Minster Runs to 21-0 Second Quarter Lead over New Bremen when Lightning Strikes

By Bruce Monnin

MINSTER — At Friday night’s game between neighboring rivals Minster and New Bremen, the recently renovated Minster Memorial field was rededicated. In honor of this, for the first play of the game, the Wildcats sent just three players on the field. The eight missing players signified the Minster students who lost their lives in a tragic accident in 1976.

The Wildcats wasted no time moving the ball after this initial symbolic play. Korey Schultz started out what would be a big night with a 35-yard run on his first carry. Six plays later Schultz capped off the drive with a seven-yard scoring run.

Adam Niemeyer scored on a five-yard run on the next Minster possession, then Schultz scampered 54 yards for a third Wildcat touchdown and a 21-0 lead by the end of the first quarter.

By the time a lightning delay occurred with 9:45 remaining in the second quarter, Minster had outgained New Bremen 227 yards to 30. Schultz was the leading gainer with 158 yards in ten carriers.

Minster Runs to 51-19 Victory over New Bremen

By Bruce Monnin

MINSTER — When Friday night’s game was suspended with the Minster Wildcats leading the New Bremen Cardinals 21-0 in the second quarter, everything was going Minster’s way. That trend continued when the game was resumed Saturday afternoon, with the Wildcats rolling to a 51-19 victory.

“I was happy with how we came out today,” stated Minster Coach Nate Moore after the game. “We didn’t have any adjustments of our own to make, but we did a good job of handling the adjustments they (New Bremen) were able to make after a day-long halftime.”

As play restarted, Minster had the ball near midfield. Eight plays later Devon Poeppelman scored on a one-yard run to increase the Wildcat lead to 28-0.

New Bremen’s offense also came back from the weather suspension ready to play, stringing together a nine-play touchdown drive covering 78 yards. Garrett Westerbeck completed the drive by throwing a seven-yard pass to Justin Heitkamp, making the score 28-7 at the half.

Paul Dues stole the momentum back for the Wildcats early in the third quarter as he grabbed his first of two interceptions on the night. Three plays later, Korey Schultz ran 29 yards for his third touchdown of the game, part of his rushing performance of 239 yards on 24 carries.

Minster scored two more times to increase the lead to 44-7. The first points came on a 27-yard field goal by Poeppelman, followed by a 27-yard Troy Kauffman touchdown run on the first play of the fourth quarter.

New Bremen responded with two touchdowns to close the gap to 44-19. The first was a 72-yard connection between quarterback Westerbeck and Parker Manger, while the second came courtesy of a 12-yard Alex Speelman run.

One last score occurred on the ensuing kickoff, as Kauffman returned the Cardinal kick 93 yards to make the final tally 51-19.

The victory gives Minster a 32-9-1 edge in the series, which has been played continuously since the 1972 season.

Next week the 3-0 Wildcats travel for an important game with a fellow region 24 contender, the 2-1 St. Henry Redskins. The 0-3 Cardinals will return home to host the 0-3 Parkway Panthers.

Score by quarter 1 2 3 4 Total

Minster 21 7 10 13 51

New Bremen 0 7 0 12 19