Monroe City proves it belongs at top of Class 1 and CCC heaps after thwarting South Shelby

MONROE CITY, Mo. — The top-ranked team in Missouri Class 1 reminded a team clawing its way toward statewide recognition why it sits at the top of the heap.

Monroe City is intent on staying there, too.

The Panthers scored on five of their six first-half possessions Friday night — the sixth ended with time running out in the second quarter — and ran past South Shelby 46-8 in a battle of Clarence Cannon Conference unbeatens at Lankford Field.

Monroe City (4-0, 2-0 CCC) has scored 46 points in each of its last three games, averages 46.5 points per game and enjoys a 37-point average margin of victory.

This time, the defense put the game away early. The Cardinals (3-1, 1-1 CCC) fumbled the ball away on each of their first two possessions — Waylon DeGrave forcing the first and Landon Holland recovering the second. Both led directly to touchdowns.

Six plays after the first fumble, Ceaton Pennewell scored on a 3-yard run and added the two-point conversion. Two plays after the second fumble, Cam Jones scored on a 2-yard run and made it 16-0 with the two-point conversion.

South Shelby gained a little traction on its third drive, getting a 17-yard scoring pass from Trey Countryman to Wiseman, but the Cardinals simply couldn’t stop the Panthers. Pennewell scored on a 3-yard run before Jones scored on a 6-yard run. Landon Holland’s 3-yard touchdown run with a minute remaining in the first half made it a 38-8 advantage.

Jones finished with 11 carries for 124 yards, while Pennewell had 16 carries for 94 yards.

The Panthers outgained the Cardinals 393-157 in total yards, while Countryman was limited to 8-of-18 passing for 122 yards with one interception.