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Centralia hosts battle of the Panthers

Posted on Saturday, September 24, 2022 at 12:12 am

Centralia loses 28-7

The southwest win did not bring a win for Centralia Friday night at Centralia High School’s Miller field.

Though Centralia made them earn every point, visiting Monroe City left Centralia Friday night with a 28-7 on the books, leaving the Clarence Cannon Conference with one less undefeated team.

Monroe City scored early and with almost clock-like regularity, grinding down the field incrementally, capping three of their four touchdown drives with one-yard Ceaton Pennewell dives through Centralia’s defensive line.

Listen to Monroe City Head Coach David Kirby below. Editor’s note, apologies for the distorted recording

On his fourth, he went long with a nine-yard run.

Centralia’s Kyden Wilkerson ran 67 yard for Centralia’s lone touchdown at7:05 in the second quarter, capped off with the game’s lone extra point kick by Nathan Timpe.

As is becoming his habit, Timpe’s kick was good.

Monroe City scored at 6:25 in the first, 7:17 in the second, 1:41 in the second and 3:31 in the third. They were successful in their first and fourth two-point conversion attempts.

They led Centralia 7-0 at the end of the first quarter; 12-7 at halftime and 28-7 going into the fourth.

Centralia’s defense held Monroe City to 295 yards while its offense took 210 yards from Monroe City.

Listen to Centralia Head Coach Tyler Forsee, below, on the Monroe City Game

Brayden Shelton led Centralia’s defense with 8 tackles, six of them solo. Kyden Wilkerson and Jesse Caballero backed him up with 7.5 each. Wilkerson had five solos, Caballero, four. Beau Hatton had seven tackles, four solo.

Wilkerson led Centralia’s offense in rushing with 136 yards in 12 attempts, Cullen Bennett at quarterback rushed for 31 in six attempts and Breylen Whisler rushed for 15 in eight.

Pennewell rushed for 121 yards in 29 attempts.

Regardomg passing, Bennett passed for 28 yards in 1 attempts, Monroe City’s Reece Buhling for zero in three attempts – one of which was intercepted by Breylen Whisler.

Afterward, asking if anybody was injured: “you’re probably going to be sore,” Forsee told the team in the post-game huddle. “Embrace it, enjoy it. What did we get tonight, a battle, and a great learning opportunity – absolutely. Us coaches, we will go back and see what we’ve got to work on, what we’ve got to do to put us in a better situation… I appreciate tonight’s work, I am proud.”

Monroe City Head Coach David Kirby said he knew going in Centralia had some players they would have to keep their eyes on.

“Number 33, Wilkerson, that kid is dyyyynamic,” Kirby said. “Then you throw in Cullen Bennett, he’s a darn good quarterback. He does a lot of really good things. Both of them are playmakers.”

Forsee reiterated he was proud of how Centralia played.

“Our kids did not quit. They never stopped fighting,” he said.

For more, see next week’s edition of the Centralia Fireside Guard.

Kyden Wilkerson running for a first down

Kyden Wilkerson running for a first down

Ethan Adams makes a tackle

Ethan Adams makes a tackle

Evan Brumback awaits the refs' decision

Evan Brumback awaits the refs’ decision

Carter Pierce chases a pass

Carter Pierce chases a pass

Beau Hatton makes a tackle

Beau Hatton makes a tackle

Beau Hatton and Cayden Dunn  prepare to make a Monroe City sandwich

Beau Hatton and Cayden Dunn prepare to make a Monroe City sandwich

Jesse Shannon, Evan Brumbackand Brayden Shelton make a tackle

Jesse Shannon, Evan Brumback and Brayden Shelton make a tackle