Minster Scores Late for 28-21 Victory over Anna

By Bruce Monnin

MINSTER — For the second year in a row, the Minster Wildcats and the Anna Rockets battled for a low scoring first three and a half quarters. With Minster ahead 14-7 and the clock showing less than eight minutes remaining, each of the teams scored two more touchdowns in an exciting conclusion to a game that was full of tension all evening.

On a night where Anna compiled 84 more yards than the Wildcats, the Minster defense stopped the Rockets on fourth down five times in the game to hold on for a 28-21 victory.

“We talk about our identity being a team that will fight you,” said Minster coach Geron Stokes. “We know we are going to make mistakes. We know we are not going to play well at times, but our kids just kept fighting. Kids had opportunities to make plays and they made them.”

The Wildcats started off the scoring in the first quarter. After the Rockets reached the Minster 18-yard line before turning the ball over on downs, the Wildcats launched a ten-play drive of their own. A big 29-yard run by Sam Dues brought the ball to the Anna three-yard line before Josh Nixon went over on a one-yard quarterback sneak to give Minster the early 7-0 lead.

The Rockets countered in the second quarter with their own eleven play, 80-yard drive. Christiaan Williams completed the effort with a three-yard scoring plunge to tie the game at 7-7.

The Wildcat offense fought right back, driving to the Anna 25-yard line before facing a fourth down. Josh Nixon floated a pass into the back of the end zone to a double covered Eli Wolf. Wolf outjumped the defenders, caught the ball, and managed to keep his feet in bounds for the first of his two circus touchdown catches on the night.

“That’s not being well coached,” admitted Stokes. “That’s just having some great players.”

The Rockets attempted to tie the game before the half, but the Minster defense stiffened when it mattered once again. After Anna reached the Wildcat ten-yard line in the final minute, Jared Thobe intercepted a pass in the end zone to preserve the Minster 14-7 lead.

The third quarter saw no scoring, but both teams drove deep into the other’s side of the field before being stopped on downs.

The Wildcats fans were able to relax a bit midway through the fourth quarter when Minster opened up the lead to 21-7. Again, it was Wolf outjumping double coverage and coming down with the 25-yard touchdown. The pass was the 42nd passing touchdown of Nixon’s career, making the junior the all-time Minster record holder in that category.

Before the fans could get too comfortable, Anna reached into its bag of tricks. Out came the flea flicker, and the pass from Ryan Counts to Carter Huelskamp was good for 58 yards. A seven-yard touchdown catch by Connor Rioch on the next play tightened the score to 21-14.

On the Rockets’ next possession, they penetrated all the way to the Minster eight-yard line. For the fourth time in the game, the Wildcat defenders held on a fourth-down play, and it appeared they had survived with just 1:55 remaining in the contest.

The Rocket defense forced a punt after three Minster running plays netted only seven yards. The long snap was fumbled, and Anna tackled the Wildcat punter on his own one-yard line. A run by Williams quickly made the game 21-21with 1:28 remaining.

Two incomplete passes by Nixon left Minster in a tough position. A running play up the middle was called to run time off the clock, but Evan Huelsman followed his blocks through the Rocket defense for a 23-yard gain to midfield. Nixon scrambled for 12 yards on the following play to the 38-yard line to set up the winning score of the night. Nixon threw a pass towards Jacob Dues, whose defender slipped to the ground. Dues hauled in the pass at the 20-yard line and ran uncontested the rest of the way into the end zone for the 28-21 lead.

Though only 45 seconds remained on the clock, the Rockets were able to run nine more plays despite owning no timeouts. Anna reached Minster territory one last time, but the Wildcat defense forced an incomplete pass on fourth down as time ran out.

6-3 Minster clinches a spot in the playoffs with the victory and a probable home game in the first round. “The playoffs are sweet when you work hard, and you deserve it. These kids deserve it,” added Stokes.

Minster will complete the regular season on the road at 1-8 Parkway next Friday. 5-4 Anna will return home to attempt to secure their own postseason invitation against 5-4 St. Henry.

Score by quarter 1 2 3 4 Total

Minster 7 7 0 14 28

Anna 0 7 0 14 21

First Quarter:

MIN – Josh Nixon 1 yd run (Jason Schultz kick), 4:26

Second Quarter:

ANN – Christiaan Williams 3 yd run (Luke Albers kick), 6:56

MIN – Eli Wolf 25 yd pass from Josh Nixon (Jason Schultz kick), 3:42

Fourth Quarter:

MIN – Eli Wolf 26 yd pass from Josh Nixon (Jason Schultz kick), 7:11

ANN – Connor Rioch 7 yd pass from Ryan Counts (Luke Albers kick), 6:54

ANN – Christiaan Williams 1 yd run (Luke Albers kick), 1:28

MIN – Jacob Dues 38 yd pass from Josh Nixon (Jason Schultz kick), 0:51

Team statistics MIN ANN

First downs 17 19

Rushes - yards 24-75 50-225

Passing yards 254 188

Comp - att - int 20-36-0 13-21-1

Total offense 329 413

Punts - average 3-27.0 1-34.0

Fumbles - lost 0-0 0-0

Penalties - yards 1-5 3-20

Time of possession 20:45 27:15

Individual statistics

Rushing: Minster, Huelsman 10-53, S Dues 5-46, Nixon 8-(minus 10), Ranly 1-(minus 14); Anna, Williams 28-117, Bruce 12-54, Counts 7-33, Albers 2-23, Rioch 1-(minus 2)

Passing: Minster, Nixon 20-36-0-254; Anna, Counts 13-21-1-188

Receiving: Minster, Wolf 7-117, J Dues 5-80, Huelsman 3-27, Schmiesing 3-23, Schultz 1-8, S Dues, 1-(minus 1); Anna, Huelskamp 6-91, Wuebker 3-50, Rioch 2-12, Williams 1-24, Albers 1-11