Wildcats stun first-place Cavs

MINSTER - Major upsets in football are few and far between in the Midwest Athletic Conference.

So, when Minster, 0-4 in conference play, took a 14-10 lead into halftime against MAC-leader Coldwater, a Wildcat victory was not considered imminent.

However, the Wildcats physically outperformed Coldwater in the second half to achieve one the more unlikely wins in recent conference history - a decisive 33-18 triumph on Homecoming night.

"Our character tonight was awesome. That's competitiveness. It's the first time we've not laid down for one of the big dogs," proclaimed an exuberant Minster coach Geron Stokes. "They wanted this tonight. We physically whipped them. That's why you work. Coldwater's a really good football team, but our kids were just ready to play.
   "I am so proud of our senior leadership and our kids, just the way they fight is awesome," added Stokes.  "We had a great two weeks of practice. Our kids have worked, they've invested and grinded."
   The Wildcats received the opening kickoff and drove into Coldwater territory, before being forced to punt. The other five times the Wildcats reached the Cavalier side of the field, they finished their drives with touchdowns.
   Coldwater started at its own 20 and used over six minutes to advance to the Wildcat five-yard line. The Minster defense stiffened and was able to force the Cavaliers to settle for a Neal Muhlenkamp 22-yard field goal and an early 3-0 lead.
   The teams traded punts before the Wildcats got on the board in the second quarter. Minster used a strong running game to work down the field and then Jared Huelsman found Jonathan Niemeyer for a 38-yard completion and Bryce Schmiesing for a nine-yard score to take a 7-3 lead.
   Coldwater immediately fought back. Dylan Thobe ran a quarterback draw up the middle and broke numerous tackles to run for a 49-yard touchdown, giving the Cavaliers their last lead of the game at 10-7.
   Minster responded with an impressive touchdown drive where they ran the ball on nine of the 14 plays. Huelsman scored on a three-yard plunge to make the score 14-10 with just 15 seconds remaining in the half.
   Coldwater used the small amount of time efficiently, completing two passes and attempting a 39-yard field goal on the last play before intermission. It was plenty long but sailed wide to end the half.
   The Wildcat defense forced a Cavalier punt to start the second half, and the Minster offense unleashed a grinding attack that took them to the Coldwater 28 yard line after 11 plays. Huelsman then looked deep and found Niemeyer for the touchdown to open the lead to 20-10 after a failed extra point.
   The teams traded punts for the rest of the third quarter, but early in the final period Huelsman and Niemeyer connected for another 26-yard touchdown. Another missed extra point left the Cavaliers still only two scores behind at 26-10.
   Coldwater seemed to sense new life and methodically picked apart the Wildcat defense on an ensuing scoring drive, finished off by a 10-yard pass from Thobe to Sam Broering. A penalty forced the two point conversion to be attempted from the 13-yard line, but Thobe found Muhlenkamp to reduce the deficit to 26-18 with almost eight minutes remaining.

A bit of foreboding may have gone through the Minster crowd, but the Wildcat offensive line took charge to put the game out of reach. Minster ran the ball 10 consecutive plays, eating up 78 yards and over five minutes before Huelsman scored from eight yards out. This time, the kick was perfect and Minster was safely ahead 33-18.
   "Once again, it was the line," complimented quarterback Huelsman. "We just said we needed one more score."
   When Coldwater brought the Minster lead down to eight points, Huelsman remembered one of his coach's philosophies.  

"Coach always tells us, 'So what? Now what?' After those two extra points we just battled back and fought through it," Huelsman said.

Minster (3-4, 1-4 MAC) gains a boatload of computer points and next week will go on the road to face the New Bremen Cardinals. Coldwater (6-1, 4-1 MAC) returns home next week to face the Versailles Tigers.