*Players to Watch - QB/S Chase Paxson (5-11, 182, sr.); QB Adam Niemeyer (6-2, 165, so.); LB/RB Adam Kaiser (6-1, 185, sr.); LB/OG Evan Eshleman (5-11, 210,sr.); DE/OT Ryan Albers (6-3, 215, sr.); CB/WR Derek Collins (6-1, 155, jr.)
*Outlook - Minster is a proud sports nation with 24 state championships, but only one in football. And that was 21 years ago in 1989, the last of four MAC titles. The last time the Wildcats made the playoffs was 2001. Their last winning season was a 6-4 record in 2003.
Since then, Minster has had a proclivity for losing, compiling a 19-41 mark. Regardless, the Minster faithful remain optimistic with the arrival of new head coach Nate Moore. The 29-year-old played college football for UD under coach Mike Kelly.
The first-year coach said, “Take it one step, one day, one practice at a time. We need to worry about ourselves. Not Fort Loramie (season-opener) or the other MAC schools.”
Let the controversy begin – QB controversy, that is. Coach Moore hasn’t decided, yet, which QB will start August 27th. It is between senior Chase Paxson and sophomore Adam Niemeyer. Paxson was the starter last year, but broke his thumb in week one and then freshman, Niemeyer, took over.
Derek Collins will play WR and is considered “a deep threat”. Ryan Albers will anchor both lines at 6-3, 215 pounds. The LBs will be Adam Kaiser and Evan Eshleman. Kaiser is a four-year letterman and according to Moore, “He will be the man on defense. He is a natural LB. He can run from sideline to sideline. His 40 time is about 4.6.”
Overall, Moore is pleased with his team’s depth. He has 50 players on his grades 9-12 roster.
“Everybody knows about the MAC,” said Moore. “It is the best football conference in the state and one of the best in the nation. We look at our situation as both a challenge and opportunity. Hopefully, we can start something new. We will do our best and hopefully make some noise.”
*Schedule- The Tigers have a rugger schedule, facing six playoff teams from a year ago. They open up against Fort Loramie followed by Lehman, Delphos St. John’s, and Marion Local successive weeks.
8/27 @Fort Loramie
9/3 Lehman Catholic
9/10 St. John’s
9/17 @Marion Local
9/24 New Bremen
10/1 @Fort Recovery
10/8 St. Henry
10/15 @Versailles
10/22 Parkway
10/29 @Coldwater
