T-L Photo/KIM NORTH MONROE CENTRAL linebacker Alex Kilburn (44) applies pressure to Union Local quarterback Kade Kiser during the second quarter of Friday night’s game at Monroe Park in Woodsfield. The Seminoles prevailed, 21-0.

WOODSFIELD — It’s been said that defense wins championships. While Monroe Central didn’t win a championship Friday night, the Seminoles did claim their season-opener for the first time since the 2015 campaign behind a stout defensive effort.

Second-year head coach Josh Ischy was all smiles after watching his team, which dressed just 19 players, pick off half-a-dozen Union Local passes en route to a dominating, 21-0, performance before a standing-room-only crowd at Monroe Park.

The Seminoles, who led 7-0, at the half completely grounded the Jets in the second half as Austin Hogue finished with half of the defensive picks. Dillon Lincoln had a pair and Michael Bunning added the other.

“The other Coach Isch had a great scheme. We put it in over the summer,” Josh Ischy said of his brother and athletic director, John. “I’ve talked with a few coaches from out-of-state that have had success with it with small numbers like we have. We thought we needed to do something to be different. We put it in and the kids are doing a great job of picking it up. I mean, as you can see tonight, we forced a well-coached team into a lot of mistakes. We must have been doing something right.

“On the other side of the ball, we have a lot to work on,” he continued. “We’ve got plenty to work on, but we’ll worry about that next week. Right now I’m just thrilled for the kids. We’ve worked so hard. We did some different types of conditioning and I think that paid off because we basically had the same 15 guys playing all the time.”

After a scoreless first quarter in which the teams combined for two interceptions and a pair of fumbles, Monroe Central broke the drought with a 3-minute, 32-second scoring drive.

Junior fullback Alex Kilburn capped the 7-play, 49-yard march, which began with a delay of game penalty, with a 3-yard burst over the left side of his offensive line. Garet Cramer booted the first of his three PATs.

The Seminoles converted a pair of third downs to keep the drive alive. Sophomore quarterback Malachi Rose-Burton found Talin Babcock for 14 yards on a third-and-12, while Kilburn rambled for 26 stripes on a third-and-10.

If things weren’t bad enough for Union Local, first-year quarterback Kade Kiser injured his left knee early in the second quarter and did not return for the second half. Classmate Dakota Hess stepped in but didn’t enjoy any success either with a pair of picks. Junior Hunter McCort threw an interception on his only attempt.

“It was a poor showing for our offense tonight,” second-year Union Local head coach Bernie Thompson assessed. “Honestly, it was a poor showing all the way around. I take complete and total blame for this. It starts with me first. Credit to them (Monroe Central). I think Coach (Josh) Ischy did a great job. He had his guys prepared. We were outplayed and we were outcoached.”

Thompson said it was too early to speculate about Kiser’s status.

“We didn’t capitalize. We didn’t take advantage of our opportunities,” Thompson noted. “We have no one to blame but ourselves. We’re going to go back to the drawing board. It’s only week 1. All we can do is go up from here.”

Backed up in the shadows on its own goal post, Union Local was forced to punt after a bad snap on second down resulted in a loss of 16 yards. However, the punt was shanked and Monroe Central’s Michael Bunning was in the right place at the right time. The 5-7, 130-pound sophomore alertly fielded the ball in the air and weaved his way into the end zone for a 15-yard return. Cramer’s placement made it 14-0 with 9:17 left to play.

Bunning then picked off a pass on the first play of the Jets ensuing possession and Rose-Burton sneaked in from the 1 three plays later.

Kilburn finished with 124 yards on two dozen carries. Rose-Burton completed 6 of 9 passes but only for 23 yards.

Freshman Jakson Price ran for 69 yards on nine trips for Union Local. The Jets were a dismal 4-of-22 for 58 yards through the air.

Monroe Central travels to Martins Ferry’s Dave Bruney Football Complex a week from tonight to meet Bridgeport. Union Local, meanwhile, remains on the road as it treks to Yorkville to face Buckeye Local at World War II Memorial Stadium.

GAME NOTES

∫ The Seminoles defeated the Jets 21-16 in the 2015 season-opener.

∫ Former Woodsfield Redskin three-sport standout Joe Schumacher was recognized at halftime. He will be inducted into the Salem University Athletic Hall of Fame on October 4 He now resides in Bridgeport, W.Va.

.