FOOTBALL 2024: Expectations sky high for Eagles

MONROEVILLE — The phrase is popular for contending teams. "Expectations are the thief of joy." And while that may be true in many instances, the pressure of expectations doesn't ring the same for the Monroeville football team. Over the past two seasons, the Eagles have run the gamut of results and a shift in expectations. In 2022, the Eagles followed up a 3-8 campaign in 2021 with the first winless season in 44 years. But a year ago, Monroeville shocked many by winning seven of their first nine games. And although they lost their last two games — including the first round of the state playoffs — the Eagles' 7-4 finish was statistically the biggest single-season turnaround in the entire state in 2023. Now, the Eagles don't have just the momentum from the turnaround. They also bring back all but five players from that team, including a loaded backfield. "It's all about hunger and will," senior quarterback Evan Benfer said. "We have to have those leaders, and the seniors last year were great. They didn't want us to go through that again, and they got us to really focus on what we needed to do to get better and fix things. "We put the work in during the offseason and the results played out for us. Now, the mindset doesn't really change. You have to focus on your team and what you need to do on every single play." Fourth-year head coach Tylor Nester knows what the outside perspective may be. Many will have the Eagles as favorites to win the Firelands Conference and be a contender in Region 25 in Division VII. But the coach said the expectations have never changed. "Even coming off that 0-10 season, the expectations last year were very high," he said. "After the way last year turned out, that hunger and drive to push ourselves in the offseason got stronger — but the expectation has always been high. "It's about continuously trying to push and climb the ladder to try and get one rung better, and see if we can show that on the field." And while no one in the FC returns more impressive numbers on both sides of the ball this season, Benfer isn't resting on his accolades. "You can look at yourself and the numbers all you want, but what really matters is the team, our record at the end of the year — and what we did with it," he said. Offense It won't be hard to know where it starts for the Eagles on offense in 2024. Benfer (6-foot, 165) returns after rushing for 1,493 yards and 25 touchdowns on 198 attempts in 2023. He was also 76-of-148 (51 percent) for 1,062 yards with 14 TDs and six interceptions. Behind him is classmate Landen Roeder (5-7, 160), who totaled 1,085 yards and 12 TDs on 172 attempts last season. Roeder was All-FC first team and second team Northwest District. A third classmate, Landin Hershiser (5-11, 200), is back as the fullback. "Obviously the experience and leadership those three kids bring is huge," Nester said. "Because on top of last year, they were also part of that 0-10 season. This senior class is my first that's been with me all four years through the ups and downs. "So that mental toughness and drive they show to get better, you can't say enough about what they do," he added. "The numbers speak for themselves, but behind the scenes from that mental aspect, the edge and experience they bring is awesome for our team." Up front, junior Hayden Ryan (6-0, 2-10) returns at center, and classmate Brycen Dunlap (6-2, 260) is back at right guard as an All-FC second team player. A third starter, senior Jaxson Hedrick (6-6, 245), is back at right tackle, where he was honorable mention FC. Competing for the left guard and tackle positions include seniors Nathanial Kradlak (6-4, 180) and Sam Clinker (6-2, 262), along with sophomore Alec Schaffer (6-0, 200). The biggest loss for the Eagles on offense from 2023 in terms of production was receiver Blake Schaub (36 catches, 508 yards, 7 TDs). Nester will turn to Derek Ackerman (6-0, 155), who had 12 catches for 183 yards and 2 TDs last season, senior AJ Bores (6-0, 165), junior Blake Ackerman (6-0, 150) and senior Landon Stein (6-1, 150). "We have a lot of battles going on in camp at the receiver position," Nester said. Defense There is also a clear starting point for the Eagles on defense. Benfer returns as an All-Ohio first team safety. Also the FC Defensive Back of the Year and Northwest District co-defensive POY, Benfer totaled 142 tackles with six interceptions and a fumble recovery in 11 games. "The eyes from being a QB to a safety translate," Nester said of Benfer. "His patience and ability to move … he's not the fastest kid out there. But his game speed, knowledge and ability to get the burst and play a quarterback's eyes has made him a tremendous safety." Roeder also returns as the third-leading tackler (72) a year ago at outside linebacker, which earned him FC second team. He's again joined alongside Hershiser (62 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 INT) in the middle, where he was honorable mention FC. Sophomore Colt Clark (23 tackles) will also be in that fray. The defensive line lost both ends, but brings back Dunlap (35 tackles, 1 sack), Kradlak and Hedrick up the middle. Dunlap was also second team All-FC on defense. Stein and Ackerman will be working in the defensive backfield along with Bores and the usual suspects from the receiver position. Through nine games last season, the Eagles allowed 22.4 points per game. That jumped to 38 points per game in the Week 10 loss at St. Paul and the playoff loss at New Middletown Springfield. "We want to see the kids competing," Nester said. "Whether you're first team or scout team, you need that competition. All those goals we set, without the scout team pushing the first team, it's tough to do. "Our area of focus is making it a game. Compete in practice. Make it like Friday nights or whatever you have to do to push yourself and your teammates." Special teams Another area where the Eagles figure to be strong with experience once again is in the kicking game. Stein is back as an All-FC first team and Northwest District second team selection. He was 43-of-47 on extra points and made a pair of field goals for 51 points last season. "He's a game-changer to have someone kick in the end zone consistently and be able to kick from that window inside the 30," Nester said. "It gives you a different dynamic, and as coaches we always talk about those three phases being strong. "Having Landon there makes things more comfortable in special teams." ---------------------------- 2024 scheduleAug. 23: at LakotaAug. 30: Tiffin CalvertSept. 6: Seneca EastSept. 13: CrestviewSept. 20: South CentralSept. 27: at New LondonOct. 4: Western ReserveOct. 11: at MapletonOct. 18: at PlymouthOct. 25: St. Paul 2023 results (7-4)Monroeville 27, Lakota 7Tiffin Calvert 35, Monroeville 34, OTMonroeville 40, Seneca East 21Monroeville 46, Crestview 34Monroeville 41, South Central 6Lucas 31, Monroeville 28Monroeville 44, Western Reserve 36Monroeville 35, Mapleton 26Monroeville 48, Plymouth 7St. Paul 41, Monroeville 14PlayoffsNew Middletown Springfield 35, Monroeville 21 2024 rosterNo. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr.0 Colt Clark QB/SS 5–9 160 102 Landon Johnson TE/OLB 5-9 153 93 Landen Roeder RB/OLB 5-7 160 104 Tristan Wise SB/SS 5-7 147 95 Reid Wassermen QB/DB 5-8 145 96 Chase Horn WR/FS 6-1 155 127 Hudson Bauer WR/DB 5-8 150 910 Evan Benfer QB/FS 6-0 165 1211 Landin Hershiser SB/MLB 5-11 200 1214 Ethan Pomerich WR/DB 6-1 145 1115 Ethan Smiley RB/MLB 5-8 148 918 Derek Ackerman WR/DB 6-0 155 1119 Gabe Blake WR/DB 6-4 140 920 AJ Bores WR/OLB 6-0 165 1222 Jason Bores WR/DB 5-9 121 1023 Connor Bores RB/DB 5-9 147 1124 Blake Ackerman WR/DB 6-0 150 1131 Logan Barnes WR/DB 5-11 12833 Maddox Bauer WR/OLB 5-8 160 1134 Jacob Fries WR/DB 5-10 143 935 Maverick Myers TE/OLB 6-2 175 1138 Isaac Krueger TE/OLB 5-11 167 1039 Landon Stein WR/DB 6-1 150 1241 Cooper Cleary SB/MLB 6-1 185 1046 Gavin Howery RB/MLB 5-7 160 1247 Thomas Platte SB/MLB 5-8 170 1150 Hayden Ryan OC/DT 6-0 210 1151 Ethan Dresser OG/OLB 5-8 138 953 Jaxson Hedrick OT/DT 6-6 245 1254 Aiden Myers OT/DE 6-3 192 955 Nathaniel Kradlak OT/DT 6-4 180 1257 Alec Schafer OG/MLB 6-0 200 1058 Brycen Dunlap OG/DE 6-2 260 1160 Sam Clinker OT/DT 6-2 262 1261 Drake Bailes OG/DT 5-8 162 1064 Andy Welfile OC/DE 5-9 175 965 Caleb Dixon OG/DE 6-0 190 1076 Vincent Schafer OG/DT 6-0 225 1077 Issac Summerlin OG/DE 5-9 155 978 Drake Whitt OT/DT 6-2 270 1079 Kiptyn Kamann OT/OLB 5-11 210 980 Alex Dowell WR/MLB 6-0 143 988 Cole Perry TE/DE 6-6 200 11