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Minster's Connor Schmiesing tries to break free from a tackle during Friday's playoff football game with St. Henry.
MINSTER - Six weeks ago Minster need a touchdown pass in the final 30 seconds of the game to defeat St. Henry 12-7.
This time around, the game was just as gritty, but the margin was greater as Minster slowly pulled away for the 42-14 victory in the Division VII playoffs at Memorial Field.
"You know it was 42-14," said Wildcat coach Seth Whiting, "But that was not a 42-14 football game. Those kids played hard, and they are going to be a lot to deal with in the near future."
The Wildcats (10-2) now face Cincinnati College Prep next Friday at a site to be announced this weekend. Prep defeated Fort Loramie 18-7.
Minster won the coin flip and chose to receive the opening kickoff. It took the Wildcats six plays to cover 69 yards for the opening score, a 30-yard Brogan Stephey run along the left sideline.
St. Henry responded with a 45-yard pass from Charlie Werling to Carter LaGuire to reach deep into Wildcat territory. After an incomplete pass on third down at the Minster 7-yard line, the Redskins sent in the field goal unit, but the kick missed wide left.
"That first drive it would have been nice to get points on the board," said St. Henry coach Josh Werling, "On that third down call we didn't convert so I thought, 'OK let's take the points and move forward.' But unfortunately the kick just didn't go through. We had opportunities and just didn't capitalize."
Minster used the rest of the opening period and fourteen plays on their next scoring drive. On the last of ten running plays, Connor Schmiesing scored from four yards out to increase the lead to 14-0.
St. Henry's Charlie Werling battles his way to the end zone against Minster on Friday.
LaGuire returned the ensuing kickoff 63 yards to the Wildcat 16-yard line. After a fourth-and-10 was converted on an 11-yard pass from Werling to LaGuire, Werling pushed in on a one-yard run to tighten the score to 14-7.
The Redskins had Minster stopped on their next drive, but a roughing the punter penalty returned the ball to the Wildcats. Stephey connected with James Niemeyer for a two-yard score to enlarge the lead to 21-7. Niemeyer would end the game with seven receptions for 53 yards, plus grabbing two interceptions on defense.
"James is a dude," complimented Whiting, "and Noah Schwieterman is starting to feel good, too."
Both teams had drives stall to end the half. Caleb Couse intercepted a pass at the Minster 35 to stop St. Henry's drive, and Brody Schwartz recovered a Wildcat fumble at the two-yard line just before intermission.
Minster opened the second half scoring when Schmiesing split the Redskin defense for a 73-yard gallop to paydirt. St. Henry immediately fought back with an 11-play drive capped off by a Werling seven-yard scoring run, making the score 28-14 after three quarters.
The Wildcats reestablished the 21-point lead early in the fourth period on an 11-yard completion from Stephey to Kole Richard. Both offenses were then frustrated by two failed fourth down conversions and three turnovers. Minster then decided to hand the ball to Dylan Heitkamp who out-sprinted the Redskin defense down the left sideline for a 66-yard score, accounting for the final margin.
Minster's Dylan Heitkamp (8) tries to bat the ball away from St. Henry's Jack Huelsman.
Heitkamp has become a threat at running back in recent weeks and covered 100 yards in just seven carries in this game.
"Bad coaching. He (Heitkamp) should have been a running back earlier," admitted Whiting, "With losing James (Niemeyer) and Noah (Schwieterman) we knew we needed a playmaker at receiver."
Minster ended the game with 299 yards rushing and 197 more through the air. The Redskins held Stephey to just 77 rushing yards, but Heitkamp and Schmiesing (120 yards on 12 carries) more than picked up the slack.
"We know where everybody's eyes are," added Whiting. "It's not rocket science when you're playing us to take 12 (Stephey) and 15 (Niemeyer) away from the football game. Fortunately for us there is 10 (Schmiesing) and 8 (Heitkamp) and 20 (Dominick Meyer) and 27 (Tyler Bergman) and 14 (Schwieterman) and 85 (Cole Albers) and a bunch of others."
St. Henry (7-5) was only able to gain 187 total yards, with all but 26 of those coming from the passing of Werling. LaGuire led all receivers with seven catches for 119 yards.
