Tigers, Seminoles Both Eager To End Regular Season On A High Note
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SHADYSIDE -- Every coach wants their team to get better throughout the football season, playing their best ball in the biggest games.
Both Shadyside (8-1) and Monroe Central (6-3) believe that to be the case with their teams. Friday at Fleming Field, though, only one team will have a win to show for their improvement as the Tigers and Seminoles lock horns in the latest installment of a series that, when combining Shadyside's history with Monroe Central and old Woodsfield High School, will see the 59th meeting between the two squads.
"We have continued to get better as the season’s gone on," Shadyside head coach Mike Kernik said. "We were able to get off to a great start with the first win of the season against East Palestine, and that helped create a ton of momentum for us and got a bunch of confidence for the boys. Since that game, the confidence has grown, the momentum has grown, and I feel like every week we have improved as a football team."
"I think each game we’ve been getting better," Monroe Central head coach Jonathan Calder said. "We had a tough opponent last week in Cameron. It was kind of a scrappy game, and it taught our kids they could go out there and win those kinds of games. We’ve had a tough schedule this year, but this kind of team that we’ve got, they can compete with all the teams on the schedule. I look forward to this one coming up with Shadyside. There’s a lot on the line for both teams."
Both teams are seated well inside the top 12 of their respective regions-- Monroe Central is in fifth in Division VI, Region 23, and Shadyside is in fourth in Division VII, Region 27-- but both teams would like to give themselves a shot at even higher seeding, and certainly do not want to tumble down the rankings in their season finale.
"That’s one of those things that you can use as motivation for your team," Kernik said of his team's playoff position. "About halfway through the year or so, we started talking to the kids. We
said, guys, listen, the more games you win, the more and more important each game becomes. Our kids and us as coaches, we set goals at the beginning of the season and we said, guys, the more success you have, the harder it is to stay focused and keep working and get where you want to get. Our kids have done a wonderful job of staying on-task and, and getting to where they set their sights at the beginning of the season. We just need to get to Friday and finish our regular season where we want to be, and then move on from that point."
"We kind of go with the cliche, one week at a time," Calder said. "But, these kids, they know. It’s not like it was when I played. We couldn’t see the [playoff] points. These kids all see the points. They know the implications of this game. So we talk about it a little bit, but it’s mainly-- Shadyside is our opponent and that’s what we got to focus on. That’s what we got to take care of."
After a 3-3 start to their season, the Seminoles have won their last three games, pitching shutouts against Shenandoah and Toronto before limiting Cameron to eight points in a 13-8 win last week.
Against the Dragons, Carter Frye and Owen Howard led the way with 16 and 15 tackles, respectively, as Monroe Central held their opponents to 159 total yards of offense.
"We have four shutouts this year, and I think the biggest reason that our defense is playing so well is just the hustle to the ball," Calder said. "At times we’ve got eight to 10 kids on tackles and you can’t even tell who’s getting the tackle on some of the plays because there’s so many guys flying to the ball. I think that’s the biggest difference this year, is just the hustle to the ball and the physicality of our players."
Quarterback Cooper Howell tossed a touchdown to Jett Kaiser and ran in another score while finishing with 93 yards rushing and 108 yards passing.
"Us and Monroe Central, we’ve been playing each other for a very long time, and with them it’s nothing new," Kernik began. "They’ve always been very physical, they have a bunch of big, strong kids, and they’re very well-coached.
"When we’re preparing for the week to get ready to play them, we’re pushing that we have to be aggressive, we have to be physical, we have to match their physicality because you know that Monroe is going to be physical. They’re going to come out and play tough, they’re going to hit you hard, and they’re a very well-coached and disciplined football team, and that’s what we’re going to have to match."
Shadyside has lit up scoreboards across the valley this year, averaging 40 points per game as a team. Just twice this season have the Tigers scored few than 33 points. Monroe Central is no slouch themselves on offense, averaging just under 25 points per, but when it comes to scouting the Tigers, Calder needs his team prepared on the point-preventing side of the ball.
"I’ve always respected Shadyside, I think they’re a lot like our program, honestly," Calder said. "Got great community support. They’re putting up a lot of points. I think they’re averaging right around 40 points per game. They’re definitely a strong opponent. People kind of forget Shadyside was a powerhouse in the Valley just six years ago. They definitely have a good program down there and it seems like they’re on the way back.
"Shadyside can score, they can throw the ball, they can run the ball. So we got to be prepared. We’re prepared for anything."
Quarterback Jayden Johnson has put up gaudy duel-threat numbers for the Tigers this year. The senior ran for 62 yards in last week's 45-8 victory over Bridgeport, and has 25 total touchdowns on the season. Over the last two weeks though, it has been tailback Colt Cook who has shined. Cook ran for 167 yards and three touchdowns last week, and 212 yards with two touchdowns the week before vs. Caldwell.
Historically, when combining Monroe Central and Woodsfield, Shadyside leads the all-time series 31-27, but Monroe Central has won the last three meetings. The series started in 1921.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Friday at Fleming Field.