Benfer makes lasting impact

MONROEVILLE — The tradition goes back decades. Monroeville head football coach Tylor Nester was excited to oversee his first "Eagle Run" in the summer of 2021. Hall of Fame head coach Steve Ringholz (1978-2009) started the tradition during his tenure. The entire team lines up and runs 40-yard sprints. The last player to cross the line gets knocked out and continues to run the track. But as Nester oversaw the run, something unexpected happened. "As a freshman, Evan Benfer was the last kid left," Nester said. "And he continued to win the competition for the next three years. As far as I know, he is the only one to have won it as a freshman, and the only one to have won it all four years." The Monroeville football program has seen its share of standout players. However, Benfer made a name for himself before he had even practiced for the first time in high school. What played out over the next four years was the most decorated career — and biggest turnaround — in Monroeville history. On Monday, Benfer was selected to the Ohio Prep Media Association's All-Ohio first team in Division VII for a second straight year. He joins defensive lineman Andy Dahm (2004-05) as the only two players in Monroeville history to be on the first team twice. Benfer is also the only two-time Northwest District Player of the Year at Monroeville, which he did on the defensive side of the ball at safety. "It was an honor knowing I played for the people that played before me, and those who will play after me," Benfer said. "I played for my community and the people who helped build the tradition we have now. "The best part about football at Monroeville was going out there and having fun with my friends, and creating a family and a brotherhood that you never really get anywhere else." Turning it around As a freshman in 2021, Benfer found himself on the field in limited, but a variety of roles. In 2022, Benfer's sophomore year saw the Eagles make history in the wrong direction with an 0-10 season. In 2023, the Eagles were going to return a majority of the same kids who were going to be tasked with starting over. "I learned a lot about how to be aggressive," Benfer said. "And to understand how to make people miss the tackle, or go lower than the other person to make the tackle — just getting that edge on someone else to be better and improving on that." The results were immediate. The Eagles completed the biggest turnaround in the state from 2022 to 2023. Monroeville went from winless to a 7-3 season. The Eagles reached the state playoffs and lost 35-21 in the first round at New Middletown Springfield. A huge part of that turnaround was with Benfer leading the charge. As a quarterback, he was 76-of-148 passing for 1,062 yards with 14 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also ran 198 times for 1,493 yards and 25 TDs on the ground. Defensively was where he made an even bigger impact. As a safety, Benfer made 150 tackles and intercepted six passes. "From being that inexperienced younger player to then being more experienced than everyone, it always helps," Benfer said. Perhaps even more telling in the 7-4 season was the Eagles only had five seniors in 2023. That meant Benfer and an entire cast of players were back for 2024. Historic finish Every opposing coach preparing for the Eagles knew how dangerous they were on offense with Benfer, Landen Roeder and their offensive line. But it was on defense where the headaches really took place. Benfer's ability to play the whole field altered game plans on a weekly basis. "He is such a great free safety because he has great speed and really understands the game," Western Reserve head coach Ty Stevenson said. "He is one of those rare guys who can play at 10-to-12 yards deep at the snap, but still makes tackles at the line of scrimmage." In their matchup at Western Reserve in 2023, Benfer had over 20 tackles in a 44-36 win. Monroeville had five straight shutouts at one point during the regular season. The Eagles (10-2) allowed just 13 TDs in 12 games, and 10 of those scores were on plays under 12 yards in distance. With Benfer at safety, teams had a tighter window for big plays. His numbers dipped to 79 tackles and two interceptions in 2024, but teams tried to go away from him — and the Eagles won by more lopsided scores than in 2023. "If it's a run or someone has the ball, I'm not the biggest person, so I taught myself to always go in low," Benfer said of his tackling technique. "I always focus on the hips or below to take away their legs, because they can't move without them." On offense, Benfer passed for 755 yards and 10 TDs and had another huge season on the ground. He ran 143 times for 1,422 yards and 25 TDs. Unfortunately for Benfer and the Eagles, the season ended in sudden fashion. The quarterback suffered a serious shoulder injury late with the Eagles leading Warren JFK 13-7. Benfer had scored both touchdowns, but suffered ligament damage near his shoulder. He did not return, and JFK went on to a 28-19 win. "I was trying to make a move on one defender and got tackled by two others and just landed on it wrong," he said. "I just couldn't do anything with it. It's tough it was my final play, but as time goes on, I know what we were able to do here."