Minster Defeats Lima Shawnee in Comeback Fashion 27-21

By Bruce Monnin

MINSTER — This unusual season has led to some first time matchups. This week it produced a late season MAC vs. WBL game, as the Minster Wildcats hosted the Lima Shawnee Indians. Lima Shawnee dominated early, but Minster rallied starting late in the second quarter for a 27-21 victory.

Lima Shawnee took the opening kickoff and drove 76 yards for the opening score. The Indians converted on three third and long situations, including an eight-yard scoring toss from Tyler Windau to Chase Beery to make the score 7-0.

Late in the quarter, Scottie Burden intercepted a pass near midfield. Seven plays later, on the opening play of the second quarter, Windau crossed the goal line from three yards out to extend Lima Shawnee’s lead to 14-0.

By the middle of the second quarter, the Indians had gained 149 yards and held Minster to just 27. But the Wildcats went to work before half, grinding out a 13-play drive capped by a 10-yard touchdown pass from Johnny Nixon to Adam Ketner with only four second remaining until intermission. Bryan Falk, who now has the second most extra-point kicks in Wildcat history, put it through the uprights to reduce the Indian lead to 14-7.

Minster came out looking like a different team in the second half. They tied the score on their opening drive when Nixon connected with Ketner for a 20-yard strike. The Wildcat defense immediately reclaimed the ball thanks to a Nathan Oldiges interception at the Lima Shawnee ten-yard line. Three plays later Nixon scored on a three-yard run and Minster had a 20-14 lead.

“We just asked our seniors to do what they’ve always done and be who they are,” stated Wildcat coach Geron Stokes. “They did. We didn’t make any football adjustments. We just said to walk off this thing with your chin high.”

On the next Indian possession, Ketner grabbed an interception and Minster looked ready to seal the game. After driving to the Lima Shawnee six-yard line, a Nixon pass ricocheted off a Wildcat receiver and was intercepted by Luke Cowan in the end zone.

The Indians did not waste their good fortune, driving to the Minster 10-yard line. On third down and two to go, Conner Albers crashed through the Shawnee line to cause a four-yard loss. On fourth down, it was John Billing and Alex Frimel doing the honors, sacking Windau for another five-yard loss to end the threat.

With just under four minutes remaining, Nixon burst through the center of the Indian line and then survived the pursuit to score a 74-yard touchdown run, giving Minster a 27-14 lead.

Lima Shawnee was able to drive for another score, a two-yard toss from Windau to Tommy Spyker, with 1:04 left to close the gap to 27-21. However, Conner Albers recovered the onside kick to secure the Wildcat victory.

Nixon ended the night rushing for 86 yards and two touchdowns, while throwing for 114 yards and two more scores. Ketner caught seven of those passes for the two touchdowns and 91 yards. While the Minster defense held Lima Shawnee to just 37 rushing yards, the Indians were able to throw for 218 yards (180 yards by Windau), often in critical third down situations.

The win improves Minster’s record to 4-6. The Wildcats will travel to play 5-4 Covington next Thursday night. Lima Shawnee now has a 4-5 record.

Score by quarter 1 2 3 4 Total

Minster 0 7 13 7 27

Lima Shawnee 7 7 0 7 21

First Quarter:

LS – Chase Beery 8 yd pass from Tyler Windau (Dylan Ramsdail kick), 7:11

Second Quarter:

LS – Tyler Windau 3 yd run (Dylan Ramsdail kick), 11:57

MIN – Adam Ketner 10 yd pass from Johnny Nixon (Bryan Falk kick), 0:04

Third Quarter:

MIN – Adam Ketner 20 yd pass from Johnny Nixon (Bryan Falk kick), 3:54

MIN – Johnny Nixon 3 yd run (kick failed), 1:26

Fourth Quarter:

MIN – Johnny Nixon 74 yd run (Bryan Falk kick), 3:24

LS – Tommy Spyker 2 yd pass from Tyler Windau (Dylan Ramsdail kick), 1:04

Team statistics MIN LS

First downs 13 15

Rushes - yards 34-179 30-37

Passing yards 114 218

Comp - att - int 10-19-2 15-26-2

Total yards 293 255

Punts - average 2-34.0 1-36.0

Fumbles - lost 0-0 1-0

Penalties - yards 6-75 2-7

Time of possession 25:03 22:57

Individual statistics

Rushing: Minster, Nixon 11-86, Albers 21-84, Ketner 1-6, Wellman 1-3; Lima Shawnee, Spyker 14-39, Cowan 3-15, Banks 2-6, Lynch 1-(minus 10), Windau 9-(minus 13)

Passing: Minster, Nixon 10-19-2-114; Lima Shawnee, Windau 14-25-2-180, Beery 1-1-38

Receiving: Minster, Ketner 7-91, Trzaska 2-17, Wellamn 1-6; Lima Shawnee, Banks 5-50, Beery 4-50, Cooper 3-88, Fay 2-28, Spyker 1-2