Eagles want to build on success

MONROEVILLE — A new standard. For the past two years, the Monroeville football team has made dramatic improvements. After an 0-10 season in 2022, the Eagles were 7-4 in 2023, then catapulted to 10-2 a year ago with a share of the Firelands Conference title and a home playoff win. But now, after a season that saw the Eagles ranked in the state poll with a defense that wasn't scored on for five straight games, head coach Tylor Nester is anxious to see what's next. Monroeville graduated a talented senior class that saw five players move on to the collegiate level. However, the cupboard will be far from bare when the Eagles take the field at the renovated Marsh Field on Aug. 22. "These last three years have been all about building," Nester said. "The kids and the community have done a great job, and we've asked our guys every day throughout the summer and in camp, 'What is our standard?' "We're asking what our expectations for ourselves are and what our goals are," he added. "And how do we achieve, maintain, and even push past those goals?" Offense The offense starts at right guard on the offensive line for the Eagles. Senior Brycen Dunlap (6-foot-2, 275 pounds) is an All-Ohio wrestler and was first team all-state on the Division VII football team last season. "Brycen is our anchor in a lot of different ways," Nester said. Back at right tackle is junior Alec Schafer (6-1, 225), while senior Hayden Ryan (6-0, 210) is entering his third year as the starting center. At left guard, junior Isaac Krueger (5-11, 175) moved over a few spots from tight end. Junior Vinny Schafer (6-0, 255) returns to the left tackle position. "Alec filled in when Jaxson Hedrick got hurt last year and did a tremendous job," Nester said. "Hayden is steady for us, and Isaac is someone we're excited to see after a big offseason, and Vinny brings back strong experience from last year." Nester described the receiver position as a committee approach, but the group is led by another third-year starter in senior Derek Ackerman (6-3, 170). He caught 16 passes for 225 yards and four touchdowns last season. Opposite of him will be senior Ethan Pomerich (6-1, 155) and classmate Blake Ackerman (6-2, 165). When Monroeville goes to a slot or trips look, Nester said sophomore Reid Wasserman (5-9, 165) and senior Chase Horn (6-2, 165) will be splitting time. Junior Colt Clark (5-11, 178) has the biggest shoes to fill at quarterback, where he steps in for Evan Benfer — who was both the Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year in the FC in 2024. When Benfer was injured late in the first half of a season-ending second-round loss to Warren JFK, Clark took over and finished 7 for 17 passing for 97 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Before that, Clark ran 59 times for 338 yards and 7 TDs and caught 24 passes for 278 yards and 3 TDs out of the backfield. "Colt kind of got thrown to the fire there against JFK," Nester said. "He's put in a ton of work this offseason with his throwing mechanics and his reads. He's doing a great job leading the huddle for us." After sharing carries with Benfer, Landen Roeder, and Clark, senior Connor Bores (5-10, 155) is back. He tallied 446 yards and 5 TDs on just 56 attempts (7.9-yard average). Junior Cooper Cleary (6-1, 195) will also be in the backfield. Based on scrimmages with Mohawk, Fredericktown, and Lakota, Nester has been pleased with the offense. "There are certainly things to work on, but each week is a stepping stone," he said. "The successes aren't as great as they seem, and the failures aren't as bad as they seem. "We just have to continue to improve each week, whether that's in scrimmages or during the season." Defense Dunlap again figures to be a top lineman on the defensive side after 41 tackles and a forced fumble last season. Senior Maverick Myers (6-3, 190) is back after 38 tackles and a forced fumble, while both Schafer and Ryan (13 tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles) also return. "We have really nice competition across the board and love what we are seeing in practice," Nester said of the defensive line. At middle linebacker, senior Thomas Platte (5-8, 175) is there and made 18 tackles last season. Cleary (53 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT) is also back, while sophomore Tristan Wise (5-8, 185) is also expected to see time. Clark (97 tackles, one interception, one forced fumble) returns to the linebacker spot. Myers may also see time at outside linebacker, where senior Colton Koch (6-1, 185) will fill into a role along with Krueger (22 tackles), who took over when Roeder missed time time last season. Ackerman (34 tackles, six interceptions) and Pomerich (42 tackles, five interceptions) return to the two corner positions in the secondary. "Derek is another steady presence for us back there and Ethan stepped up big time in that spot last year," Nester said. Blake Ackerman is also expected to play at defensive back, with Wasserman and Horn again competing and sharing time at safety. In 2024, Monroeville allowed just 13 TDs in 12 games, and 10 of those scores were on plays under 12 yards in distance. Seven of the 13 were under five yards. "We were pleased with how we rallied to the football in our scrimmages," Nester said. "We got all 11 to the ball carrier, or if a pass was completed. We're excited where we are, but we need to work on our communication and adjust to the fronts we see, and things like that." Special teams Another key loss to graduation was All-Ohio kicker Landon Stein, who had 58 extra points and five field goals last season. Nester said a three-way battle for kicker is being overseen by assistant coach Jason Kamann. Cleary punted eight times for 191 yards last season, and Clark could possibly punt on occasion. "The senior class from last year continued to raise the standard and expectations," Nester said. "And this year is no different for our seniors. They broke the weight room record, and we're excited about the work they've put in to keep this going." 2025 schedule Aug. 22: McComb, 7 p.m. Aug. 29: Tiffin Calvert, 7 p.m. Sept. 5: at Seneca East, 7 p.m. Sept. 12: at South Central, 7 p.m. Sept. 19: New London, 7 p.m. Sept. 26: at Western Reserve, 7 p.m. Oct. 3: Ashland Mapleton, 7 p.m. Oct. 10: Plymouth, 7 p.m. Oct. 17: at Ashland Crestview, 7 p.m. Oct. 24: at St. Paul, 7 p.m. 2024 results (10-2) Monroeville 45, Lakota 13 Monroeville 23, Tiffin Calvert 9 Monroeville 36, Seneca East 13 Monroeville 31, Ashland Crestview 16 Monroeville 41, South Central 0 Monroeville 71, New London 0 Monroeville 48, Western Reserve 0 Monroeville 49, Ashland Mapleton 0 Monroeville 59, Plymouth 0 St. Paul 29, Monroeville 28 Playoffs Monroeville 47, Independence 7 Warren John F. Kennedy 28, Monroeville 19 2025 roster No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr. 0 Colton Clark QB/SS 5-11 178 11 2 Gabe Blake WR/CB 6-4 150 10 3 Landon Johnson TE/OLB 5-11 184 10 4 Tristan Wise SB/MLB 5-8 185 10 5 Reid Wassermen WR/FS 5-9 165 10 6 Chase Horn WR/FS 6-2 165 12 7 Colton Koch SB/OLB 6-1 185 12 10 Teddy Ballard QB/FS 5-11 160 9 11 Mike Scheid WR/OLB 5-6 130 9 14 Ethan Pomerich WR/CB 6-1 155 12 15 Ethan Smiley RB/SS 5-8 160 10 18 Derek Ackerman WR/CB 6-3 170 12 19 John Welter RB/LS 5-10 145 9 20 Jonny Weilnau RB/OLB 5-1 105 9 22 Carter Roeder RB/CB 5-7 135 9 23 Connor Bores RB/CB 5-10 155 12 24 Blake Ackerman WR/CB 6-2 165 12 32 Jared Fries FB/MLB 5-9 200 9 35 Maverick Myers TE/OLB 6-3 190 12 38 Isaac Krueger G/OLB 5-11 175 11 41 Cooper Cleary RB/MLB 6-1 195 11 44 Jackson Platte T/DE 5-6 150 9 47 Thomas Platte FB/MLB 5-8 175 12 48 Gage Swartz WR/CB 5-4 107 11 50 Hayden Ryan C/DT 6-0 210 12 53 Cole Myers T/DE 6-3 250 9 54 Aiden Myers T/DE 6-4 210 10 55 Alec Schafer T/DE 6-1 225 11 58 Brycen Dunlap G/DE 6-2 275 12 60 Easton Clark C/NG 5-8 204 9 62 Leland Bores DT 5-8 205 9 64 Andrew Welfle C/DE 5-11 195 10 65 Caleb Dixon G/DE 6-0 217 11 66 Carter Schaub T/DT 6-0 257 11 67 Cooper Schibley G/DE 5-10 208 9 73 Henry Hales T/NG 5-9 231 9 76 Vincent Schafer T/DE 6-0 255 11 77 Calvin Schafer T/De 6-1 255 9 78 Drake Whitt T/DT 6-2 290 11 79 Kiptyn Kamann G/DE 5-11 212 10 80 Alex Dowell TE/OLB 6-0 168 10 81 Cayden Dixon WR/CB 5-5 138 9