Indians lose late to Minster

MINSTER, Ohio — The Indians had the late lead on the defending state champions. 

They just weren’t able to stop the Schmitmeyer/Niemeyer combination to keep that advantage intact.

Fort Recovery High School’s football team gave up the go-ahead touchdown with 54 seconds left Friday night as it fell 28-22 to the Minster Wildcats.

The Indians claimed the advantage with 7:47 to play when Cobe Wendel’s 26-yard field goal split the uprights, but then couldn’t get the home team off the field.

Alex Schmitmeyer opened the ensuing drive with a 13-yard run, moving the ball near midfield. He was limited the rest of the way, but quarterback Jacob Niemeyer was able to pilot the Wildcats to the end zone.

Twice Fort Recovery (2-1, 0-1 Midwest Athletic Conference) forced fourth downs, and twice Niemeyer converted. First he squeaked out enough inches on a 1-yard quarterback sneak, and then, facing fourth-and-3 from the 8-yard line, he tossed to August Boehnlein for the go-ahead touchdown. Trent Roetgerman’s conversion pass to Niemeyer made it 28-22.

Tribe quarterback Clay Schmitz managed a completion to Robby LeFevre in the final minute, but his next toss was picked off by Cody Frericks to finish off any effort at a last-ditch drive.

Niemeyer expertly led the Wildcats (3-0, 1-0 MAC), who topped Cuyahoga Heights 32-7 for the 2017 Division VII state title, by going 11-of-15 through the air for 120 yards and the winning TD. He also led the team in rushing with 77 yards on 10 attempts.

Meanwhile, Schmitmeyer pounded away for 60 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries.

Fort Recovery out-gained Minster 406-242, but had a negative-three turnover margin thanks to two interceptions and a fumble.

Clay Schmitz had a career-high 307 passing yards for the Indians with touchdown tosses to Gavin Thobe and LeFevre. He added a touchdown on the ground.

Jacob Acheson ran 16 times for 54 yards.

FRHS will try to rebound Friday when it hosts New Bremen (2-1, 0-1 MAC).