Minster Gets Back on Track with 34-8 Victory over Anna

By Bruce Monnin

ANNA — The Minster Wildcats had faced the Anna Rockets four times previously, coming up short in all four contests. In 2009, the last time Minster traveled to face Anna, they lost by a score of 62-0. Friday night the Wildcats returned after a two-year absence and refused to allow history to repeat itself, defeating Anna decisively by a 34-8 score.

Minster coach Nate Moore was more interested in recent history that the past. “It was a tough two weeks (losses to St. Henry and Coldwater), both mentally and physically. However, I thought we really put it all together this week.”

It was not as easy as the score might indicate for Minster, as twice they stopped Rocket drives with interceptions in the end zone while only outgaining Anna in yardage by a 387 to 334 margin.

The Wildcats wasted no time as they recovered a short Anna kickoff at the 34-yard line and drove 66 yards in nine plays for the opening touchdown. Quarterback Adam Niemeyer completed three passes to three different receivers, while Korey Schultz carried the ball five times for 29 yards, including the two-yard scoring run. This would be the theme for the Minster offense on the night, as Niemeyer would complete 19 of 25 passes for 220 yards, while Schultz would carry the pigskin 19 times for 144 yards.

Meanwhile, the Wildcat defense was putting the early clamps on the Anna running game. They would limit star running back Christian Williams to just 15 yards on 11 carries for the night.

“That was by design,” admitted Moore. “It was our priority to stop the run. Our guys flew to the ball and gang tackled.”

The Minster offense reached the Anna 20-yard line on their second series, but they failed to convert on a fourth down after a critical holding penalty. On their third possession, the hit paydirt again, with a 24-yard pass from Niemeyer to Ethan Wolf and a 25-yard run by Schultz highlighting the drive.

The fourth time they had the ball in the half, the Wildcats drove to the Anna two-yard line, but eventually had to settle for a 27-yard Devon Poeppelman field goal to increase their lead to 17-0.

“When we score three times in our first four possessions, we will do well,” added Moore.

The Anna offense came alive in the final minute of the half, reaching the Minster eight-yard line with nine seconds remaining before intermission. The Rockets tried to pass to their leading receiver on the night, Chandron Williams (who would catch eight passes for 120 yards), but Poeppelman came over from his safety position to end the threat with an interception.

Anna started the second half with the ball and again drove deep into Minster territory. This time they reached the eight-yard line before they turned the ball over on downs to the Wildcat defense. Minster responded with a 92-yard drive, but unlike Anna, they finished it off with a score on a 20-yard pass from Niemeyer to Poeppelman, making the tally 24-0.

Anna would close the gap late in the third quarter on a 36-yard touchdown pass from Josh Robinson to Chandron Williams. However, the Wildcats would return the favor with a score of their own on an eight-yard pass from Niemeyer to A.J. Huelsman.

Down 31-8, Anna made one more incursion into Minster territory, but an interception in the end zone by Schultz would end the final Rocket threat. Poeppelman would tack on a late field goal for the final 34-8 score.

4-2 Minster will stay on the road to face 0-6 Parkway next Friday. 3-3 Anna will stay at home to host 6-0 Coldwater in a must win game for the Rockets.

Score by quarter 1 2 3 4 Total

Minster 7 10 7 10 34

Anna 0 0 8 0 8