Balanced Attack Leads Minster to 41-14 Victory over Anna

By Bruce Monnin

ANNA - The Minster Wildcats employed an effective, balanced offense and a “bend but don’t break” defense to jump out to an early lead and expand it throughout a 41-14 victory over the Anna Rockets. Three Minster running backs combined for over 230 rushing yards, while Brogan Stephey completed 20 of 24 pass attempts to seven different receivers.

The game started with both teams driving into opposing territory before turning the ball over on downs. The teams then traded early second quarter touchdowns with Stephey running in from two yards out for Minster and Zach Osborn carrying the ball for a seven-yard score.

Dylan Heitkamp returned the ensuing kickoff deep into Anna territory. Five plays later Stephey scored on a 14-yard run to give the Wildcats a 14-7 lead.

After the teams traded turnovers, the Rockets drove into Minster territory, but the Wildcat defense stuffed Osborn on a fourth down run to retake possession of the ball.

“Our defensive coordinator, Kyle, is really good and he’s really big on execution,” commented Minster coach Seth Whiting. “He’s a little frustrated with our execution. I had to remind him that team averages 400 yards and 40 points a game, and we held them to 14 points.”

The Wildcat offense needed seven plays to reach paydirt, this time with Connor Schmiesing scoring on a ten-yard run to give Minster a 21-7 halftime lead.

The Wildcat defense forced a three and out to begin the third quarter, and three plays later Stephey broke free for a 55-yard scoring run, increasing the lead to 27-7.

“I’m really happy with how the kids came out in the second half and got a stop right away,” complimented Whiting. “The first two weeks we had halftime leads and we came out and were comfortable. We were really heavy on the kids about coming out and dominating the first four minutes of the second half.”

One more time the Minster defense allowed Anna to penetrate to their 19-yard line before stopping the Rockets on a fourth down run. Passes to Heitkamp and Cole Albers took the ball past midfield, then Schmiesing broke off a 40-yard run which set up his one-yard scoring plunge right afterwards.

The Rockets did not give up and responded with a 32-yard pass from Alex Shappie to Noah Aufderhaar to reach Wildcat territory. Osborn then broke several tackles as he pounded his way for a 33-yard touchdown run to close the Anna deficit to 34-14.

Minster’s Dominck Meyer featured in the final scoring drive of the game as he carried five times for 25 yards and a one-yard touchdown for the final 41-14 score.

Anna’s Osborn led all rushers with 134 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries. For Minster, Schmiesing ran for 94 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carriers, Stephey earned 94 yards and three touchdowns on 14 carries and Meyer added 47 yards and a score on 10 carries. Stephey completed 20 passes with top receivers Heitkamp catching six for 62 yards, Tyler Bergman grabbing four for 52 yards and Schmiesing receiving four for 28 yards.

With his three rushing touchdowns, Minster’s Brogan Stephey set the Minster career record for total points scored. He has now scored 346 points in his career, two more than the previous record holder, Ty Parks, who played from 2001 through 2004.

Next week Friday 3-0 Minster hosts their home opener against 1-2 Parkway. 2-1 Anna travels to face 3-0 Coldwater.

Score by quarter 1 2 3 4 Total

Minster 0 21 13 7 41

Anna 0 7 7 0 14

Second Quarter:

MIN – Brogan Stephey 2 yd run (Beckhem Stephey kick), 11:43

ANNA – Zach Osborn 7 yd run (Aaron Shappie kick), 8:49

MIN – Brogan Stephey 14 yd run (Beckhem Stephey kick), 6:49

MIN – Connor Schmiesing 10 yd run (Beckhem Stephey kick), 1:43

Third Quarter:

MIN – Brogan Stephey 55 yd run (kick failed), 8:58

MIN – Connor Schmiesing 1 yd run (Beckhem Stephey kick), 2:36

ANNA – Zach Osborn 33 yd run (Aaron Shappie kick), 1:59

Fourth Quarter:

MIN – Dominick Meyer 1 yd run (Beckhem Stephey kick), 5:46

Team statistics MIN ANNA

First downs 21 15

Rushes - yards 40-233 25-138

Passing yards 214 197

Comp - att - int 20-24-0 17-27-1

Total yards 447 335

Punts - average 1-46.0 2-34.5

Fumbles - lost 1-1 0-0

Penalties - yards 7-55 2-25

Time of possession 29:34 18:26

Individual statistics

Rushing: Minster, Schmiesing 13-94, Stephey 14-94, Meyer 10-47, Bishop 2-(minus 1), Hein 1-(minus 1); Anna, Osborn 18-134, Alex Shappie 6-2, Aaron Shappie 1-2

Passing: Minster, Stephey 20-24-0-214; Anna, Alex Shappie 17-27-1-197

Receiving: Minster, Heitkamp 6-62, Bergman 4-52, Schmiesing 4-28, Couse 2-35, Albers 2-29, Richard 1-4, Larger 1-4; Anna, Aufderhaar 4-84, Aaron Shappie 4-39, Osborn 4-19, Palmisano 3-23, Roberts 2-32