SIDNEY — Minster had its hands full for a half with the Riverside Pirates, but went on to pull away in the second half to get past Riverside in the Division 7 regional semifinals in high school football action Friday night at Sidney Memorial Stadium, 21-6.
Minster is now 10-2 and faces Fort Recovery Friday in the regional finals.
The Wildcats trailed 6-0 before scoring on a third-and-goal from 16 yards out following back-to-back fumbles. The score came on a pass from Josh Nixon to Jacob Dues with 7:13 left in the first half for a 7-6 lead, and that was the score at the intermission.
Riverside mounted an impressive drive for its only score of the first half, after the defense stood tall on four straight plays near the goal line.
The Wildcats drove to a first-and-goal at the Riverside two, but they lost a yard on four plays and turned the ball over on downs at the three-yard line.
The Pirates then commenced to put together a time-consuming 93-yard drive, all on the ground, for a 6-0 lead. Hayden Robinson ran the ball into Minster territory, then broke free for a 33-yard run down to the 15. Riverside faced third-and-7 at the 13 and Connor Cotterman got five. The Pirates then went for it on fourth down and Cotterman picked up four yards to the four. On the next play, Robinson took it in for the score. However, the extra point was blocked.
Minster held Riverside on its first possession of the second half, then got on the scoreboard quickly, going 61 yards in just 40 seconds, with the big play being a 30 yard run by Evan Huelsman. Dues caught a touchdown pass from Nixon to cap the drive.
Then on the ensuing possession, a couple of penalties severely hurt the Pirates. The first came on a punt that rolled dead at the Minster 12. Riverside was called for an illegal formation, and on the re-punt, the ball was mishandled and Minster took over at the Riverside 40. Two plays later, the Pirates were called for pass interference for the second time in the half, and on the very next play, Dues caught his third TD pass of the game, this one from 17 yards out, for a 21-6 lead.
Minster’s defense had four interceptions, two by Johnny Niemeyer.
Fort Recovery
ends Cavs’ season
LIMA — Lehman’s defense stiffened after a tough start, but the offense never got untracked in a 20-3 loss to Fort Recovery in Division 7 regional semifinal action at Lima Spartan Stadium Friday night.
The loss ends the Cavaliers’ season at 7-5. Fort Recovery is now 10-2 and has a rematch with conference foe Minster Friday night in the regional championship.
Fort Recovery took a 12-0 lead with still 6:49 remaining in the first quarter. But the Indians didn’t get on the board until 9:18 remained in the game when Will Homan scored on a 25-yard run. A two-point conversion made it 20-3, and that’s how it ended.
