Minster Runs Past Delphos St. John’s 38-0

By Bruce Monnin

DELPHOS - Following an offensive line who were dominant in the running game, the Minster Wildcats’ ran the ball 44 times for 292 yards and four touchdowns. Combined with a few big passes and a stingy defense, Minster was able to play much of the second half with a running clock in their 38-0 defeat of the Delphos St. Johns Blue Jays.

The Wildcats received the opening kickoff and used the rushing of Taylor Fancher and Carson Kaylor to march down the field. Ty Hein punched it in from four yards out for the early 7-0 lead.

On St. John’s first possession, they attempted a fake punt on fourth down and one. Minster’s special team was not fooled and stuffed the attempt for no gain to retake possession. Five plays later, Fancher scored on a five-yard run to increase the margin to 14-0.

The Wildcats’ third drive was 13 plays long and covered 87 yards. Hein carried the ball four times for 43 yards including the five-yard score.

St. John’s responded by driving to the Minster 25-yard line. A Drew Martz pass was completed to the 21-yard line, but Brendan Halpin forced a fumble that was recovered by Kaylor. Four plays later Fancher leaked out of the backfield on a wheel route and grabbed a Kaylor pass for a 59-yard score which increased the lead to 28-0.

With 1:24 remaining until halftime, Trent Bonifas intercepted a pass for the Blue Jays and returned it to the Wildcat 12-yard line. Two plays later, Tyler Bergman returned the favor and grabbed an interception in the end zone.

“As soon as they lined up in that formation, there was a tendency thing and our kids identified it,” admitted Minster coach Seth Whiting. “Our kids were kind of sitting on it.”

With 16 seconds still showing on the clock, the Wildcats still tried to reach a 30-point margin before halftime. Fancher ripped off a 51-yard run down the left sideline, leaving Beckham Stephey just enough time to attempt a 46-yard field goal. However, the kick was wide right.

“That was a tough kick, but he got all of it,” added Whiting. “He had distance on it. He just hooked it.”

After stopping St. John’s on downs to start the third quarter, Minster gave Stephey another chance. The Wildcats drove to the Blue Jay 13-yard line and Stephey drilled a 30-yard field goal to make the score 31-0. It was Stephey’s eighth career field goal, tying him with Bryan Niemeyer and Jason Stucke for the Minster record.

As the clock ran down the subs had their turn on the field. The Wildcats pieced together one last drive, this time with Jacob Schutte crossing the goal line from one yard out to provide the final 38-0 score.

Fancher was the leading rusher with 97 yards and a score on nine carries. Hein added another 79 yards and two touchdowns on just six carries. Kaylor completed six passes for 111 yards and a touchdown, though he was sacked as many times as he was able to deliver the ball to Minster receivers.

Next week, 6-0 Minster will remain on the road to play at 3-3 Anna. 1-5 Delphos St. Johns travels to play 1-5 Parkway.

Score by quarter 1 2 3 4 Total

Minster 14 14 3 7 38

Delphos St. Johns 0 0 0 0 0

First Quarter:

MIN – Ty Hein 4 yd run (Beckham Stephey kick), 6:39

MIN – Taylor Fancher 5 yd run (Beckham Stephey kick), 2:37

Second Quarter:

MIN – Ty Hein 5 yd run (Beckham Stephey kick), 6:08

MIN – Taylor Fancher 59 yd pass from Carson Kaylor (Beckham Stephey kick), 2:22

Third Quarter:

MIN - Beckham Stephen 30 yd field goal, 2:00

Fourth Quarter:

MIN – Jacob Schutte 1 yd run (Beckham Stephey kick), 2:33

Team statistics MIN DSJ

First downs 22 7

Rushes - yards 44-292 22-124

Passing yards 127 36

Comp - att - int 7-10-1 6-13-1

Total yards 419 160

Punts - average 0-0.0 3-40.0

Fumbles - lost 1-0 1-1

Penalties - yards 2-15 3-20

Time of possession 26:47 21:13

Individual statistics

Rushing: Minster, Fancher 9-97, Hein 6-79, Kaylor 13-45, Kuehner 8-38, Bishop 3-15, McClurg 1-11, Schutte 3-9, Team 1-(-2); St. Johns, Young 10-63, Martz 4-23, Paddubny 2-14, Klaus 2-12, D. Kantner 2-7, C. Kantner 1-4, Sowers 1-1

Passing: Minster, Kaylor 6-9-1-111, McClurg 1-1-0-16; St. Johns, Martz 6-12-1-36, Young 0-1-0-0

Receiving: Minster, Tyler Bergman 3-25, Fancher 1-59, Trey Bergman 1-16, DuLaney 1-14, Kuehner 1-13; St. Johns, Bonifas 3-13, Young 2-20, Gaynier 1-3