By Jessica Honigford
Community Post

SPRINGFIELD – The Minster Wildcats have started the 2008 season the opposite way of the 2007 season.  While the Wildcats went 0-10 last year, this year they have started the season with two wins in as many games.

On Friday Minster traveled 90 minutes to take on the Springfield Catholic Central Fighting Irish (1-1).  SCC were regional champions last year in Division XI.  Friday night, however the Fighting Irish could do nothing to stop the Wildcats.  Minster defeated SCC 28-6 just in time to beat the coming lightning and rain.
The Wildcats were fierce from the start, scoring on the first possession of the game then pushing their score to 8-0 after successfully going for two.
Minster continued to look strong in the second quarter.  With 8:33 remaining in the first half, Ty Whitford carried the ball into the end zone, fumbled, then recovered the pigskin, putting the Wildcats up 20-0.  Minster then scored the extra point, something that has proved to be difficult in the first two games.
The Fighting Irish then went four and out gaining just six yards in the possession sending the ball back over to Minster's offense.
With just under six minutes remaining in the half, the Wildcats looked like they were on their way to scoring once again.  In three minutes Minster had gained 47 yards and converted three first downs.  On first and 10 at SCC's 30-yard line, Whitford fumbled the ball yet again, only this time the Fighting Irish recovered the ball, giving their offense another shot.
Minster's defense held on though.  Whitford tackled a Fighting Irish offensive-man on 3-13 on the seven yard line, forcing a fourth down, and eventually a punt.
Despite another Minster fumbled on 1-10 at the 38, Minster held on.  Adam Kaiser sacked the Fighting Irish quarterback for an eight-yard loss and Bryan Phlipot pulled down and interception at the 35-yard “We played well on defense again,” Minster head coach Eric Belcher said. “Offensively we were able to take some openings that they gave us.  We were able to take the sweep and power a little bit.  They did a good job coming out tonight.”
Minster continued its scoring barrage in the second half, moving the chains once and scoring the touchdown and extra point in the second possession of the half, despite a SCC sac.
With time ticking away in the fourth quarter, the Fighting Irish managed to get on the board with 11:23 remaining with a 36-yard pass to SCC freshman Jake Aldridge.  It would be the final score of the game, leaving Minster with the 28-6 lead.
“The team we just got done playing is 23-3 over the last two years that's a huge tradition team we played tonight,” Belcher said. “Us coming in, winning last week and winning again this week its good for our program and the kids things like that start happening and they start believing.”
Minster faces off against MAC rival Delphos St. John's next Friday at home at 7:30 p.m. while the fighting Irish continue their season against Marion Catholic in Springfield the same day.