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By Dean Eversole Sports Correspondent MINSTER - Wide left, that was all that separated the Versailles Tigers and the Minster Wildcats Friday night at Minster High School, but once again the Tigers came up on the short end in varsity football in the Midwest Athletic Conference (MAC).
Like the previous Friday night, Versailles was in position to win a game, this time losing to Minster 14-13. With a chance to tie late in the fourth quarter, the Tigers missed the extra point kick, and consequently lost the game. “We are just not clicking when we need to click, but again I saw a lot of good things, especially defensively,” said Versailles coach Bob Olwin after the game. “But I guess the topic line is just missed opportunities.” One of those came right away on the first drive, when Versailles was able to march the field, but ended up stalling out in Minster territory and turned the ball over on downs. Another came when Jon Murphy snatched a punt and raced for what seemed to be a touchdown, but it was called back on an illegal block. All that resulted in a 0-0 first quarter score, as the defenses set the tone for the game. The game’s first score came midway through the period when Minster struck first on an 8-yard pass, the extra point made it 7-0 Cats. It didn’t stay that way long. Jon Richard found a wide open Jon Murphy connecting for a 70-yard pitch and catch, Richard’s extra point made it 7-7, and that is how the first half ended. The third period was just like the first, lots of defense and very little offense. The Wildcats came into the game with a stellar rushing offense, but Versailles bottled it up. In fact, Minster had six rushing plays the resulted in negative yardage in the second half alone. The problem was the Wildcats suddenly became star wide receivers. It seemed as if the Cat receivers gobbled up everything tossed their way, including a crucial catch on a bad throw, setting up the winning score. That came in the fourth period, when Minster again scored through the air this time on a 15-yard pass. The extra point made it 14-7 Cats, and put Versailles in a hole. They climbed out of it via the defense. Versailles was able to pin Minster deep in their own territory, which resulted in a bad punt and the Tigers setting up shop on Minster’s 39-yard line. A few plays later Murphy drove in from two yards out and the Tigers were an extra point away from tying things with just under five minutes remaining. However, the kick sailed left, and Versailles was left one point shy. The next four minutes the Tigers had some chances, but they turned the ball over on downs, and a desperation pass with just 30 seconds remaining was intercepted. Versailles High School will celebrate Homecoming 2008 this Friday night as Fort Recovery visits. Scoring: Minster- 0 7 0 7-14 Versailles- 0 7 0 6-13 |
