Delphos St. Johns Outlasts Minster 7-0 in Defensive Struggle

By Bruce Monnin

DELPHOS — Coming into Saturday night’s contest, the Minster Wildcats had lost fifteen straight games to the Delphos St. Johns Blue Jays by an average of over 28 points. Despite that history, this year’s contest was about as even as you are going to see in high school football, with the difference coming when St. Johns capitalized on an early Minster turnover for the only score of the game.

In this defensive struggle, the Wildcats gained just 173 yards on the night, which was 38 yards better than the 145 yards compiled by the Blue Jays. Minster gave up this advantage by being penalized for 58 yards compared to just ten for St. Johns, and by throwing two interceptions versus just one for the victors.

The lone score of the game occurred early in the first quarter. After receiving the opening kickoff, Minster drove to midfield before Ryan Densel intercepted a Wildcat pass. The Blue Jays advanced to the Minster 25-yard line where they faced a fourth down and three yards to go. Quarterback Mark Boggs, in his first start in a high school game, threw a floater into the corner of the end zone. It just outdistanced the outstretched arms of the Wildcat defender to land in the hands of Andrew Metzger.

“Every time we have a short field we have success,” commented St. John’s coach Todd Schulte.

The 7-0 lead was the first of the season for St. Johns, and it was enough to provide their first victory of the year.

The remainder of the game was dominated by the two defenses. Minster managed to reach the Blue Jay 28-yard line late in the first half but was unable to convert a fourth down with seven yards to go after being slowed by two key holding penalties. In the third quarter the Wildcats reached the St. Johns’ 35-yard line but were again thwarted by an incomplete pass on another fourth down and seven. Minster never threatened to score again.

“Having to throw late against Delphos was a bad situation,” lamented a disappointed Minster coach Nate Moore. “Delphos was just the better team tonight.”

Meanwhile, the Blue Jays were having no success trying to extend their lead. They entered Minster territory three times in the second half but could not put points on the board. St. Johns averaged only 2.5 yards per rushing play and quarterback Boggs was sacked almost as many times (three) as he was able to complete a pass (four).

“We couldn’t move them off the line of scrimmage,” admitted Schulte.

Next week Delphos goes on the road with their 1-2 record to face the 2-1 Anna Rockets. 2-1 Minster hosts the 2-1 Marion Local Flyers during their Homecoming festivities.

Score by quarter 1 2 3 4 Total

Delphos St. Johns 7 0 0 0 7

Minster 0 0 0 0 0