Minster wins defensive struggle

ST. HENRY - Minster scored first and then relied on its defense to hold on for a 7-2 win over St. Henry at the Wally Post Athletic Complex on Friday night.

Both defenses dominated offenses run by backup quarterbacks.

Playing their first full game without injured quarterback Brogan Stephey, Minster (5-1, 3-1 MAC) received the opening kickoff and marched 67 yards for the only offensive score of the evening. A four-yard pass from James Niemeyer to Adam Rindler completed the nine-play drive and Caleb Couse's extra point made the score 7-0.

The Wildcat offense was held to only 83 more yards. St. Henry (1-5, 0-4 MAC) moved the ball 249 total yards, but a blocked field goal and three takeaways allowed the Minster defense to keep the Redskins off the scoreboard.

"The kids were tough tonight, and gritty, and did what they had to do to get the job done," said Minster coach Seth Whiting. "I can't talk enough about how well our defense and our special teams played. There are three phases in the game, and we might not have kicked butt on offense, but our defense and special teams were outstanding tonight. It was fantastic how Charlie Winner flipped field position on his punts."

"Our defense played their hearts out," stated St. Henry coach Brad Luthman. "I just didn't have the players in a good enough position to succeed offensively."

On the sixth play of the Redskins' opening drive, quarterback Charlie Werling was injured on a running play. Jack Huelsman took his place and led the team to the Minster 15-yard line, where a field goal attempt was blocked by John Keller.

"Jack has played a lot of meaningful snaps this season," said Luthman. "He and Charlie, the last three games, have basically split the snaps."

All three second quarter drives ended in punts, as did St. Henry's opening drive of the third quarter. Owen Zimmerman's punt pinned the Wildcats at their own 8-yard line. The Redskins threw Minster for a two-yard loss, then the pass rush of Logan Dehan forced a safety on the next play, cutting the Wildcat lead to 7-2.

For its next three drives, St. Henry threatened to take the lead but was halted by Minster takeaways. The Redskins took the ball into Wildcat territory midway through the third quarter before Connor Schmiesing grabbed an interception at the 38-yard line. As the quarter drew to a close, Ian Homan forced a fumble which was recovered at the Minster 29 to end another threat.

Early in the fourth, St. Henry put together an 11-play, 70-yard drive which reached the Wildcat 6, where Homan forced another fumble to save the lead.

The Redskins had one last opportunity with 1:30 remaining in the contest. A 10-yard sack by Homan pushed back St. Henry, then the Minster defense forced an incomplete on fourth down to seal the victory.

The Wildcats ended the game with just 46 yards rushing and 104 yards through the air but won the turnover battle 3-0. Huelsman rushed 12 times for 59 yards and completed 15 passes for another 149 yards. Curtis Puthoff was his favorite receiver with seven catches for 65 yards.

Minster returns home for an Oktoberfest matchup against Parkway next Friday. St. Henry remains at home to take on New Bremen.