Minster Survives 24-14 over Anna in Defensive Struggle

By Bruce Monnin

Daily Standard Correspondent

MINSTER - In a game where nothing came easily for either offense, the Minster Wildcats and the Anna Rockets went into halftime tied at 14-14. But in the second half, Minster shut out Anna and scored ten fourth quarter points to pull away from the Rockets 24-14. The Wildcats defense intercepted two passes, held Anna to just 215 total yards, and stopped the Rockets on eight out of nine third down plays.

“They found a way to get the job done,” summarized Wildcat coach Seth Whiting. “I could not be more proud of them.”

Minster received the opening kickoff and needed only seven plays to drive 70 yards for the score. Carson Kaylor completed four passes to Tyler Bergman, including the 12-yard scoring play to go up 7-0.

Late in the first period, Anna tied the game after a nine-play drive culminated in a one-yard T.J. Roberts touchdown plunge. Momentum appeared to have turned after a poor punt allowed the Rockets to start their next possession on the Wildcat 27-yard line, but Noah Schwieterman intercepted a pass at the three-yard line to end the threat.

On Anna’s next possession, the Rockets faced a fourth down with 18 yards to go. Logan Ziegenbusch completed a pass to Roberts who squeezed past Minster defenders for the 21-yard score.

Trailing 14-7 and having only gained nine yards on their last three drives, the Wildcats scraped together a 14-play drive for 70 yards and the tying score. Kaylor sprinted nine yards to cross the goal line at the pylon, evening the score at half.

Neither offense had much success in the third quarter, with the big play being a Minster interception by Andrew Ketner at the Wildcat 43-yard line. This seemed to energize the Wildcat offense, as Kaylor completed a 16-yard pass to Bergman and a 34-yard strike to Schwieterman before again scoring from nine yards out on a dive to the corner pylon.

After stopping the Rockets on downs at midfield, Minster used up about five minutes of clock before Beckham Stephey drilled a 21-yard field goal through the uprights to increase the lead to 24-14 with under four minutes remaining. The Wildcat defense stopped Anna two more times to secure the victory.

Kaylor led all rushers with 78 hard earned yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries. He also completed 16 passes for another 196 yards and a score. 10 of those 16 completions were to Bergman for 110 yards and a touchdown.

Next week Friday 2-1 Minster goes on the road for the first time to face 0-3 Parkway. 2-1 Anna hosts 2-1 Coldwater.

Score by quarter 1 2 3 4 Total

Minster 7 7 0 10 24

Anna 7 7 0 0 14

First Quarter:

MIN – Tyler Bergman 12 yd pass from Carson Kaylor (Beckhem Stephey kick), 9:10

ANNA – T.J. Roberts 1 yd run (Caine Meyer kick), 2:58

Second Quarter:

ANNA – T.J. Roberts 21 yd pass from Logan Ziegenbusch (Caine Meyer kick), 8:05

MIN – Carson Kaylor 9 yd run (Beckhem Stephey kick), 1:47

Fourth Quarter:

MIN – Carson Kaylor 9 yd run (Beckhem Stephey kick), 10:41

MIN – Beckhem Stephey 21 yd field goal, 3:50

Team statistics MIN ANNA

First downs 15 13

Rushes - yards 32-92 30-110

Passing yards 196 105

Comp - att - int 16-29-0 11-21-2

Total yards 288 215

Punts - average 5-26.0 3-36.0

Fumbles - lost 1-0 0-0

Penalties - yards 2-20 4-40

Time of possession 26:45 21:15

Individual statistics

Rushing: Minster, Kaylor 24-78, Meyer 7-20, Team 1-minus 6; Anna, Ziegenbusch 18-68, Pleiman 2-17, Roberts 8-14, Egbert 1-7, Brewer 1-4

Passing: Minster, Kaylor 16-29-0-196; Anna, Ziegenbusch 11-21-2-105

Receiving: Minster, Bergman 10-110, Schwieterman 2-55, Meyer 2-8, Ketner 1-15, Hemmelgarn 1-8; Anna, Pleiman 3-50, Roberts 3-28, Vaubel 2-6, Hoying 1-12, Brewer 1-5, Murray 1-4