The last three meetings between Centralia and Monroe City have been close.
Class 2 No. 4 Centralia beat its Clarence Cannon Conference rival by three points two years ago, lost by two points …
This item is available in full to subscribers.
We have recently launched a new and improved website. To continue reading, you will need to either log into your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription.
If you are a digital subscriber with an active subscription, or you are a print subscriber who had access to our previous website, then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you have not yet logged in to your account on this new site.
If you are a current print subscriber and did not have a user account on our previous website, you can set up a free website account by clicking here.
Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.
Please log in to continue |
The last three meetings between Centralia and Monroe City have been close.
Class 2 No. 4 Centralia beat its Clarence Cannon Conference rival by three points two years ago, lost by two points last year and fell by four 38-34 on Friday at Class 2 No. 10 Monroe City (3-1, 2-0 CCC).
Despite Centralia (3-1, 1-1 CCC) rushing for 286 yards, Monroe City had a good night on the ground with 266 yards, coming close to the 18 yards of difference in last year’s meeting. Head coach Tyler Forsee said certain plays decided Friday’s outcome, namely failing three two-point conversions and “crunch-time moments.”
“We gave up a touchdown right before half,” Forsee said. “There were five seconds left in the half. We gave up a touchdown on a scramble play. He threw it in the midst of people and the kid made a heck of a catch.”
A two-point conversion made it 22-20 Monroe City at halftime after Wyatt DeGrave’s touchdown to Da’Viere Holland. Forsee said Centralia should’ve prevented those points from going on the scoreboard, and then the team couldn’t maintain a 34-22 lead after Rex Bryson ran for touchdowns of 33 yards and 49 yards.
Forsee was impressed by how Monroe City’s quarterback DeGrave played, including when he hit Quincy Mayfield for a 51-yard touchdown to make it 34-30 Centralia. The Panthers couldn’t extend a drive, and Monroe City scored the winning touchdown with 39 seconds left in the game.
“We just have to be able to take a deep breath and execute,” Forsee said. “We've got to get better push up front with our offensive line, we’ve got to see where the defense is and make the correct calls, and as a ball carrier, you’ve got to have that will to not let one guy bring you down.”
Bryson finished with 104 yards on seven carries, Peyson Bryson had 56 yards and one touchdown on 11 carries and Chase Kempker had a 64-yard touchdown run as part of his 76 yards on three carries.
On defense, Louis Suddarth led with 10 tackles, and Tilmon Sontheimer followed with seven tackles.
Centralia hosts conference foe Macon (2-2, 1-0 CCC) at 7 p.m. Friday.
