Football
Six yards and a cloud of dust?
In a game with zero passing yards from either team, Minerva rumbled to its fourth consecutive victory, defeating host St. Thomas Aquinas 31-0 in a nonconference matchup.
Woody Hayes, the curmudgeonly Ohio State coach was associated with the “three yards and a cloud of dust” philosophy, would have been proud as Minerva doubled down against the Knights, picking up 252 yards rushing on 40 touches for an average of 6.3 yards per carry.
The Lions struck pay dirt midway through the first quarter on an Ethan Weaver TD run, and following the PAT from Zander Kirkpatrick, Minerva led 7-0. Kirkpatrick added a FG following a short Aquinas punt to put the Lions up 10-0.
The Knights could not stop Minerva on the ground, and the Knights could not pick up enough yardage to sustain a drive. The Lions, meanwhile, kept chugging along in the second quarter as Weaver and Skyler Lab each found the end zone as Minerva entered halftime with a commanding 24-0 lead.
In the third quarter, the stingy Lions defense stung Aquinas as lineman Sean Scott returned an interception for a touchdown to cap the scoring. The Lions then substituted liberally with the game well in hand. The Knights (0-5), who finished the game with 39 total yards of offense, didn’t pick up a first down until the third quarter.
Nate Linkous was the leading ground gainer for Minerva (4-1), rushing 13 times for 87 yards, while Timmy Kirkpatrick picked up 48 yards on just five carries. Weaver added 39 yards on four carries and Lab ran for 18 yards on four carries.
Cross Country
The Lions posted another dominating performance at the Sandy Valley Invitational Sept. 20. Both the boys’ and girls’ squads, running in the big school division, finished first.
For the Lady Lions, Makenzie Beavers placed second overall with a time of 18:58.34, followed by Tateum Richard in third place in 19:17.10. Charlie Galley (20:08.32) was seventh, Gabby Lupshu (20:31.38) finished 10th, and Addison Keyser (20:35.95) capped the scoring for the Lions in 11th place. Add it all up and Minerva finished with 33 points, well ahead of runner-up Massillon Jackson’s 79.
On the boys’ side, the team’s winning margin was smaller, but the Lions’ overall score was lower. Minerva finished with 32 points, 21 better than second-place Northwest. The Lions were paced by Anderson Scott, who finished second in 15:59.00.
Scott was followed by Rowen Hoffee (16:06.20), who finished fourth. Tyson Fetty (16:38.30) and Owen Yoder (16:43.40) placed sixth and seventh, respectively, while Fox Johnson (17:12.00) rounded out the team total with a 13th-place showing.
Boys Golf
The Lions’ week began with a tri-match Sept. 15 against Malvern and St. Thomas Aquinas at Great Trail. The Lions, who posted a 178, split the match, losing to Malvern (172), but defeating the Knights (216). Tyson Fetty led with a 40, followed by Wil Blackburn’s 42. Benjamin Smith shot a 45, while Reid Spall and Braydon Wood each posted 51s.
With the win, Minerva put the finishing touches on a 16-3 match-play record, setting a new school record for wins in a single season. That achievement was prelude to the big event: the Eastern Buckeye Tournament, hosted by Pleasant View GC Sept. 17.
Minerva and Carrollton entered the tournament tied for first in the conference, so it was winner-take-all. And the Lions took it all, posting a team score of 340 to claim both the tournament championship and the overall EBC title. Alliance (349) placed second while Carrollton (350) finished third.
Reid Spall led the Lions after carding an 80, which earned him a second-place individual finish. Wil Blackburn and Tyson Fetty each shot 83s to tie for sixth place, while Benjamin Smith shot a 94.
Girls Golf
Minerva competed in the Eastern Buckeye Conference/Tri-County Postseason Tournament, hosted by Zoar GC Sept. 17. And in a record-breaking season such as 2025 has been, it should come as no surprise that the Lady Lions were crowned both Tri-County and EBC champions.
Minerva posted a team score of 352, well ahead of runner-up Marlington (376) and third-place Carrollton (394) in the EBC. Peyton Beaumariage earned medalist honors with an 81. Emery Sell’s 86, according to coach Kenny Beaumariage, “solidified her as the Tri County Player of the year.” Savanna Bartley (92), and Delaney Sell (93) also finished in the top 10.
Boys Soccer
The Lions’ week began on the wrong foot as they visited EBC leader Marlington on September 16. The Dukes (6-1-3), who have surrendered only five goals all season, raced out to a 6-0 lead en route to a 7-0 shutout.
Despite Marlington holding a 29-0 advantage in shots, Talan Murphy stood tall, collecting a career-best 14 saves.
On Sept. 20, Minerva hosted Southeast for a nonconference match. The Lions took a 1-0 lead into the locker room, but a second-half score allowed the Pirates, who were outshot 32-8, to escape with a 1-1 tie.
Austin Arnota scored Minerva’s only goal off a Beau Keen assist. Murphy had seven saves for the Lions (1-7-3).
Girls Soccer
The Lady Lions played three matches last week, and while the bookend contests were losses, the midweek match against EBC Marlington ended in victory.
First up for Minerva was a trip to Coshocton Sept. 15. The Lions battled to a 1-1 tie at the break but ended up surrendering two second-half goals in the 3-1 loss. Sophia Burick scored Minerva’s lone goal, while goalkeeper Ally Sullivan recorded 10 saves.
Minerva next hosted Marlington Sept. 17, and the Lions scored twice in each half to win 4-0. Seniors Kyleigh Lippincott and Ireland Kirkpatrick each scored two goals and picked up an assist. Tateum Richard and Alexa Lippincott also recorded assists, while Sullivan logged fivesaves in earning her second shutout of the season.
Minerva then visited Tusky Valley Sept. 20 and held a 4-3 lead at the break, but four second-half goals by the Trojans led to a 7-6 loss for the Lions.
Scoring for Minerva (4-6-1, 1-2) were Burick with three goals, Kyleigh Lippincott with two goals and Kirkpatrick with one. Sullivan registered eight saves in goal, taking her season total up to 99 saves through 11 games.
Volleyball
The Lions brought their brooms to Salem Sept. 16 for an EBC match, winning 3-0 (25-14, 25-18, 25-9). Minerva then hosted league-leader Marlington Sept. 18, and despite winning a set, the Dukes left with a 3-1 victory (25-15, 25-27, 25-11, 25-16). The Lions hosted Indian Valley Sept. 20 for a nonconference match, winning 3-0. No stats were made available.
