Big Plays End Minster Losing Streak with Win Over Fort Loramie, 19-6

By Bruce Monnin

FORT LORAMIE — The Minster Wildcats came into Fort Loramie having tried but failed to grasp victory in its last eleven football games. Though it was far from easy, Minster used a combination of big plays on offense, defense and special teams to earn their first victory in 21 months, a convincing 19-6 opening night triumph over the Redskins.

“We felt very good after our win last week (a scrimmage against Dayton Oakwood),” explained Wildcat coach Eric Belcher. “That was huge for us and gave us a nice boost of confidence going into this game.”
 
On offense, 181 of the Wildcat’s 273 yards came on three plays that either scored or led to their three touchdowns. On defense, Fort Loramie drove into Minster territory eight times in which they were turned away without a point. And the Minster special teams recovered a fumbled punt which led their first score and scored their last touchdown after the Fort Loramie special teams gave the Wildcats new life with a running into the punter penalty.
 
The offenses started out slowly as the first five possessions of the game ended in punts. But a Minster punt was fumbled by Fort Loramie and Jake Kaiser pounced on the ball to put the Wildcats just 35 yards from the end zone. Austin Baumer went deep on the first play, hitting Jack Griner with a 30-yard toss. Two plays later Baumer capped off the drive with a four-yard touchdown scramble to give Minster the early 6-0 lead.
 
Midway through the second quarter, Minster started a possession back at the Fort Loramie 20-yard line. On the first play of the game, the Wildcats had just missed hitting a deep pass against the Redskin blitz to Brian Mueller. Now, they tried the play again. The blockers again picked up the blitz, and this time Baumer hit Mueller in stride for an 80-yard touchdown strike to expand the lead to 12-0.
 
“We spent 95% of our time this week working on picking up that blitz,” admitted Belcher. “When we finally broke one, we broke it for a good chunk.”
 
The second half was spent almost entirely in Wildcat territory. Midway through the third quarter Fort Loramie drove to the Wildcat 18-yard line, only to be stopped on downs.  Two Minster possessions later, a Redskin running into the punter penalty gave the Wildcats a second chance. They took it two plays later as Ty Whitford broke loose for a 71-yard touchdown romp to expand the lead to 19-0.
 
Fort Loramie immediately tried to answer. The Minster defense slowly gave up bits of yardage, but then stiffened and stopped the Redskins for no gain on a fourth-down play from the 1-yard line. It was the eighth time Fort Loramie had come into Minster territory and come away empty. Belcher was greatly pleased with the defensive effort. “Coach Wiss’ defense did a very good job of stopping the inside run, containing the quarterback and stopping the outside run when they had to.”
 
Minster was then content to run out the clock and allowed the Redskins a late 34-yard touchdown pass for the final 19-6 score.
 

Next week Friday Minster travels to Springfield to play the Irish of Springfield Catholic Central. Their last matchup was a 16-0 Wildcat playoff victory on the way to their 1989 state championship.

SCORE BY QUARTERS
Minster  6  6  0  7  —  19
Fort Loramie  0   0   0   6   —   6