Minster Uses Big Second Quarter to Defeat New Bremen, 42-21

By Bruce Monnin

MINSTER — Last year the New Bremen Cardinals held a halftime lead before the Minster Wildcats took control of the game in the second half. New Bremen had a similar good beginning Friday night, but this time Minster used a dominating second quarter to take a 35-7 halftime lead en route to a 42-21 victory.

The big play passing game was key for the Wildcats, as five of their touchdowns came through the air, as well as 254 yards on only 11 completions, an average of 23 yards per reception.

The Cardinals received the opening kickoff and used ten consecutive running plays to gouge the Minster defense for 65 yards and a one-yard Avery Powers touchdown. The Wildcats responded in kind, with Isaac Schmiesing carrying the last four plays, including a five-yard scoring run. It was part of Schmiesing’s 17 carries for 112 yards in the game.

“We need to get more production from Schmiesing in order for us to be really good,” explained Minster coach Geron Stokes of his increased use of his running back this game.

New Bremen was on the verge of retaking the lead at the start of the second quarter, as they drove to the Wildcat 16-yard line. A negative rushing play and a sack left the Cardinals with a third down and long, and the ensuing pass attempt switched the momentum of the game as it was intercepted by Austin Brown at the five and returned 39 yards.

Minster wasted no time taking advantage. On the next play, Jared Huelsman threw a backwards pass to Schmiesing, who then unleased a deep pass to Brown, who was ten yards behind the entire New Bremen defense. He easily scored, giving the Wildcats their first lead, 14-7.

“We just put that play in this week,” admitted Stokes, “but we didn’t want to have to use it.”

After forcing a punt, Minster went back to the air. This time Huelsman found Jack Heitbrink over the middle for a 55-yard gain. Two plays later, Huelsman connected with Brown for a one-yard scoring toss. After a bad snap, holder Mike Ketner scurried around the right end for the two-point conversion to make the lead 22-7.

The Wildcats’ final two possessions of the half both ended in Huelsman to August Boehnlein touchdown passes, of 19 and 14 yards, to give Minster a commanding 35-7 lead at intermission.

Despite their deficit, the Cardinals came out of the locker room strong. Powers returned a Minster put 41 yards, then Nolan Bornhorst tacked on a 13-yard touchdown run to close the gap to 35-15. After holding the Wildcats to another punt, Powers broke loose for a 75-yard scoring dash, part of his 149 yard rushing performance, and suddenly it was a two touchdown game.

Minster again answered with a big play through the air, as on their next possession Huelsman found Trent Roetgerman open over the middle for a 38-yard touchdown to increase the lead back to the final score of 42-21.

“We are a decent football team when we are locked in, and we’re really bad when we are not,” summed up Stokes. “We’ve been playing hard; we just haven’t been executing very well. I felt like it was a little bit better tonight.”

“Our kids battled and fought hard (coming out of halftime) and I was really proud of that,” stated Cardinal coach Chris Schmidt. “At times we just have to execute better and play smarter. Credit to their kids, I don’t think they turned the ball over tonight.”

Indeed, the Wildcats grabbed three interceptions while having no turnovers of their own. Minster has a 69-0 advantage in points off turnovers in their four victories, but a 16-7 disadvantage in their four losses.

Next week the 4-4 Wildcats remain at home as they take on the 3-5 Versailles Tigers. The 3-5 Cardinals will also be at home against 4-4 Fort Recovery.

Score by quarter 1 2 3 4 Total

Minster 7 28 7 0 42

New Bremen 7 0 14 0 21

First Quarter:

NB – Avery Powers 1 yd run (Spencer Alig kick), 7:19

MIN – Isaac Schmiesing 5 yd run (Isaac Schmiesing kick), 4:37

Second Quarter:

MIN – Austin Brown 56 yd pass from Isaac Schmiesing (Isaac Schmiesing kick), 10:53

MIN – Austin Brown 1 yd pass from Jared Huelsman (Mike Ketner run), 6:55

MIN – August Boehnlein 19 yd pass from Jared Huelsman (kick failed), 2:41

MIN – August Boehnlein 14 yd pass from Jared Huelsman (Isaac Schmiesing kick), 0:48

Third Quarter:

NB – Nolan Bornhorst 13 yd run (Avery Powers run), 10:11

NB – Avery Powers 75 yd run (kick failed), 4:52

MIN – Trent Roetgerman 38 yd pass from Jared Huelsman (Isaac Schmiesing kick), 2:33

Team statistics MIN NB

First downs 18 20

Rushes - yards 32-167 38-232

Passing yards 256 163

Comp - att - int 11-23-0 20-30-3

Total yards 423 395

Punts - average 5-34.6 3-36.0

Fumbles - lost 0-0 0-0

Penalties - yards 10-94 10-97

Time of possession 20:56 27:04

Individual statistics

Rushing: Minster, Schmiesing 18-97, Huelsman 6-44, Schmitmeyer 6-25, Ketner 2-1; New Bremen, Powers 13-149, Bornhorst 25-83

Passing: Minster, Huelsman 10-20-0-200, Schmiesing 1-1-0-56, Ketner 0-2-0-0; New Bremen, Bornhorst 20-30-3-163

Receiving: Minster, Brown 4-92, Roetgerman 2-45, Boehnlein 2-34, Schmiesing 2-30, Heitbrink 1-55; New Bremen, Powers 4-36, Tenkman 3-33, Blickle 3-24, Clem 3-22, Suchland 3-22, Alig 2-13, Terpstra 1-11, Heitkamp 1-2