Monroeville stays hot, dominates Mapleton

MONROEVILLE — An early explosion of offense proved to be the difference for Monroeville in a big 56-8 win over Mapleton on Friday at Marsh Field. The Eagles improved to 5-2 overall and stayed tied atop the Firelands Conference standings at 4-0 with Ashland Crestview (5-2, 4-0). "I probably say it every week, and you could probably put me on repeat, but that's a testament to our captains or the seniors in our leadership," Monroeville coach Tylor Nester said. "Our guys have to stay focused, stay hungry, and continue to prepare each week like it's the Firelands Conference championship game." The Eagles offense wasted no time to score, with just one offensive snap to start the game. Cooper Cleary had a 71-yard burst into the end zone on the first offensive play for the Eagles to put them up 7-0 after the first of eight Isaac Krueger kicks in just under two minutes. After a fumble by the Mounties on the kickoff return, the Eagles took advantage of a short field. A strong offensive line by Monroeville led to an untouched Colt Clark up the middle for six for the 20-yard score to add to the Monroeville lead, 15-0. Another three-and-out stop by the Eagles defense and a short punt would set them up around midfield. On another short drive, Clark found Blake Ackerman on a route that led to a 40-yard touchdown to go up 22-0. Monroeville's defense stood tall yet again and created a turnover on downs deep in Mapleton territory. Connor Bores added his name to the scoresheet with a 10-yard dash into the end zone to increase the lead to 29-0. The Eagles wrapped up first-quarter play with their fifth scoring drive of the game. In just one play yet again for the red-hot Eagles offense, Clark found an open Ethan Pomerich for the 58-yard pass to put them up 37-0 just after 12 minutes of game time. Monroeville wasn't done there, though. A special teams mistake by Mapleton, with a snap over the punter's head, put the Eagles on the Mapleton 25. Bores had three straight runs before he cashed in for his second touchdown of the night, this time just five yards out to make it 44-0. An interception by Reid Wassermen gifted the Eagles a short field yet again. After an incomplete pass by Clark, Cleary ran up the gut for a 20-yard score to put the Eagles lead up to 50-0. Mapleton finally erased the shutout after a 44-yard run by Korbin McKissick sparked the Mounties (2-5, 1-3). They got all the way down to the one-yard line before Spencer Mook dove in for the touchdown. Monroeville capped off the half and the game with a drop in the bucket from Clark to Derek Ackerman for the 74-yard touchdown to put an exclamation point on the win for the Eagles, 56-8. For the Eagles, Clark finished the game 7-of-8 for 178 yards through the air and ran for 50 yards on the ground. Cleary led the running game with just two carries, both on scoring plays, for 91 yards. Nester was happy to get the big win in front of the community after the official completion of the Marsh Field renovations. "We've talked about it continuously, but you can't say it enough, right?" he said. "The commitment to the community, to continue to just support the schools and the kids, is unbelievable." The offensive line, again a huge part of what makes the heart of the Eagle offense and run game work so well, and Nester can't say it enough. "We're continuously getting better, and that's their kind of model for the whole team, to get better each and every day at practice," Nester said. "They take every opportunity they have to 'hone your craft and find your craft.'" From a defensive standpoint, Nester knew that they were what helped the Eagles secure the massive win. Monroeville will look to continue their momentum again next week at home against Plymouth. "We talked about the offensive line, but it starts with the defense and that defensive front," he said. "They're doing a tremendous job in the linebackers making the calls and flying downhill and all the way back to our DBs. "Obviously keeping stuff in front of them and preventing those big plays, so great overall team defense." Mapleton 0 8 0 0 — 8Monroeville 37 19 0 0 — 56MON — Cooper Cleary 71 run (Krueger kick)MON — Colt Clark 18 run (Maverick Myers run)MON — Blake Ackerman 40 pass from Clark (Krueger kick) MON — Connor Bores 10 run (Krueger kick) MON — Ethan Pomerich 58 pass from Clark (Myers run)MON — Bores 5 run (Kruger kick)MON — Cleary 20 run (kick failed)MAP — Spencer Mook 1 run (Morris run)MON — Derek Ackerman 74 pass from Clark (kick failed)