Schultz's kick lifts Wildcats past Redskins

MINSTER - Last weekend saw Coldwater defeat Marion Local at home by making a 43-yard field goal in the final seconds of the game. This week the Minster Wildcats decided to give it a try with placekicker Jason Schultz - his jaw still wired shut from being broken three weeks ago. He drove the 43-yarder straight down the middle with plenty to spare to secure a 24-21 win over the St. Henry Redskins.

"The jaw actually helped me increase my kicking game," claimed an elated Schultz. "I had to drop my two main positions, fullback and linebacker. Now, in practice I have two hours to focus on what I love to do, which is kick."

"He's made 55-yarders in practice," added Minster coach Geron Stokes. "He's just earned our trust from a toughness standpoint through his workout regime this winter, spring and summer. Our sideline believed he was making it."

Unlike last week, the Wildcats came out of the blocks quickly on their home field. After receiving the opening kickoff, Minster combined three short passes and 13 running plays to drive 81 yards for a score. Josh Nixon capped off the drive with a two-yard run for a 7-0 lead.

After St. Henry's offense was stopped and forced to punt from its own eight-yard line, the Minster offense took over at midfield. This time, it was four passes that did the majority of the damage. The final one was a 14-yard score from Nixon to Jacob Dues, who would end the evening with nine receptions for 122 yards. Schultz' extra point made the score 14-0.

The Redskins needed a big play to turn the momentum around. It occurred on the ensuing kickoff, as Jesse Niekamp caught the ball at the 11 and returned it 61 yards to the Wildcat 28-yard line. Six plays later, Niekamp ran nine yards for a touchdown to reduce the deficit to 14-7.

The scoring slowed down in the second quarter, as each team penetrated into enemy territory before turnovers thwarted their drives. After Jonathan Niemeyer intercepted a St. Henry pass at the 23-yard line, Minster needed only one play to capitalize, as Nixon found Bryce Schmiesing on a 77-yard scoring strike deep down the middle of the field. It was one of Schmiesing's eight catches for 164 yards in the game and gave the Wildcats a 21-7 halftime lead.

The second half played out differently, as the Redskin defense put pressure on Nixon, thus keeping Minster out of the end zone.

"We drew up a few new defensive coverages, stuff we saw on film," explained St. Henry coach Brad Luthman. "Give Minster some credit, they just came out and picked it apart. At halftime we got back to doing what we do and we played pretty dang good."

Midway through the third quarter, Mitchel Stammen found Tylar Schlarman for a 44-yard completion deep into Minster territory. Three plays later, Mitchel connected with Paul Stammen for a 10-yard score to bring the Redskins back within a touchdown.

The two teams again traded trips into each other's territory, but both defenses held on critical fourth down plays. Early in the fourth quarter, St. Henry put together a 10-play, 80-yard drive that was finished off by a five-yard touchdown run by Mitchel Stammen. When Ryan Luttmer's extra point was good, the game was tied 21-21 with only 4:45 to play.

Neither team was able to move the ball far on their subsequent drives. With 50 seconds remaining, the Redskins faced a fourth-and-one from their own 41-yard line. The decision was made to punt and play for overtime.

"We were playing that fine line of not leaving enough time left for Minster, yet still going for the win," added Luthman. "We'd been holding them all half, and at the end that was still a 43-yard field goal. That was a heck of a kick."

Minster took over on their own 27-yard line. Almost immediately, Stokes turned and said something to his kicker.

"I said 'Get loose, you're going to win this thing,' " he recalled.

Using three completions and a pass interference penalty, the Wildcats moved the ball 47 yards in just 36 seconds to set up the dramatic, game-winning kick.

"It was just two good football teams going back and forth and someone had to win it," Stokes said. "I just love our fight. We're not perfect. We're not playing sharp and crisp, but we're just fighting. To me, that is the most important thing you can get out of kids."

Nixon had his best passing game of the year for Minster, completing 21-of-36 passes for 339 yards and two touchdowns. Evan Huelsman added 74 rushing yards on 20 carries.

Redskin quarterback Mitchel Stammen completed 16-of-28 passes for 183 yards, with Blake Hoyng pulling down six receptions for 56 yards. Jesse Niekamp added 79 rushing yards on 15 carries.

The Wildcats' record improves to 6-2, and they go on the road next week to face the 3-5 Anna Rockets. St. Henry's record is now 5-3, and it will also take to the road next week in a must-win game against the 6-2 Fort Recovery Indians.