Methodical Minster grinds out title
CANTON — The oneplay-at-a-time approach couldn’t have been illustrated any better than how Minster did it Friday.
Methodical, moralebreaking drives of 94 and 83 yards in the second quarter enabled the Wildcats to pull away for a 32-7 victory over Cuyahoga Heights in the Division VII championship game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.
“I don’t really even remember (the drives), to tell you the truth,” Minster coach Geron Stokes said. “It’s pretty much just what we do. Our quarterback runs the offense, the blocking is excellent and we just execute our plays. It’s nothing too complicated.”
Operating out of a spread formation with no running backs, quarterback Jared Huelsman ran straight ahead for consistent yardage. He finished with 221 yards on 31 carries, with TDs runs of 3, 3 and 9 yards. He also passed for 141 yards and a score.
“He’s a really talented, confident player,” Cuyahoga Heights coach Al Martin said. “I can’t emphasize enough how big and strong that offensive line is. They got on us a bit. When they took it, what, 170 yards in two drives, that really gave them the momentum.”
Huelsman passed for 53 yards and ran for 31 on the 94-yard drive that chewed up 5:19. Huelsman capped the nine-play, 84-yard march with a 3-yard TD run on fourth-and-goal as the clock expired, giving Minster a 19-7 halftime lead.
Minster’s advantage in yardage, 396-246, wasn’t as lopsided as the score, but the Wildcats converted all of their four chances in the red zone. Cuyahoga Heights was 0 of 3 in the red zone and was intercepted four times.
Austin Brown made seven receptions for 92 yards with a touchdown, and also had an interception for Minster (11-4). Isaac Schmiesing had two interceptions, eight tackles and a touchdown.
The win gave Minster, which was runner-up in 2016, its third title and guaranteed the Midwest Athletic Conference of a state champion for an eighth straight year. With Maria Stein Marion Local remaining in the Division VI final, the MAC has won 32 titles in football and 124 in all sports.
Cuyahoga Heights (12-2) finished runner-up for the second straight year. The Redskins played in Division VI in 2016.
“Their defense came out and stopped us early and that was a key to the game,” Martin said. “We moved the ball but didn’t take care of our opportunities. That’s on me. I didn’t call the right plays. We just made too many mistakes to beat a great team like Minster.”