WOODSFIELD? - Someone forgot to tell winless Caldwell that it was supposed to lose.
Monroe Central came into Friday's home opener against the Redskins coming off a huge victory against rival River.
The Seminoles don't lose at home. And they certainly don't get beat buy one-dimensional offenses. Coach Jay Circosta's teams generally feast on running-only teams.
Article Photos
MIKE HUGHES Special to The Times
Caldwell’s Caleb Van Meter (32) looks for a hole to run through during prep football action against Monroe Central Friday night.
So Circosta was none to thrilled with his team's performance in a hard-fought 15-8 win that was far more difficult than many expected it to be.
Caldwell's offensive philosophy was simple. Line up with a full-house backfield, direct snap to either Andrew Minosky or Caleb VanMeter and run.
Seldom did the play call go outside the tackles. The Redskins attempted only three passes, completing one.
Fact Box
Monroe Central 15, Caldwell 8
Caldwell (0-4) 0 0 8 0 - 8
Monroe Central (3-1) 0 7 8 0 - 15
MC: Korey Lafferty 6 run (Guiler kick), 2nd
Cald: Caleb Van Meier 33 run (Van Meier run), 3rd
MC: Cameron Jorris 73 pass from Lafferty (Lafferty run), 3rd
Team stats
Caldwell: First downs: 7. Rushes-yards: 46-136. Passing yards: 3. Total yards: 139. Passing: 1-2-0. Punts-avg: 6-17.1. Fumbles-lost: 0-0. Penalties-yards: 6-35
.Monroe Central: First downs: 6. Rushes-yards: 29-144. Passing yards: 73. Total yards: 217. Passing: 1-7-1. Punts-avg. 2-24.5. Fumbles-lost: 0-0 . Penalties-yards: 4-40
Individual leaders
Caldwell: Rushing: Caleb Van Meier 17-73, Andrew Mirosky 25-57; Passing: Mirosky 1-2-0, 3 yards; Receiving: Justin Hardesty 1-3.
Monroe Central: Rushing: Korey Laffery 13-68; Passing:Lafferty 1-5, 73 yards; Receiving:Cameron Jorris 1-73
They simply lined up behind a sizable offensive line, ran down hill and dared Monroe to stop them.
The Noles only failed once to do so when VanMeter ripped off a 32-yard touchdown run with 6:11 to go in the third quarter. VanMeter tacked on the 2-point conversion run and just like that, the winless team with no chance had all the momentum and an 8-7 lead.
Monroe needed desperately to answer before things got out of hand. The Caldwell players and their fans were riding high at that point.
On the next play, Cameron Jorris answered the call.
Korey Lafferre dropped back and fired a perfect bullet to Jorris, hitting the senior in stride. Jorris outraced the defense 73 yards for a touchdown. Lafferre tacked on the 2-point run and just like that, Monroe was back on top.
Caldwell had another opportunity to get back on top.
Tyler Willey picked off a Lafferre pass and set his teammates up at the Monroe 19-yard line. Three plays later and the Skins had 1st-and-goal from the 9.
VanMeter was stufed on three straight plays, twice in the backfield on huge stops from Jake Schuerman. On 4th-and-goal, a Caldwell pass was deflected and the scoring threat was averted.
That was Levi Brown, who picked up the bulk of his 71 yards on the 'Noles final drive that stretched across midfield before being forced to punt.
Caldwell got the ball back with less than 3 minutes but the 'Skins 2-minute offense was unable to generate any yardage.
Lafferre finished with 72 yards rushing, including a 6-yard touchdown in the second quarter.
Minosky had 63 yards for Cadlwell; Van Meter 85 on 19 carries.
Madonna 49, Fort Frye 6
WEIRTON, W.Va. - Fort Frye had a modest two-game winning streak snapped when it dropped a 49-6 decision to host Weirton Madonna at Jimmy Carey Stadium Friday night.
Blue Dons quarterback Ross Comis led the way for the winners with 127 yards rushing on 12 carries and three touchdown runs of 9, 43 and 1 yard. He also had a 43-yard TD strike.
Doug Taylor-coached Madonna improved its record to 2-1. The Blue Dons' only setback was to Wheeling Central.
Fort Frye's lone score came on Chandler Lang's 6-yard touchdown pass to Terren Huck in the second quarter.
At the break, the Cadets (2-2) trailed 28-6.
Fort Frye is scheduled to entertain Monroe Central in a key Pioneer Valley Conference matchup in Beverly Friday.
Shadyside 49, Shenandoah 13
Shenandoah is still winless after a 49-13 loss to Shadyside Friday.
The Zeps actually out gained their opponents in yardage with 240-201, but four turnovers plagued Kaleb Lawrence's team.
Shadyside started off quickly with an 84 yard kickoff return touchdown to open the scoring. After a Zep turnover, Shadyside got its second touchdown via an 11 yard touchdown pass from Chase Kinemond to Cody Hudson. Shadyside would score the next 28 points to make the score 42-0 before Shenandoah finally answered. Eli Hurst hit pay dirt from 31 yards out to put the Zeps on the board. Both teams would trade touchdowns to round out the scoring, Shadyside on an 8 yard run by Eric Howell, and Shenandoah on a 16 yard run by Hurst, to make it 49-13.
Hurst led all rushers with 90 yards on 14 carries, and also threw for 88 yards. Danny Neuhart led the Zeps' receivers with 61 yards on 4 receptions. The Zeps are now 0-4 on the year, and look to get into the win column at home against Barnesville next week.
Philo 35, Morgan 0
Morgan managed only 33 total yards of offense compared to Philo's 392 as the Electrics defeated the Raiders 35-0 at The Athletic Field in McConnelsville Friday. Zak Sheridan and Kaleb Wiseman went off for the Electrics, as Sheridan totaled 174 yards on 15 carries and two touchdowns, while Wiseman produced 168 yards on 11 carries and three scores.
Morgan was able to force three turnovers on fumble recoveries by Hayden Matheney, Dakota Westfall, and Kaleb Driggs, but could not move the ball against the stingy Philo defense.
Justin Head, who has been on a tear for Morgan as of late, was held to 30 yards on 16 carries, while quarterback Kyle Earich produced 20 yards on 6 totes.
Earich also led the Raider passing attack with 11 yards on 4 completions. Colton Drake was the leading receiver in the game with eight yards on one catch.
The Raiders are now 1-3 and will host New Lexington next week at home in another Muskingum Valley League contest.
