By Duane Bachman
MARIA STEIN – Wally
Moore’s Marion Flyers delighted their Homecoming crowd last Friday evening by
besting the Wildcats of Minster 23-6.
The Flyers, who had
scored only two touchdowns in four previous outings, tallied 16 points in the
final half to hand the Cats their third loss of the season against two wins,
while bringing their record to 1-3-1.
It was evident that
spirit sometimes overshadows ability, as the Flyers took the opening kickoff
and 16 plays later climaxed an 80-yard drive with Vern Mescher
skirting around right end for a touchdown.
Clune’s extra point attempt split the uprights, and from that point the
Flyers were never heeded.
The Wildcats
countered with a pair of first downs late in the initial stanza, but the offensive
thrust was stopped on the Marion 30-yard line.
The Flyers offense could do no better, and the remaining minutes of the
first half were played in the vicinity of the midfield stripe. At the halfway point Marion led, 7-0.
The “fired up”
Minster combine took the second half kickoff, and with Frericks
directing the attack, along with some nice running by Wetzel and Albers, reeled
off five first downs in 16 plays. Frericks hit paydirt from the two to make the score 7-6 as Baumer’s extra point attempt was blocked.
The Wildcat defense
staved off a Flyer drive, but the Minster offense failed to jell and Frericks was forced to punt. Bruns brought the kick back to the Minster
42, and three plays later Heyne sprinted around right
end for 30 yards and another Marion touchdown.
Clune’s kick was good again and the Flyers led 14-6.
The Cats brought
the oval out to the 34 but the offense was again stalled as Mescher
intercepted an aerial and returned it to the Minster 22.
Bruns, Heyne and Mescher tightened the Minster
defense with plunges through the middle.
Then Clune faked to his halfback up the center and handed off to Heyne who skirted unmolested around end for the score. The extra point made it 21-6.
Farno returned the kickoff to the Minster 25, but a 15-yard penalty sent them
deep into their own territory. Two line thrusts and an incomplete pass sent Frericks into punt formation. A bad pass from center sailed over his head
into the end zone, where the quarterback was tackled by Marion’s Goettemoeller. The
safety made the score 23-6. At this point
Moore cleared his bench.
The Flyer offense
was exceptionally sharp in the passing department, outshining by far the punchless Minster offense.
The Wildcat defense turned in a creditable performance, with Hegeman and Schemmel being the
stalwarts.
Minster will play a
league game at Versailles next Friday.
Scoring by quarters:
Marion 7 0 0 16 — 23
Minster 0
0 6 0 — 6