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Howell Leads Seminoles Over Pilots, Onto Regional Finals

By NICK HENTHORN 6 min read

HANNIBAL -- Friday's OHSAA Division VI, Region 23 semifinals was billed as an intra-county rivalry matchup between the River Pilots and visiting Monroe Central Seminoles, but from nearly start to finish on Martin Flannery Field, a more appropriate description for the game would've simply been 'The Cooper Howell Show.'

The star senior accounted for six total touchdowns and nearly 350 combined passing/rushing yards in a dominant 43-14 victory Friday for the Seminoles, a win that sends Monroe Central onto the Regional Finals.

"It feels great," Monroe Central head coach Jonathan Calder said of the win. "You know, we talked all week about what’s at stake-- going to a regional championship game. In that game, we get to play our biggest rival. So it was pretty special for these guys, and they stepped up to it. They played physical all night on both sides of the ball."

Howell started off the scoring Friday with a two-yard QB keeper on Monroe Central's first drive of the night, which lasted six plays-- four Howell rushes, and two completed passes from the senior.

After River went three-and-out, Howell put more points up on the board in the Seminoles' first play back on offense, a 37-yard dash that put the 'Noles ahead 13-0 with four minutes left.

The Pilots still struggled to get moving on offense, fumbling the ball in the backfield on fourth down at midfield at quarter's end. On the first play of the second quarter, Howell found Max Demchak wide open down a sideline for a 45-yard touchdown pass.

Howell started the game 5-5 passing, and threw his first incompletion with 27 seconds left in the half.

The Senior finished with 136 passing yards and two touchdowns, while rushing 20 times for 213 yards and four touchdowns.

"He’s a special kid," Calder said of Howell. "He’s a competitor. He’ll give you everything he has every down, every game. He’s been that way all four years. Just a great kid."

Howell started the second half with an 18-yard touchdown run less than five minutes into the third quarter, putting MC ahead 25-0.

River found their footing on offense, finally scoring with just under four minutes left in the quarter. After a 22-yard screen pass to Trey Larrick brought the Pilots inside the red zone, Larrick later finished off the drive with a one-yard dive.

Monroe Central answered right back, though, with Howell first ripping off a 52-yard run-- the longest play of the game for his team-- and then running in a 21-yard touchdown. The Seminoles led 31-6 going into the fourth quarter.

In the final quarter, Seminoles senior Corbin Farnsworth caught an 11-yard touchdown from Howell, and ran in a seven-yard touchdown on a double reverse trick play.

River's Wyatt Stalder also broke out on a receiver screen, taking the pass 66-yards to the house.

"Honestly, besides the big play we gave up right there, I thought the defense played phenomenal," Calder said. "River’s a good team. They’re going to get some yards, they’re going to get their plays. But I thought besides that one big play, we played pretty sound defensive football all game."

Jett Kaiser was Howell's most frequent target Friday, the Seminoles running back catching six passes for 56 yards as well as running for 43 more.

"We knew getting the ball outside and some little bubble passes and some short passes would probably work for us," Calder said. "So that was kind of our gameplan going in."

A sluggish start offensively for the Pilots put them behind the eight-ball early. River also fumbled four times, losing one, and were penalized eight times for 110 yards.

"[Monroe Central] did well," River head coach Mike Flannery said. "They were well coached. They have talent. They beat us. They just flat out beat us. And, you know, that’s on me. I take full responsibility. They got good players. We got good players. They just happened to get out in front, and took us out of our run game when we were down by three touchdowns. They get us in an uncomfortable position.

"I said at the beginning, it’s going to come down to tackling, and we didn’t tackle well. You saw that. We had some turnovers-- and the explosive plays, every time [Howell] had the ball, it was some kind of explosive play. We couldn’t get our guys the ball in open space enough. And again, that’s on me.

River's Cam Abbott threw for 198 yards, including his 66-yard touchdown to Stalder, who finished with six catches for 115 yards. Larrick was his team's leading rusher with 46 yards on the ground.

"This has been a unique year because these 11 seniors that I have, I’ll tell you what, any coach in the Valley would love to have these 11 guys," Flannery said. "They proved it through their investment. They started last January. And that’s why, if you walk into this locker room and you listen to a lot of crying, well, they had a lot invested in it. And it hurts. They’re part of something special. We went 11-0. Unfortunately, we ran into a buzzsaw. I wish Monroe Central the best. I really think that Monroe has a shot at it."

Monroe Central, the No. 4 seed in the Region, will face No. 7 Garaway next week at a neutral site to be determined in the Regional Finals.

Monroe Central 43, River 14

River 0 0 6 8 - 14

Monr 13 6 12 12 - 43

MC-Howell 2 run (kick blocked)

MC-Howell 37 run (Kaiser kick)

MC-Demchak 45 pass from Howell (kick failed)

MC-Howell 18 run (kick blocked)

R-Larrick 1 run (run failed)

MC-Howell 21 run (run failed)

MC-Farnsworth 11 pass from Howell (kick failed)

R-Stalder 66 pass from Abbott (Abbott run)

MC-Farnsworth 7 run (kick failed)

RUSHING: Monroe Central 32-269-5tds (Howell 20-213-4tds; Kaiser 8-43; Lucas 2-8; Farnsworth 1-7-td; Eing 1-(-2)). River 28-76-td (Larrick 12-46-td; Abbott 9-(-12); Stalder 6-42; McBride 1-0).

PASSING: Monroe Central 11-13-136-2td (all by Howell). River 15-27-198-td (all by Abbott)

RECEIVING: Monroe Central 11-136-2tds (Kaiser 6-56; Demchak 2-61-td; Farnsworth 2-15-td; Frye 1-14). River 15-198-td (Stalder 6-115-td; Isaly 4-25; McBride 2-34; Larrick 2-26; Weese 1-(-2)).

FIRST DOWNS: Monroe Central 21; River 13

PENALTIES: Monroe Central 6-55; River 8-110

FUMBLES: Monroe Central 0-0; River 3-1

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