By John Boyle, Staff Writer Updated 2:20 AM Saturday, October 31, 2009
MONROE — The Monroe Hornets did their part.
Playing to win a share of a league title and to keep their Division III state playoff hopes alive, the Hornets hammered visiting Northridge 49-6 on windy Senior Night at Monroe Stadium.
Junior Devin King rushed for 274 yards, two touchdowns and set the single-season rushing mark for Monroe, which improved to 8-2 overall and finished 5-1 in the Southwestern Buckeye League Buckeye Division.
“That’s all we could do,” Monroe coach Ken Meibers said. “Our odds (of making the playoffs) are probably pretty good, but it’s up to the computers now.”
The official pairings won’t be announced until Sunday afternoon by the Ohio High School Athletic Association. The Hornets came into Week 10 sixth in Region 12, and the top eight teams in each region qualify.
“To come out here and win big, especially for the seniors, is a great feeling,” said King, who scored on runs of 2 and 54 yards. “Hopefully we can make it into the playoffs.”
King came into the game needing 62 yards to break Anthony Gregory’s single-season rushing record of 1,357 yards. Keyed by a 55-yard gallop, King did it on the Hornets’ opening series. King upped his season total to 1,570 yards. Gregory’s previous mark came in 12 games during the 1986 season.
Meibers presented the game ball to King, but also praised the members of the Hornets’ offensive line — Brett Timming, Logan Pence, Jacob Pence, Joe Farrish and Logan Stanger.
“It’s a group of guys that works really well together — Devin and the offensive line,” Meibers said. “They’ve got a really good relationship. The offensive line is a senior group and they look at Devin almost like a little brother.”
After a slow start, the Hornets erupted for 28 points in the second quarter.
Besides King’s 2-yard TD run, Stephen Kelley scampered 24 yards for a score, Zach Fugate recovered a fumble in the end zone and caught a 6-yard TD pass from John Rouston.
“It was an emotional night being Senior Night,” said Meibers, who hugged each one of his 18 seniors as they came off the field. “We built it up all week. Once we got settled down, we were fine.
“Our kids play really hard and that’s what we ask them. That kind of shows in our play sometimes. We’ve got kids who are really, really physical.”
King’s long TD run came in the third, and Calvin Hodits added two fourth-quarter TD runs for Monroe, which pounded out 409 yards rushing on 37 carries.
Northridge totaled just 159 yards. Seth Beatty lead the Hornet defense with six total tackles, including three sacks.
The Hornets are tri-champs in the league with Waynesville and Carlisle. It’s the fourth league title in five seasons for Monroe, which won the Mid-Miami League in 2005 and SWBL Buckeye titles in 2006 and 2007.
Northridge finishes 1-9, 1-5.
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