MiddletownJournal.com

DAYTON — Just two years ago, Monroe football coach Jason Krause was explaining how his team had just been soundly thrashed by a team that was bigger, faster and stronger.

On Friday, it was the Hornets who did the thrashing.

Fifth-seeded Monroe dominated No. 2 Canal Winchester 47-21 in the Division III, Region 12 semifinals at Welcome Stadium.

"The Coldwater game (a 35-0 loss in the D-IV state semis) did come to mind. They gave it to us a couple years ago, and we mentioned that this week," Krause said. "So obviously this win felt pretty good. It felt real good to come in here and get another chance at a win at UD."

Running back Jared Ferguson carried the ball 18 times for 111 yards and three touchdowns.

Tyler Osterman passed for 171 yards and three touchdowns —two to Taylor Simpson and one to Braden McMonigle — on 12-of-16 attempts. Osterman also rushed for a score.

The Hornets had scored 34 points before Canal Winchester recorded a first down, and that came with 7:15 left in the second quarter.

Turnovers and Monroe's defensive pressure gave the Indians fits early and often. After Monroe's Tyler Osterman lobbed a touchdown pass to McMonigle to open the scoring, Antonio Davis muffed a kickoff return and Monroe's Stuart Kehl fell on it at the Canal Winchester 29.

The Hornets' defense stuffed the Indians on their next possession, and Monroe took over at the Indians' 49.

This time, it took five plays, but the damage was the same. Ferguson cruised in from 6 yards out, Pat Black chipped in another extra point and the Hornets were up 21-0 and the rout was on.

Canal Winchester coach Phil Mauro said both Ferguson and Osterman impressed him, and he said the defense was just as good.

"Speed is the hardest thing to judge on film," Mauro said. "That's a very good defense, for sure. They played a whale of a ballgame.

"What'd we have, eight turnovers? That makes any defense look good, but they really did play a good solid game."

Defensive lineman Mike Miller said he'd sensed the defense had the upper hand moments after the Indians' first offensive series. "They weren't as fast as we were," Miller said. "After that second series, I knew we were going to have a good night. That's a good feeling to know early on."

Monroe's Ben Leahy had two interceptions for the Hornets, who forced seven Indian turnovers. He said good preparation by the Hornets coaching staff made the defense's job pretty easy.

"They told us what (Canal Winchester was) going to do in certain formations, and they were right," Leahy said. "Turnovers will kill you in any game, but especially in the beginning of the game."

The Hornets advance to play Indian Hill in the regional final next Friday at a location to be announced Sunday.