Minster Shuts Out Covington, 28-0

By Bruce Monnin

COVINGTON — The last time the Minster Wildcats faced the Covington Buccaneers was in 1952, when a then record Minster crowd of 1300 people watched the Wildcats need a late 20-yard touchdown pass from Johnny Froning to Virg Huelskamp to prevent a shutout in a 26-6 loss.

65 years later, Minster traveled to Covington and finally exacted vengeance, defeating the Buccaneers by a score of 28-0.

Strangely enough, Covington outgained the Wildcats on the night, compiling 250 yards to Minster’s 234. The differences were three Buccaneer turnovers and a blocked punt, plus the Wildcats finishing off their drives while stopping Covington short of the goal line.

“We’re playing hard,” commented Minster coach Geron Stokes about his team’s second shutout. “We’re just not playing smart. We’re not executing our stuff, and that’s coaching. That’s why I am getting so fired up right now. We’re supposed to get them to execute at a higher level.”

Late in the first quarter the Wildcats turned to their rushing game to drive 48 yards for their first score, a two-yard run by Isaac Schmiesing. Minster added two second quarter touchdown runs, a seven yarder by Alex Schmitmeyer and a 22-yard gallup by Jared Huelsman, to take a 21-0 halftime lead.

The only scoring of the second half came when Huelsman blocked a Buccaneer punt from their own end zone. Jack Heitbrink recovered the loose ball for the final tally of the 28-0 game.

The victory gives Minster its first win in the series, which now favors Covington 3-1-1.

Next week Friday Minster (2-0) returns home to face 1-0 Delphos St. John’s, who hosts Lima Central Catholic Saturday. 0-2 Covington remains at home to play 1-1 Fort Loramie.

Score by quarter 1 2 3 4 Total

Minster 7 14 7 0 28

Covington 0 0 0 0 0

First Quarter:

MIN – Isaac Schmiesing 2 yd run (Isaac Schmiesing kick), 1:36

Second Quarter:

MIN – Alex Schmitmeyer 7 yd run (Isaac Schmiesing kick), 10:34

MIN – Jared Huelsman 22 yd run (Isaac Schmiesing kick), 3:45

Third Quarter:

MIN – Jack Heitbrink recovers blocked punt in end zone (Isaac Schmiesing kick), 5:47

Team statistics MIN COV

First downs 10 16

Rushes - yards 34-165 30-40

Passing yards 69 211

Comp - att - int 5-10-0 20-37-2

Total yards 234 251

Punts - average 5-27.2 4-24.8

Fumbles - lost 0-0 1-1

Penalties - yards 7-60 7-35

Time of possession 18:16 29:44

Individual statistics

Rushing: Minster, Huelsman 16-116, Schmitmeyer 9-30, Schmiesing 4-24, Heuker 3-6, Team 2-(-11); Covington, J Schmelzer 8-30, C Schmelzer 11-7, Herron 10-3, Kerrigan 1-0

Passing: Minster, Huelsman 5-10-0-69; Covington, C Schmelzer 20-37-2-211

Receiving: Minster, Schmiesing 2-34, Lehmkuhl 1-17, Brown 1-11, Frericks 1-7; Covington, Parrett 6-67, Freeman 6-63, Herron 5-23, Cates 2-27, Dysinger 1-31