“Hard work pays off,” Minerva head coach Zach Slates said after his team rolled to a 34-0 victory over Akron Springfield Friday night. “The kids put in the effort all summer, and now they’re starting to see what’s possible.”
For the first time since 2013, the Lions own a winning record. Minerva is 2-1 after back-to-back victories — a turnaround nearly unimaginable for a program that has spent the past decade defined by losing streaks.
“We’ve challenged these guys to improve every single day,” Slates said. “They responded well after halftime tonight, and it showed. The key now is to keep getting better and not get complacent.”
A program’s revival
The win continues a resurgence for a team that once thrived but later fell into obscurity. Minerva was a playoff contender and powerhouse nearly 15 years ago, but between 2015 and 2019, the Lions endured a 44-game losing streak. Since then, victories have been rare: four total from 2015 through 2024.
Friday night’s win, then, marked more than just another tally in the standings. It signaled real progress.
Lions dominate on the ground
Running back Timothy Kirkpatrick powered the offense with 153 yards on 18 carries and two touchdowns, including an 8-yard score late in the first quarter to start the rout.
Nate Linkous added 129 yards and a nine-yard touchdown run before halftime. The Lions finished with 351 rushing yards — and zero through the air.
Meanwhile, Minerva’s defense stifled Springfield, limiting the Spartans to 72 total yards. The running clock began late in the third quarter.
Looking ahead
The Lions now prepare for another winnable game against Sandy Valley next week, though Slates says the goal goes beyond short-term success.
“We want to prove that Minerva can be competitive again,” he said. “This is just the start.”
For a community that has seen a decade of heartbreak, that start feels like long-awaited validation.
