MiddletownJournal.com

DAYTON — Defense set the tone Friday night as the Monroe Hornets (10-2) cruised to a 47-21 victory over Canal Winchester (10-2) in a Division III regional semifinal at Dayton Welcome Stadium.

The Hornets did not allow the Indians to make a first down in their first five drives of the game. When the Indians finally did pick up a first down midway through the second quarter, the Hornets had a 34-0 lead.

"Our defense has really picked up the pace the last few weeks. I think that has been the difference for us the last five weeks, giving us the ball back in good field position and giving our offense a chance to make things happen," Monroe coach Jason Krause said.

After turning the ball over on downs on the game's

opening drive, the Hornets started in Canal Winchester territory on the next four drives and found the end zone every time. A fumble recovery by junior Stuart Kehl set Monroe up at the Canal Winchester 29-yard line and the Hornets scored on the next play to go up 14-0 with 6:18 remaining in the first quarter. Later in the first quarter, a Jason Osterman interception gave Monroe the ball at the Indians 32-yard line. Four plays later, the Hornets had a 27-0 lead four seconds into the second quarter. Monroe had seven takeaways on the game and turned those into 26 points.

"Turnovers are a key in any level of football play. They've hurt us this year, and they've helped us this year," Krause said. "They had a few (turnovers) last week against Valley View and we we're hoping they'd lay it on the turf tonight."

The defense was able to snuff out the only momentum the Indians managed to build in the game.

After getting on the board with an 11 play, 70-yard drive with 4:41 remaining in the first half, Canal Winchester recovered an onside kick at the Monroe 45-yard line. Two plays later, a Ben Leahy interception halted the Indian rally. Leahy recorded two interceptions on the night.

"Our offense just kept pounding it and pounding it, and our defense just kept holding them," Leahy said. "We just played a great game all around."

The Indians committed

10 turnovers in two postseason games.

"When you turn the ball over that many times, you're going to make the defense look good," Canal Winchester coach Phil Mauro said. "We had some shots where maybe we could have gotten in, but they're a good solid defense."

Contact this reporter at dgedney@coxohio.com