Monroe City, Mark Twain post shutouts on their way to district title showdown

Two former Clarence Cannon Conference foes will face each other next week for the Class 1A District 2 title.

The Monroe City Panthers, who won the CCC this season will host the Mark Twain Tigers, who finished second in their eighth season in the Eastern Missouri Conference, at Lankford Field at 7 pm on Friday, November 12.

Mark Twain’s last season in the CCC was 2013.

Monroe City (10-1) made short work of Brentwood of St. Louis 46-0, while Mark Twain (10-1) defeated St. Puis X of Festus 20-0.

The Panthers jumped out to a 30-0 halftime lead as Joshua Talton and Cade Chapman each scored two first half touchdowns.

The Tigers defense stuffed St. Pius X all night. Mark Twain took a 12-0 lead into halftime on a Dawson Talbott touchdown run and a Conner Eckler “Philly Special” touchdown pass to quarterback Payton Hawkins.

Hawkins did throw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Lakoda Preston for Mark Twain’s final score of the game as the Tiger defense held the Lancers out of the end zone.

Monroe City Coach David Kirby, during an interview on Moberly’s KRES-FM Endzone postgame program, said the Panthers will have a tough test next week.

“Mark Twain is a phenomenal football team and we’re gonna have our hands full,” Kirby said. “No doubt it’s gonna be a blast. Coach Leake has done a great job with that group. They’re very well coached, they’re very disciplined and they play a very aggressive style of football. And those kids have had a great season and they’re going to be extremely excited to get the opportunity to play in a district title game just like our kids and we know that it’s going to be a very physical football game.”