Staff report
MINSTER — In the first meeting this season — in the opener — Minster had its way with backyard rival Fort Loramie, winning 41-7.
But this time around, things were quite different in the first round of the Division 7 playoffs Friday night, also at Minster.
Fort Loramie’s defense stood up to the high-powered Wildcats and quarterback Josh Nixon, to the point where it was still anybody’s game at the half, with the Wildcats leading 13-7 thanks to a touchdown late in the second quarter.
But Minster got cranked up in the second half and went on to beat the Redskins 37-7, ending Loramie’s season at 6-5. Minster is 8-2 and will play again Friday against Riverside.
After a scoreless first quarter, Minster finally got on the board early in the second period on a one-yard run by Evan Huelsman. The score was set up by a couple of key pass plays from Nixon to Bryce Schmiesing, one for a first down on a fourth down play, and the other on a third-and-8 that took the ball to the one.
But behind the running of freshman Carter Mescher, the Redskins drove right back down the field and stunned the top-seeded Wildcats to tie the score at 7-7. The touchdown came when quarterback Drew Wehrman faked into the line and came up throwing, hitting Nate Pleiman for a score from four yards out.
Unfortunately for the Redskins, they were unable to withstand Minster’s quick-strike ability. Nixon hit Jacob Dues from eight yards out for the 13-7 halftime lead.
Minster had the ball to start the third quarter, and put together a good drive, spearheaded by Huelsman. He went for 10 yards on first down, and after Nixon hit Dues for 10 more, Huelsman broke loose for 29 yards down to the Fort Loramie 26.
Three plays later, Loramie intercepted Nixon in the endzone, but was called for pass interference, giving the Wildcats a first down on the Redskins 9. But the Loramie defense stiffened and forced a field goal attempt, which Jason Schultz converted from 20 yards out for a 16-7 lead with eight minutes remaining.
The Redskins were then forced to punt and it then became obvious that the Wildcat offense was beginning to find its stride.
A Nixon-to-Dues pass picked up big yardage and the Wildcats got a first down at the Loramie 25. On third-and-six at the 21, Nixon hit Huelsman for four yards, and then on fourth down, Nixon kept it himself to the 14 for a first down. On the very next play, he again hit Dues for a touchdown and a 23-7 lead with 2:22 left in the third quarter.
After another Loramie punt, Minster drove to a score by Huelsman for a 30-7 bulge early in the final period.
Another TD pass by Nixon, this one for nine yards to Jack Poeppelman, started the continuous clock.
Cavs on verge
on playoff upset
COVINGTON — No. 7 seed Lehman was on the verge of a first-round upset, leading No. 2 seed Covington 20-16 with just over six minutes remaining in the contest Friday night in Division 7 playoff action.
A win would put Lehman in the regioinal semifinals Friday against Fort Recovery, which Lehman lost to early in the season
Covington took a 16-14 lead on a 29-yard field goal with :58 left in the third quarter, but the Cavaliers responded with a 90-yard drive on the ground to retake the lead at 20-16 with 6:03 remaining.
Covington put together a good drive, but an ill-advised pass was picked off by Dylan Arnold at about his own 30 with just 2:13 remaining.
