Minerva football is in uncharted territory. The Lions, following their 34-0 beating of Springfield, have won multiple games in the same season for the first time since 2014. Plus, they’ve won consecutive games for the first time since 2013, which, incidentally, was the last time Minerva finished above .500.
First-year coach Zach Slates and company, however, are focused only on what’s in front of them. Springfield, which defeated the Lions last season, got its comeuppance as Minerva relied on the tandem of Timmy Kirpatrick (18 carries, 153 yards, two TDs) and Nate Linkous (11 carries, 129 yards, three TDs).
The Lions had zero passing yards, but they didn’t need any after piling up 351 yards on the ground, while the stingy Minerva defense limited the Spartans to just 72 yards of offense.
Minerva took a 14-0 lead into halftime. The Lions then exploded for 20 points in the third quarter as Kirpatrick scored on a 13-yard TD run before Linkous put the game on ice with 50- and 14-yard scores.
Girls Golf
It was touch and go for a bit, but the Lady Lions’ undefeated season survived a challenge from Louisville in a nonconference match at Pleasant View GC Sept. 3.
The Lions, on the strength of freshman Emery Sell’s 42, slipped by the Leopards, 180-182. Delaney Sell and Hannah Kirpatrick each posted 45s, and Peyton Beaumariage carded a 46.
The next day, Minerva hosted EBC foe Marlington and completed a perfect league season after a 167-193 win. Emery Sell remained hot for the Lions (15-0, 8-0) with a career-low 36. Delaney Sell recorded a 41 and Beaumariage and Mady Bartley each shot a 45.
Cross Country
Put it on repeat. Two weeks after the girls’ and boys’ squads won team titles at Salem, the Lions were back at it at Seneca East’s Stars, Stripes, and Lights Invitational.
Both teams placed first again as Minerva, competing in the Stripes division, dominated. The Lady Lions’ top five runners placed in the top ten and scored 22 points, miles ahead of Upper Sandusky (128).
Makenzie Beavers (18:43.15) and Tateum Richards (18:53.68) finished 1-2, respectively. They were followed by Addison Keyser and Gabby Lupshu in sixth and seventh, while Charlie Galley placed ninth.
For the boys, the Lions scored 47 points, outpacing Keystone’s 82. Anderson Scott (15:46.94) and Rowen Hoffee (15:47.04) placed third and fourth to lead Minerva, while Tyson Fetty and Owen Yoder finished in eighth and ninth place. Brady First came in 23rd.
Boys Golf
Minerva only had one match this past week, an Eastern Buckeye Conference duel against Marlington. The Lions dominated with a 170-185 win over the Dukes to retain at least a share of the EBC lead.
Wil Blackburn was low man for Minerva (12-2, 8-1), carding a 38, while Tyson Fetty posted a 41. Reid Spall added a 45, and Benjamin Smith closed out the scoring with a 46.
Girls Soccer
The Minerva girls’ soccer crew opened EBC play Sept. 3 as the Lions fell to visiting West Branch 8-0. The Warriors took a 2-0 advantage into intermission before scoring six unanswered goals in the second half.
The Lions stayed home to welcome Carrollton Sept. 6 for a non-EBC match. It was a thriller as the Warriors scored a goal with two minutes remaining in the match to knot the score at three apiece. Liz Battin came through for Minerva, however, scoring the winning goal off a defected cross with a scant 12 second remaining on the clock for the 4-3 win.
Kyleigh Lippincott, Ireland Kirkpatrick, and Sophia Burick also scored goals for Minerva (2-3-1, 0-1), while Battin, Lippincott, and Alexa Lippincott all had an assist.
Volleyball
The Lady Lions had a busy week as they played two matches and one tri-match. First up was EBC leader Marlington Sept. 2 and the host Dukes (4-2, 3-0) swept Minerva 3-0 (25-9, 25-17, 25-12). Team captain Ayla Shellenbarger suffered a concussion in the loss.
Minerva bounced back on the road against Alliance two days later, winning 3-1 (16-25, 28-26, 25-18, 25-22). Becca Jackson led the Lions with 26 kills, 18 serve receptions, and 30 digs, while Jenna Dowell recorded 12 serve receptions and 11 digs. Addy Kocher added 36 assists and 11 digs for Minerva, which improved to 2-2 in the EBC.
On Sept. 6, the Lions traveled to Sandy Valley for a tri-match against the Cardinals and Edison. Statistical information has not been made available, but Minerva (5-6) lost 2-0 to Sandy Valley and defeated Edison 2-0.
Boys Soccer
The Lions, hobbled by injuries and illness, fell to EBC foe West Branch Sept. 2 as the visiting Warriors (6-0) cruised to an 11-0 shutout. Talan Murphy gathered eight saves in the loss.
Minerva rebounded Sept. 4 in a non-conference home match against McKinley (1-3-1),which ended in a 1-1 draw. Noah Morckel scored the only Lions’ goal on a 30-yard free kick asMurphy again recorded eight saves.
Minerva finished its week with another non-conference match Sept. 6, losing 8-0 to host Tusky Valley. Murphy collected seven saves for the Lions (1-4-1, 0-1).
