Unbeaten Eagles run past Western Reserve

MONROEVILLE — Run the ball, and never look back. That was how the state-ranked Monroeville football team cruised to a 48-0 win against visiting Western Reserve in a key Firelands Conference game Friday night at Marsh Field. The Eagles (7-0, 4-0), who were ranked No. 6 in this week's Associated Press state poll, dominated from start to finish in the win. The Roughriders fell to 5-2 and 3-1. "Those guys are meshing together, they're blocking their tails off for the team," Monroeville head coach Tylor Nester said of his offensive line and backfield. "It's about team unity and fight for every single yard, whether it's up front or in that backfield, or even on the edge, too." Monroeville came out the gate and put together a strong drive to open the game. Landen Roeder had a big run to the Western 1-yard line, which led to quarterback Evan Benfer's short score. Landon Stein's first of six extra points made it 7-0 for the Eagles. Monroeville then forced a three-and-out on defense and moved the ball quickly on its next drive. Benfer scrambled to his left, and eventually found Derek Ackerman open in the end zone for a 25-yard TD and a 14-0 lead at the 3:45 mark of the first quarter. On the next drive for the Roughriders, QB Hayden Kieth was intercepted by the Eagles, who then put Roeder to work. He ripped off two strong runs before he broke into the end zone for the 3-yard TD and a 20-0 lead with 9:37 left in the first half. The Eagles converted a fourth-and-2 from their own 26 late in the half, then converted for a big first down play into Western territory. Soon after, Benfer got loose for a 28-yard TD and a 27-0 lead just before halftime. Nester had confidence in his team for the fourth down conversion deep on his team's side of the field. "We were discussing it as a staff, talking to the kids, and said 'let's do it,'" he said. "The kids were excited about it." In the second half, Benfer added a 16-yard TD run that extended the lead to 34-0. Western started to put together a strong drive, but Eagles' linebacker Landin Hershiser intercepted Keith. That set up a 12-yard TD run by Connor Bores to make it 41-0 with 8:52 left in the game. The exclamation point came when Bores' older brother, AJ, intercepted a pass and returned it 20 yards for a TD with 6:13 left in the game to close out the scoring. After the game, Nester said he was proud of his team and what they had accomplished. The Eagles have outscored their last three opponents by a 160-0 margin, and have outscored four FC teams by a 191-16 margin. Monroeville is in firm position to also potentially host two playoff games back at Marsh Field after picking up sizable computer points with Friday's win. "Each week we're getting better and better during practice, and it keeps turning over into the game on Friday night," Nester said. Monroeville is at Mapleton (3-4, 2-2) next Friday while Western hosts South Central (1-6, 1-3). Western Reserve 0 0 0 0 — 0Monroeville 14 13 7 14 — 48 MON — Evan Benfer 1 run (Stein kick) MON — Derek Ackerman 18 pass from Evan Benfer (Stein kick) MON — Landen Roeder 3 run (kick failed) MON — Evan Benfer 28 run (Stein kick) MON — Evan Benfer 16 run (Stein kick) MON — Connor Bores 12 run (Stein kick) MON — Intercepted pass touchdown by AJ Bores (Stein kick)