Lehman Jumps on Minster Early for 34-13 Victory

By Bruce Monnin

MINSTER — The Sidney Lehman Cavaliers did not waste any time stamping their authority on the Minster Wildcats as these two teams renewed a rivalry which had been dormant since 2000. Lehman scored on their first three possessions of the game on their way to dominating Minster 34-13.

The game had an ominous start for the Wildcats. After receiving the opening kickoff, Minster fumbled the ball away on their first play from scrimmage, allowing the Cavaliers to start only 33 yards from the end zone. Six plays later, Jonathan Slagle threw a screen pass to Kaleb Goins who ran free for 19 yards to score for the early 7-0 lead.

On Lehman’s next possession they needed to go 53 yards to score. Again, it took just six plays, with Goins rushing five yards for his second touchdown. The third Cavalier possession also led to points, this time using ten plays to cover 62 yards with Slagle throwing a 10-yard pass to Evan Goffena to make the score 20-0.

Minster looked to make the game competitive late in the half. A Mitchel Poeppelman interception stopped one Lehman drive, then the Wildcat defense stopped the Cavaliers again. On the punt attempt, their long snap sailed over the punter’s head. On the next play Chase Paxson threw to Poeppelman for a 16-yard score to close the gap to 20-6.

Another defensive stop gave Minster the ball near midfield with two minutes remaining and a chance to get within a score by intermission. Instead, three incomplete passes led to a punt, and Lehman drove 80 yards to score before half to deflate the Minster faithful. A 25-yard pass from Slagle to Goins capped off this drive.

The Cavalier momentum continued after the break as Lehman needed only five plays to put the final nail in Minster’s coffin. Travis Ratliff finished off the drive with a 37-yard scoring run. Minster added a score late in the fourth quarter on a Troy Kaufman five-yard run to account for the final 34-13 score.

Kaleb Goins put on an offensive show for Lehman, rushing 19 times for 161 yards, catching three passes for another 52 yards and scoring three touchdowns. Adam Kaiser carried much of the load for the Wildcats, earning 68 yards on 17 carries.

Next week Friday Minster (0-2) remains at home to face the defending division six state champions, the 2-0 Delphos St. Johns Blue Jays.

Score by quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Sidney Lehman Cavaliers	14	13	7	0	34
Minster Wildcats	0	6	0	7	13