Monroeville shocks Western in final minutes

COLLINS — Never stop fighting. In years past when down, Monroeville couldn't dig deep to find the answer when needed. This year's team is different. Down two touchdowns with less than six minutes to go, the Eagles scored three straight touchdowns in just over four minutes to shock Division VI No. 13-ranked Western Reserve, 44-36, in Firelands Conference action at Bachelder Field. "I told them a little bit ago that they're going to give me a heart attack or send me to the grave early," Monroeville coach Tylor Nester said. "What was awesome was it was a full team effort. We gritted it out when things weren't going our way." Monroeville (5-2, 3-0 FC) stays atop the FC with St. Paul (3-4, 3-0). Western Reserve fell to 5-2, 2-2. It is a huge change, considering the Eagles were winless last year and entered this season on a 15-game losing streak. "It has been the faith in the process," said Nestor of the change. "Last year was part of that process and it didn't go our way at times. At the same time, we weren't an 0-10 team. The kids knew that and bought in as soon as the season was over." The Roughriders seemed in firm control when Connor Dawson scored on a two-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-goal. The two-point conversion run by Hayden Keith put WR up 36-23 with 7:19 to play. Enter Monroeville junior quarterback Evan Benfer. He picked up a first down and 14 yards before hitting Blake Schaub for 16 more yards. A 13-yard run by Benfer kept the drive going and a pass interference call on Western Reserve only aided the drive. Two plays later, Benfer scored from five yards out. The extra point by Landon Stein drew the Eagles within 36-30 with 5:40 remaining. Sensing momentum, Monroeville wanted to keep possession and did just that with an onside kick by Stein that was recovered by Landin Hershiser. "Initially it was supposed to go the other way," Nestor said. "We checked it at the last second there. Landon's leg is a weapon, especially at the Divison VII level. He can kick the ball wherever we want." That allowed Benfer to keep it going for the Eagles. He tossed a nine-yard pass to Schaub before a 17-yard run gave Monroeville a fresh set of downs. He then scrambled for 13 yards and rammed his way into the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown. Stein's point after pushed Monroeville up 37-36 with 3:43 left. "You can't deny Evan's grit," Nestor said. "Like I say every week, it is that offensive line that sparks him and keeps him going. They've meshed and gelled together and it is a sight to see." Western Reserve took possession and had a chance yet. The Roughriders tallied a pair of first downs to get inside Monroeville territory. Once there, WR sputtered a bit. Facing fourth-and-two at the Eagles' 27, Dawson was kept go just a one yard gain. With a chance to run the clock out, Benfer instead exploded up the middle for what became a 74-yard score. Stein made it 44-36 with 1:12 left, still giving WR a chance. But Benfer was there to slam the door shut as he intercepted Keith to seal the incredible win for Monroeville. "They scored a couple times and we didn't," WR coach Ty Stevenson said. "You want to feel bad for the kids. I thought we played hard tonight. We executed pretty well for the most part." Monroeville led 23-22 at halftime, but went three-and-out to start the second half. The ball was dropped on the punt, giving the Roughriders great starting field position. Dawson went for 14 yards on the first play and got inside the 10 a few plays later. Monroeville toughened on defense, forcing a fourth-and-goal, but Keith scored on a three-yard keeper. The two-point pass failed, but WR was up 28-23 just over halfway through the third quarter. Landon Roeder opened the Eagles' ensuing drive with a 50-yard run, giving Monroeville an immediate opportunity. Benfer picked up another first down at the WR 2 a couple plays later, but miscues quickly cost the Eagles. Two false start penalties and an incomplete pass made it second-and-goal at the 12. Hayden Keith came up big for the Roughriders as he intercepted Benfer at the goal line to shut the drive down. That led to an eight-minute drive capped by Dawson's score to put WR up 36-23. The Roughriders got exactly what it wanted on the drive in guzzling off the clock and a touchdown. Western Reserve churned out six first downs on the drive, seemingly taking control of the game then. "The game of football is like the game of life," Stevenson said. "It is not always easy. You have to continue to play hard." It is two straight losses for Western Reserve after opening the season 5-0. "They're good teams," said Stevenson of losses to St. Paul and Monroeville. "We have to make sure we take care of business this week and make sure we're ready to go next Friday night against South Central." Dawson was huge all night offensively for Western Reserve, finishing with 33 rushes for 203 yards. "We talked all week about getting all 11 guys to the ball," Nestor said. "The times we did stop them, we got close to that 11. The times we didn't is where he got his big runs." After just 13 yards on eight carries in the first half, Benfer ran 12 times for 165 yards in the second half. Roeder finished with 15 attempts for 139 yards for the Eagles. "They're both phenomenal athletes as juniors," Stevenson said. "They've worked really hard. I think they got tired of being the doormat last year. They've done a really good job of getting better this year." Monroeville 9 14 0 21 — 44W. Reserve 16 6 6 8 — 36 Scoring WR — Connor Dawson 47 run (Dawson run) MON — Landen Roeder 5 run (run failed) MON — Landon Stein 32 field goal WR -—Rylee Supeck 16 pass from Hayden Keith (Dawson run) MON — Landin Hershiser 6 pass from Evan Benfer (Stein kick) MON — Blake Schaub 35 pass from Benfer (Stein kick) WR — Dawson 2 run (run failed) WR — Keith 3 run (pass failed) WR — Dawson 2 run (Keith run) MON — Benfer 5 run (Stein kick) MON — Benfer 10 run (Stein kick) MON — Benfer 74 run (Stein kick)