VERSAILLES – The VersaillesTigers pulled out a 21-14 victory over the Minster Wildcats in what was a great defensive game by both teams. The Wildcats would draw first blood taking the opening kickoff and driving 83 yards to go up 7-0.
“Classic MAC battle. We’ve had a few of those this year,” Coach Ryan Jones said. “We had to earn every yard. I’m proud of the way our defense played.”
The defenses would shut each other down for most of the first half after the initial score.
The Tiger run game was held in check in the first half. With the run game not working, the Tigers’ special teams came up big with under a minute left in the first half. A Minster punt was fielded by Lane Bergman and he weaved his way to the Minster 14-yard line. Versailles would score on a nine-yard pass from Michael Osborne to A.J. Griesdorn with 17 seconds left in the first half.
“Defense came up with big stops.” Coach Jones said “Special teams really did a great job tonight. Our punt return there at the end of the first half was huge.”
The Versailles Tigers would take the second-half kickoff at their 40-yard line. Using a couple fourth down conversions, the Tigers would score on a 37-yard pass to Jace Watren. The Tigers threatened again before Osborne was intercepted at the 11-yard line of Minster.
The Wildcats drove 89 yards scoring on a 27-yard pass to tie the game at 14 with 9:15 left in the fourth quarter. The Tigers were able to use a short field and go in for the winning score with 2:58 left in the game. Versailles was faced with a fourth and eight. Bergman caught a pass at the 14-yard line to line the Tigers up for the score. A run would result in a two-yard loss. Osborne would scramble and find Watren for a 16-yard touchdown pass.
The Wildcats were stopped on downs, and the Tigers took over. The Tigers were able to get a first down, and then run out the clock. The Tigers will host Troy Christian on Friday night at Hole Field. Coach Jones previously coached at Troy Christian before coming to Versailles. The Eagles are 3-7 on the season.
