Minster rallies to earn spot in Columbus

WAPAKONETA - Tinora's size, physicality and strength hadn't been matched all season ... until they met Minster.

When all was said and done on Friday night, it was toughness, resiliency and a couple special plays down the stretch that propelled the Wildcats to a dramatic 14-13 victory over the previously unbeaten Rams in the Division VI state semifinal at Harmon Field.

The win sends the Wildcats (11-3) to their first state final since 1989 where they will meet defending champion Kirkland on Friday at 3 p.m. in Columbus. The Hornets defeated Lucasville Valley 28-7 in the other state semi in New Albany.

"I'm jacked, man," Minster coach Geron Stokes said. "We've got work to do. I'm anxious to watch this tape and try to get stuff fixed in the morning. You've got a shot. You're in the final two, playing a really, really, really, really good team.

"We've given ourselves a chance. I'm just really proud of our kids."

Minster trailed Tinora 13-7 with under seven minutes to play in the game. After the Wildcat defense forced a punt attempt, Eli Wolf shot through the heart of the Ram line to block it and the ball was recovered by Chad Stoner.

"We talked all game about going inside that lane to get the punt block and I figured that was a good time to do it," Wolf said. "I just tried it out. We needed a stop there and it ended up working out and really helping us."

"He's a stud man," said Stokes about Wolf. "You bank on your studs making plays this time of year. He went out and made one. That was huge."   

A penalty after the block moved Minster back several yards but it didn't matter; Josh Nixon threw a 15-yard strike to Jacob Dues on the first play and then the junior quarterback faked a pass and ran for the tying touchdown with 6:49 left to play. Jason Schultz's PAT sailed through the uprights for the go-ahead point.

Tinora drove down the field to set up a game-winning 28-yard field goal attempt by first team All-Northwest District kicker Josh Camp but the kick missed a yard left and the 'Cats secured their second one-point victory of the postseason.

Evan Huelsman's 20-yard touchdown run with 5:13 left in the opening half gave Minster a 7-0 lead going into the locker room. That advantage, however, could have been doubled had Nixon not been denied on a fourth-and-goal from the one with time winding down in the half.

Minster had five drives in the first half, four of which concluded in Tinora territory. The orange and black defense also had a goal-line stand to stuff Tinora on its second drive of the game.

But the Rams converted two second-half turnovers - a fumble and an interception - into 13 points to take their first lead of the game. On the opening series of the third quarter, Huelsman fumbled and Tinora's Mathias Gube recovered the ball at Minster 45-yard line. Tinora, who went 0-for-7 on third-down conversions in the first half, picked up two third downs on the ensuing series before Riley Nagel punched in to tie the game less than four minutes into the quarter.

Ram defensive tackle Casey Helton intercepted Nixon with 3:20 left in the third to set Tinora up at the Minster 26. Then with 36 seconds remaining in the period, quarterback Brevin Renollet found Hunter Vogel for a 12-yard touchdown. But Camp's extra point attempt was blocked by Hayden Schindler - a play that proved to be one of the most critical in the outcome.

"We knew it was going to be a battle coming into the game. They certainly put up a good fight and they're a great football team," Wolf said.

"In the end, I think we just fought and our toughness won out."

Stokes said after the win that he didn't anticipate his team would be playing in the state title game when they stepped on the practice field over the summer. Friday's win - this whole playoff run for that matter - is just a testament to how far the Wildcats have come.

"I would have bet my savings on it (not being in the state final)," Stokes joked. "This group was soft. This group was weak and we were a little bit selfish. These guys have invested and fixed their issues and really have been extremely loyal to each other and just became a team."