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Division III State Semifinals
Monroe to face Big Walnut
Hornets will have a challenge in Columbus area school when teams face off in state semis.
More: Hornets knock off Indian Hill | Photos | Video | Monroe team page
Monday, November 19, 2007
MONROE — Monroe High School football coach Jason Krause doesn't know how the Thanksgiving week school schedule will affect his team's preparation for the Division III state semifinals.
The Hornets are out of school all week.
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Monroe (11-2) will face Sunbury Big Walnut (12-1) at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Lima Senior Stadium. The winner advances to the state championship game Nov. 30 in Canton.
"I kind of like the atmosphere of being in school myself," said Krause, whose team is in the state semifinals for the second time in three years. "But it'll give us more time to work on preparation as far as watching and breaking down film.
"With a school day, you know you're kids are in a regimen. They're going to be early and getting up early. With a week off, you worry about them staying up too late, sleeping in and getting their bodies all out of whack. It's something we'll address when we bring them in (Sunday night)."
In Big Walnut, which is located about 25 miles north of Columbus, Monroe will face a team that is multi-dimensional on offense and big and fast on defense, Krause said.
"They do a lot of stuff on offense and have a very talented quarterback (Ethan Wetzel)," he said. "On defense, they've got some big kids up front and they run well."
Wetzel, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound defensive back, is one of three players to earn first-team, All-Central Ohio District honors for the Eagles, who surrender just over 10 points per game.
Fellow defensive back Joe Reed (6-4, 200) and linebacker Will Studlien (6-3, 225) also were first-teamers. Studlien was the defensive player of the year in the Central District.
Ticket info
Presale tickets for the game will be on sale at the concession stand next to the high school gym from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday and 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday and Friday.
Cost is $7 in advance and $9 at the gate.
Monroe receives a portion of presale ticket proceeds.
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2506 or jboyle@coxohio.com.
