By MATT SEXTON
WNJ Sports Writer
WNJ Sports Writer
COLUMBUS – Trailing by two scores with 4:18 remaining thanks to two missed conversions, things looked bleak for Minster.
However, Minster would rally, scoring twice in the final 1:59 to stun Kirtland 46-42 Friday evening in the Division VI state title game at Ohio Stadium.
Minster drove 65 yards in 2:22 for the first score. Evan Huelsman rumbled in from two yards out. The extra point pulled Minster within two, 42-40.
Kirtland had scored on five consecutive possessions at that point, leaving Minster no choice but to go for the onside kick. It was a perfect kick that hit a Kirtland player and bounced right back to kicker Jason Schultz.
After a sack on first down and a timeout, Minster took the lead for good. Josh Nixon found Eli Wolf on a crossing route. He broke a tackle and ran down the sideline for a 51-yard touchdown. The conversion failed, but Minster led 46-42.
There was still time for Kirtland. However, Kirtland tried a double pass, but the first pass was forward, meaning a five yard penalty and loss of down. On fourth and three, quarterback Sam Skiljan was stopped for no gain and the Minster comeback was complete.
Kirtland had a 30:23 to 17:37 edge in time of possession, and ran 81 plays to Minster’s 61. Skiljan had 145 yards passing and three touchdowns to go with 95 yards rushing. Adam Hess led the ground attack with 164 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Matthew Finkler had 120 yards receiving and two touchdowns.
Josh Nixon led Minster with 417 yards passing and four touchdowns on 26 of 41 passing. Eli Wolf was his top target, catching nine balls for 145 yards and three touchdowns. Bryce Schmiesing added 150 yards receiving and a touchdown on seven catches.
It was the third straight nail-biting finish in the first OHSAA state football finals held on Ohio State’s campus since 1989. The two teams combined for 940 yards, with just two yards separating the teams. Kirtland finished with 471 while Minster had 469.
SUMMARY
M 6 14 7 19 46
K 7 14 7 14 42
K 7 14 7 14 42
1st Quarter
K – Jacob Boyd 5-yard run (Jordan Ianiro kick) 9:40
M – Bryce Schmiesing 3-yard run (pass failed)
2nd Quarter
M – Eli Wolf 3-yard pass from Josh Nixon (Jason Schultz kick) 11:52
K – Matthew Finkler 48-yard pass from Sam Skiljan (Ianiro kick) 2:48
M –Schmiesing 63-yard pass from Nixon (Schultz kick) 2:31
K – Finkler 16-yard pass from Skiljan (Ianiro kick) 0:23
3rd Quarter
M – Wolf 22-yard pass from Nixon (Schultz kick) 9:49
K – Evan Madden 9-yard pass from Skiljan (Brad Hauptman kick) 4:36
4th Quarter
K – Adam Hess 9-yard run (Ianiro kick) 11:56
M – Evan Huelsman 3-yard run (pass failed) 10:20
K – Hess 3-yard run (Ianiro kick) 4:18
M – Evan Huelsman 2-yard run (Schultz kick) 1:56
M – Eli Wolf 51-yard pass from Nixon (run failed) 1:22
TEAM STATS
PLAYS: M 61; K 81. FIRST DOWNS: M 24; K 26. RUSHES-YARDS: M 20-52; K 66-326. PASSING YARDS: M 417; K 148. COMPLETIONS-ATTEMPTS-INTERCEPTIONS: M 26-41-2; K 7-15-0. TOTAL YARDS: M 469; K 474. PENALTIES-YARDS: M 2-30; K 5-44. FUMBLES-LOST: M 0-0; K 1-1. TIME OF POSSESSION: M 17:37; K 30:23.
INDIVIDUAL STATS
Rushing (carries-yards) M: Evan Huelsman 9-37 2 TDs; Josh Nixon 8-9; Bryce Schmiesing 2-8 TD; K: Adam Hess 39-164 2 TDs; Sam Skiljan 20-95; Jacob Boyd 7-67 TD.
Passing (completions-attempts-interceptions) M: Nixon 26-41-2 417 yards 4 TDs. K: Skiljan 6-13-0 148 yards 3 TDs; David Allchin 1-1-0 0 yards.
Receptions (catches-yards) M: Eli Wolf 9-145 3 TDs; Schmiesing 7-150 TD; Jacob Dues 5-75; Huelsman 2-21; Sam Dues 1-22; Jason Schultz 2-4. K: Matthew Finkler 4-120 2 TDs; Evan Madden 2-28 TD.
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