the way for a touchdown. A
plunge for the point was short and Bradford led 7-6.
After Bradford
returned the kick to their own 44, a five-yard penalty and a driving tackle by
John Boerger pushed them back to their 34. With third and 20 to go Stoler
pitched a screen pass to B. Reck who raced all the way to the Minster 33. Four running plays put the ball on the 20 and
Stoler dropped a pass in the arms of Francis in the
end zone for the tally. Besecker’s plunge made it 14-6.
Late in the second
quarter a 40-yard punt by Besecker that went out on
the Minster five paved the way for the winners’ third score. After three plays failed to gain, Frericks punted to the 30 and Lemon returned to the Minster
21. The Cats’ defense stiffened and
forced Bradford back to the 35 but with fourth down and 22 yards to go and only
two minutes remaining in the half, Stoler hit R. Reck
with the same screen pass that had worked so well earlier, and behind a horde of
blockers Reck went all the way for the score.
Stoler fumbled the ball on the extra point attempt
and Bradford led 20-6 at halftime.
The Wildcats came
back fighting in the second half and scored the first time they got the
pigskin. Minster took over on the
Bradford 34 asBesecker fumbled the ball on a punt
attempt. On a quick hitter over left
tackle Jon Hogenkamp rambled all the way to the
thirteen before he was pulled down from behind.
Dahlinghaus carried ot
the eleven and Hogenkamp to the seven before Dave
Wetzel squirmed between tackle and end for the six-pointer. Zimmerer’s
placement was good, and the Cats were back in the ball game.
Bradford took the
kick and marched to the Minster 35. It
was at this point that dame fortune cast her lot against the locals. On the second and nine Stoler
threw a wobbly pass that was deflected twice by Minster defenders and then
caught by Kniesly on the one-yard line. M. Reck shot over on the first play for the
tally. Stoler’s
run for the point was stopped short.
Although trailing
26-13 the Wildcats refused to quit and late in the game advanced to the
Bradford 20, but Wetzel was thrown for a three-yard loss on a fourth and three situation to put an end to any scoring ideas.
Coach Paul Maltinsky was once again disappointed with his line play,
especially offensively. The Minster
mentor also picked up a new worry, a leaky pass defense. There were some bright spots in the losing cause,
however. Jon Hogenkamp
was his usual hard-driving self and Dave Wetzel looked good at right halfback
in the second half. Ted Frericks hit on 7 of 17 pass attempts although he was badly
rushed at times. Jay
Hogenkamp started at right end and caught every pass
thrown his way.
Friday night the
Wildcats play host to Lima St. Rose.
Scoring by quarters:
Bradford 7 13
6 0 — 26
Minster 6 0 7 0 — 13
Team
statistics BR MIN
First
downs 11 8
Rushing
yards 70 87
Passing
yards 138 59
Comp
- att - int 7-15-0 7-17-0
Punts
- average 3-32.0 4-26.3
Penalty
yards 15 0