Monroeville primed for another run?

MONROEVILLE — The pieces are in place. Like most small-school programs, Monroeville was hurt by graduation at some key positions. But the Eagles also welcome back three All-Ohioans in 2026, including the top offensive player in the Firelands Conference. Monroeville is coming off a 9-3 season that included a perfect 7-0 mark in the FC, good for its first outright conference title since the 2002 season. Since going 0-10 in 2022, the Eagles are 26-9 in three years with a pair of playoff wins in Division VII and two FC championships. "We've been on a nice run here for three years, but that's a credit to the kids and their work ethic as well as our community," Monroeville head coach Tylor Nester said. "We are a football community that shows up at Marsh Field and when we travel. "But the kids show up Monday through Friday and sometimes on weekends and put that work in. That standard was set, and even during that 0-10 season, they did that. We continued to work on those standards and expectations even then, and it's continued to grow since then." Nester noted this season is a different group of kids, however. "You have to find out what makes them tick and work to drive them to success," he said. "But each year that standard continues, and it's something we talk about every day before and after practice. What kind of standard are we setting, and are we holding ourselves accountable?" Offense Senior quarterback Colt Clark (5-foot-11, 175) returns after being named the FC Offensive Player of the Year and an All-Ohio third team choice in 2025. Clark was 81 of 154 passing for 1,234 yards to go with 17 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He also ran 135 times for 1,027 yards and 15 touchdowns. Nester noted that Clark slid right into the role after Evan Benfer dominated the position for the previous two years. Benfer was also the FC Offensive POY in 2024. "Colt fed off what Evan did before him, and they both had success because of the trust they have in the offense," Nester said. "That and the combination of backs behind them like Landen Roeder, Connor Bores and Cooper Cleary." Cleary (6-1, 205) will assume the bulk of the carries with Clark after rushing 67 times for 651 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. "Cooper is a different type of back than we've had in previous years with Roeder and Bores," Nester said. "He's a lot bigger and is coming off a good junior year on both sides, and we're looking for him to step right into that role." Junior Ethan Smiley (5-8, 160) is also in the backfield after a strong offseason. At receiver, junior Reid Wasserman (5-10, 169) had six catches for 34 yards. That is the only production returning to the position, as seven players who caught passes from Clark in 2025 graduated. Nester noted several of those previous receivers also played for three, and in some cases, all four years. "Replacing that core has been our biggest challenge," he said. Junior Hudson Bauer (5-11, 165), junior Jake Fries (6-2, 185) and sophomore Carter Roeder (5-10, 147) will be among the receiving targets for Clark this season. Junior Alex Dowell (6-1, 180) is the tight end. Despite losing All-Ohio first team selection and FC Lineman of the Year Brycen Dunlap, the Eagles also return a good nucleus to the interior line. Senior Alec Schafer (6-2, 235) was an All-FC first team selection at tackle. Senior Vinny Schafer (6-2, 270) is at left tackle, while senior Isaac Krueger (5-11, 185) returns at guard. Seniors Caleb Dixon (6-1, 195) and Andy Welfle (6-0, 205) are also working at the position, with sophomore Easton Clark (5-8, 212) serving as an all-purpose lineman. Sophomore Calvin Schafer (6-2, 270) is also working at right tackle. "Those guys previously mentioned get the stats because of the offensive line, and this year's group has fed off of previous years," Nester said. "They've done a tremendous job of coming together. They are working on communication, which is something that was a concern for us coming in. "But through our Ohio Northern camp and preseason practices, we are excited with where they are." Defense Alec Schafer was an All-Ohio second team selection along the defensive line after 42 tackles, four sacks and a fumble recovery in 2025. Vinny Schafer (29 tackles, two sacks) also returns to the line. They will be joined by Clark, Welfle, Dixon and Calvin Schafer. "We feel like the defensive line is by committee, and several of those guys are fighting for reps in our rotational scheme," Nester said. "That's what we want, though. We want to keep those guys fresh." The Eagles welcome back Cleary (83 tackles, two interceptions) at middle linebacker after he was All-FC first team and honorable mention All-Ohio. Returning at outside linebacker is Krueger (68 tackles, four sacks), who was second team FC and honorable mention Northwest district. Junior Tristan Wise (5-8, 193) returns with 38 tackles and a sack after playing quite a bit toward the end of last season. Dowell will also see time at linebacker. Defensive back is similar to receiver, where the Eagles lost a majority of the starters and production. Many of the same names at receiver will be working at cornerback. "Those guys have made a lot of progress over the summer in 7-on-7s and the preseason," Nester said. However, Nester welcomes back Clark (84 tackles, one sack) as a first-team FC selection at strong safety and Wasserman (79 tackles, two INTs) at free safety. "After the first scrimmage, we feel good about our defense," Nester said. "Our communication is getting better, and we were flying to the ball. If you can do those two things, you are going to have a pretty good defense." Special teams Nester called Krueger a "safety net" returning at kicker. He made 41 of his 48 extra points last season, where he was stepping in for All-Ohioan Landon Stein from 2024. "Isaac is the hardest working kid we have on this team," Nester said. "His parents have done a tremendous job with him, and others should talk to them and emulate what they have done. Isaac works extremely hard every day. "Kicking was a worrisome position going into last year, but he stepped right in, and we're excited to have him back adding some distance." Clark punted 13 times for a 30.6-yard average last season for the Eagles, who open at McComb before visiting Seneca East and hosting Danville. The trip to Attica will be the first game on the new field turf for the Tigers, while Danville has gone at least four rounds deep for four straight seasons, including a state semifinal appearance. "We're excited for our non-conference schedule because those are solid programs, and that's what we want," Nester said. "Those teams get us ready for not only our conference slate but also the playoffs." 2026 schedule Aug. 21: at McComb, 7 p.m. Aug. 28: at Seneca East, 7 p.m. Sept. 4: Danville, 7 p.m. Sept. 11: South Central, 7 p.m. Sept. 18: at New London, 7 p.m. Sept. 25: Western Reserve, 7 p.m. Oct. 2: at Mapleton, 7 p.m. Oct. 9: TBD, 7 p.m. Oct. 16: Crestview, 7 p.m. Oct. 23: St. Paul, 7 p.m. 2025 results (9-3) Monroeville 46, McComb 20 Calvert 35, Monroeville 21 Seneca East 14, Monroeville 2 Monroeville 67, South Central 0 Monroeville 55, New London 13 Monroeville 27, Western Reserve 20 Monroeville 56, Mapleton 8 Monroeville 55, Plymouth 0 Monroeville 28, Crestview 26 Monroeville 35, St. Paul 28 Playoffs Monroeville 34, Malvern 14 McDonald 40, Monroeville 13 2026 roster No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr. 0 Colton Clark QB/SS 5-11 175 12 2 Gabe Blake WR/CB 6-5 170 11 3 Landon Johnson TE/OLB 6-0 198 11 4 Tristan Wise SB/MLB 5-8 193 11 5 Reid Wasserman WR/FS 5-10 169 11 6 Issac Summerlin WR/CB 5-11 150 11 7 Hudson Bauer WR/CB 5-11 165 11 10 Teddy Ballard QB/FS 6-1 170 10 11 Mike Scheid WR/OLB 5-8 139 10 14 Layne Neuberger WR/CB 5-1 104 9 15 Ethan Smiley RB/FS 5-8 160 11 18 Aethen Walker RB/OLB 6-0 178 9 19 John Welter RB/LB 5-10 152 10 20 Jonny Weilnau RB/FS 5-4 115 10 22 Carter Roeder RB/CB 5-10 147 10 24 Lincoln Ellis RB/CB 5-6 145 9 28 Jayden Gravenhorst WR/SS 5-8 140 9 32 Jared Fries FB/MLB 5-9 200 10 33 Celsee Herold WR/CB 5-2 120 9 34 Jacob Fries WR/CB 6-2 185 11 41 Cooper Cleary RB/MLB 6-1 205 12 42 Jackson Platte TE/DE 5-8 150 10 44 Oliver Myers TE/DE 6-0 215 9 48 Gage Swartz WR/CB 5-8 125 12 50 Stephan Wallace G/MLB 5-7 185 9 53 Cole Myers T/DE 6-4 270 10 54 Aiden Myers T/DE 6-5 215 11 55 Alec Schafer G/DE 6-2 235 12 57 Cooper Schibley G/DE 5-11 225 10 60 Easton Clark C/NG 5-8 212 10 61 Isaac Krueger G/OLB 5-11 185 12 62 Leland Bores G/DE 5-8 203 10 64 Andy Welfle C/DE 6-0 205 12 65 Caleb Dixon C/DE 6-1 195 12 67 Brody Schibley D/DE 5-4 160 9 71 Colton Harvey G/DT 5-9 230 9 73 Henry Hales G/NG 5-11 250 10 76 Vincent Schafer T/NG 6-0 265 12 77 Calvin Schafer T/DE 6-2 270 10 78 Drake Whitt T/DT 6-2 250 12 79 Kiptyn Kamann G/DE 5-11 236 11 80 Alex Dowell TE/OLB 6-1 180 11 81 Cayden Dixon WR/CB 5-7 134 10