Minster Earns 36-6 Win over Delphos St. John’s

by Bruce Monnin

MINSTER — The Minster Wildcats started slow against the Delphos St. John’s Blue Jays. Eventually the offense found its stride and Minster earned its second running clock victory in a row, defeating St. Johns 36-6.

With the Blue Jays concentrating on stopping the Wildcat running game, Minster turned to the air in the first quarter. Jacob Niemeyer completed six passes and finished off Minster’s opening scoring drive with a one-yard touchdown plunge. Niemeyer also rushed for the two-point conversion making the score 8-0.

In the second quarter, Minster turned back to the running game. Alex Schmitmeyer rushed 6 times for 47 yards before Niemeyer’s four-yard scoring effort on an excellent fake handoff increased the Wildcat lead to 14-0.

The Blue Jays responded with a drive of their own, reaching as deep as the Minster twelve-yard line. Kody Richard quashed their hopes with an interception at the one-yard line.

The Wildcats went back to the air for their final drive of the half. Niemeyer completed six passes on the drive, including a two-yard strike to Trent Roetgerman. Another two-point conversion made the score 22-0 at intermission.

Minster received the second half kickoff and immediately scored again. Niemeyer found Roetgerman for an 18-yard touchdown pass to increase the lead to 28-0.

The Blue Jays’ only scoring drive of the game started with an interception of a pass at midfield. Five plays later, Chase Martin ran six yards for a touchdown to close the gap to 28-6.

It took one play for Minster to answer. Schmitmeyer swept around the right side and outran the Delphos defense for a 65-yard score. Niemeyer’s two-point conversion pass to A.J. Heitkamp gave the Wildcats a 30-point lead and started the running clock.

After the game, Minster coach Geron Stokes was more concerned with his team’s progress than with the actual outcome. “We just have to keep getting better,” commented Stokes. “Our guys are practicing the right way. Our guys just have to settle in, get comfortable doing their job, and trusting that everybody around them is going to do their job. Our guys are working at it, they are pushing hard.”

With the win, Minster improves to 5-1 for the season (3-1 in MAC play). The Wildcats will host 1-5 St. Henry next Friday. Delphos St. John’s falls to 1-5 (0-4 MAC). Their schedule gets no easier as they will next travel to face 6-0 Coldwater.

Score by quarter 1 2 3 4 Total

Minster 8 14 14 0 36

Delphos St. John’s 0 0 6 0 6

First Quarter:

MIN – Jacob Niemeyer 1 yd run (Jacob Niemeyer run), 0:21

Second Quarter:

MIN – Jacob Niemeyer 4 yd run (run failed), 5:43

MIN – Trent Roetgerman 2 yd pass from Jacob Niemeyer (Jacob Niemeyer run), 0:08

Third Quarter:

MIN – Trent Roetgerman 18 yd pass from Jacob Niemeyer (run failed), 9:18

DSJ – Chase Martin 6 yd run (kick blocked), 3:44

MIN – Alex Schmitmeyer 65 yd run (A.J. Heitkamp pass from Jacob Niemeyer), 3:28

Team statistics MIN DSJ

First downs 22 10

Rushes – yards 32-226 24-46

Passing yards 186 99

Comp - att – int 16-22-2 14-21-1

Total yards 412 145

Punts – average 0-0.0 5-31.0

Fumbles – lost 0-0 0-0

Penalties – yards 4-42 7-65

Time of possession 21:32 26:28

Individual statistics

Rushing: Minster, Schmitmeyer 18-164, Niemeyer 4-35, Wellman 7-31, Miller 1-2, Wuebker 2-(minus 6); Delphos St. John’s, Grothaus 11-41, Fairchild 2-6, Martin 1-6, Brown 1-3, Paddubny 3-2, Wrasman 2-(minus 2), Kerner 4-(minus 8)

Passing: Minster, Niemeyer 16-22-2-186; Delphos St. John’s, Kerner 11-17-1-85, Grothaus 3-4-0-14

Receiving: Minster, Roetgerman 8-88, Bornhorst 5-50, Schmitmeyer 2-46, Ripploh 1-2; Delphos St. John’s, Fittro 5-54, Grothaus 3-19, Brown 3-12, Fairchild 2-14, Wrasman 1-0