Minster Dominates Delphos St. John’s 34-0

By Bruce Monnin

DELPHOS — The Minster Wildcats arrived at Delphos St. John’s with a 12-26 all-time record versus the Blue Jays, and having to look all the way back to the 1995 season for the last time they won at Stadium Park. But all that history meant nothing to Minster. They dominated from the start, earning a 34-0 halftime lead and riding the running clock throughout the second half for the same final score.

“We don’t care about the past,” proclaimed Minster coach Geron Stokes. “This is a new team, new kids. We’re not pretty. We’re not sharp. But our guys are working and trying to get better.”

The Wildcats’ domination was evident in the statistics, as Minster gained 356 yards compared to just 35 for St. John’s. Quarterback Josh Nixon went unpressured on the evening as he threw for 186 yards and four touchdowns, while the Wildcat running game churned out another 170 yards.

“Our offensive line has spent a ton of time working to improve,” added Stokes. “They come in every morning before school and watch tape. It is nice to see kids get rewarded for putting in extra time.”

Just like last week, Minster’s defense got the game off to a good start by forcing a Blue Jay punt without yielding a first down. After receiving the ball, the Wildcat offense needed seven plays to cover the 69 yards needed for their opening score, a five-yard shovel pass from Nixon to Jason Schultz.

The sequence was immediately repeated, as St. John’s again could not earn a first down, leading to another seven-play scoring drive for Minster. This time Nixon found Bryce Schmiesing for the first of his three touchdown receptions to make the score 13-0 after the first quarter.

The Wildcats regained the ball at the start of the second quarter. They only needed four plays to score, with Evan Huelsman bulling into the end zone from 14 yards out to increase the lead to 20-0.

On Minster’s next possession, they put together their longest drive of the game. Ironically, it yielded no points as the Wildcats fumbled after advancing 85 yards to the Blue Jay one yard line. However, the Minster defense refused to allow St. John’s out of the shadow of their own goal line, forcing a short punt which set up the fourth Wildcat score, an eight-yard completion to Schmiesing.

The Blue Jays fumbled away the ball on the first play of their next series, and Minster was back in business in the closing minutes of the half. Three plays later Nixon again found Schmiesing, giving the Wildcats a 34-0 halftime lead. The running clock led to a quick second half with neither team threatening to score.

With the win, Minster improves to 4-2 for the season (2-2 in MAC play) and possibly into the top position in the region 22 computer rankings. The Wildcats host the MAC’s surprise team, 5-1 Fort Recovery, next week in a computer point bonanza for the winner. Delphos St. John’s falls to 3-3 (1-3 MAC). They will next host 3-3 Anna.

Score by quarter 1 2 3 4 Total

Minster 13 21 0 0 34

Delphos St. John’s 0 0 0 0 0

First Quarter:

MIN – Jason Schultz 5 yd pass from Josh Nixon (Jason Schultz kick), 7:28

MIN – Bryce Schmiesing 16 yd pass from Josh Nixon (kick failed), 3:14

Second Quarter:

MIN – Evan Huelsman 14 yd run (Jason Schultz kick), 10:23

MIN – Bryce Schmiesing 8 yd pass from Josh Nixon (Jason Schultz kick), 1:33

MIN – Bryce Schmiesing 15 yd pass from Josh Nixon (Jason Schultz kick), 0:31

Team statistics MIN DSJ

First downs 19 3

Rushes - yards 37-170 17-5

Passing yards 186 30

Comp - att - int 12-17-0 6-12-0

Total offense 356 35

Punts - average 2-41.5 6-38.3

Fumbles - lost 1-1 2-2

Penalties - yards 2-25 0-0

Time of possession 29:33 18:27

Individual statistics

Rushing: Minster, Dues 10-62, E Huelsman 12-55, J Huelsman 10-34, Nixon 4-15, Hogenkamp 1-4; Delphos St. Johns, Martz 9-5, Boone 2-3, Heiing 2-2, Haggard 1-0, Mohler 1-0, Hays 2-(minus 5)

Passing: Minster, Nixon 12-17-0-186; Delphos St. Johns, Martz 4-8-0-22, Boone 2-4-0-8

Receiving: Minster, Schmiesing 5-53, Wolf 4-85, Thobe 2-43, Schultz 1-5; Delphos St. Johns, Vogt 2-8, Nagel 2-8, Kreeger 1-11, Nagel 1-3