MAC Football Game of the Week - Minster at Versailles

Midnight is approaching closer and closer to striking on high school football’s 2012 regular season, making the need for perfection even more vital for both the Versailles Tigers and Minster Wildcats, who knock helmets on Friday night in Versailles.  As both squads sit at 4-2 in the Midwest Athletic Conference, they realize that any hope of tying Coldwater for the league crown is nearly gone, so their sights are set on what they both hope can be extended playoff runs.  “We actually started talking about that last week,” Minster head coach Nate Moore explained.  “We don't want to put our fate into anyone else's hands in these final weeks, and that means winning every game we play from here on out.”

Since losing to St. Henry and Coldwater during mid-season, the Wildcats have been on a tear in the last three weeks, averaging 35 points per game in lop-sided victories over Anna, Parkway, and Fort Recovery.  So far this year, quarterback Adam Niemeyer has tossed for more than 1500 yards and 11 touchdowns, while adding six rushing touchdowns to his remarkable senior campaign.  Behind him in the backfield, Korey Schultz has feasted on opposing defenses for close to 1100 yards and averages nearly nine yards every time he touches the ball.  Both backs paved Minster’s way in their 28-6 win over Fort Recovery last week, but Moore also enjoyed solid play from several new faces.  “We had a couple new guys on the field last week - some were getting their first shot, while others were filling in for injuries,” the third-year head coach pointed out.  “Guys like Scott Sekas, JR Nixon, James Borges, Mason Haney and Tate Carlon really stepped up to the plate did a nice job.”

Last week, the Tigers slipped up on the road against the Delphos St. John’s Blue Jays to fall to 5-3 on the season.  They remain 4-2 in the MAC and first-year head coach Adam Miller, a St. John’s graduate, understands the importance of his team’s final two games, beginning this week with the Wildcats.  “Yes, we definitely must win our last two games to get into the playoffs,” he admitted.  “Getting into the playoffs has been our goal all season, so we are treating our last two games like playoffs games, because that is what they are in a sense - we need to win or there will not be a week #11 for us.”

Following a 1-2 start at the beginning of the season, the Tigers clawed their way to four straight wins before falling last week at Stadium Park.  Miller is quick to explain that they can’t have the same miscues this week that they did a week ago and expect to be in a good mood the following morning.  “We lost a tough game to St. John’s – they were very physical up front, and I feel that is where the game was won,” he remarked.  “Tyler Jettinghoff had an outstanding game, but it was a battle that we came up a little short on.  Damian Richard had a great game for us - he was our leader on offense and also led the defense with ten tackles.  To be successful this week against Minster, we need to be fundamentally-sound.  We can do some great things when we have all eleven guys playing together.  When we have a few mental mistakes, they turn in to big plays that have a great impact on the game.”

The Tigers and Wildcats have traded victories in their last two meetings - Versailles by one point last season and the Wildcats by three in 2010.  “Coach Miller is really doing a nice job in his first year at Versailles,” Moore complimented.  “Their defense runs to the ball and hits as well as anyone we have played.  Their offense has been able to move the football every week.  Versailles is a very good football team.”

Miller concurred and also tipped his hat to the competition.  “Minster is very athletic – they have great team speed and size up front to go with it,” he emphasized.  “We need to neutralize their team speed by playing fundamentally-sound on offense, while our defense needs to take away the big plays.  It should be an outstanding game.”

By Robb Hemmelgarn