Monroe City’s Pennewell named Class 1’s Defensive Player of the Year by MOFBCA

MONROE CITY, Mo. — Ceaton Pennewell was named the Class 1 Defensive Player of the Year by the Missouri Football Coaches Association and led a collection of area players receiving all-state honors at the small-school level.

The Monroe City junior linebacker was a first-team all-state selection and one of five Panthers to receive plaudits. Overall, 10 area players were named all-staters in Class 1 and 2 as the MOFBCA honors three teams in each class.

The 6-foot-1, 210-pound Pennewell racked up 123 total tackles with 14.5 tackles for loss, one sack, four forced fumbles, three interceptions, four passes broken up and a safety. He also rushed for 1,023 yards and 16 touchdowns at fullback as the Panthers reached the Class 1 state semifinals.

Joining him on the first team were senior running back Joshua Talton, sophomore wide receiver Waylon DeGrave and senior tight end Deion White.

Talton rushed for 1,500 yards with 16 touchdowns while averaging 10.7 yards per carry. DeGrave caught 34 passes for 1,023 yards with 11 touchdowns. White hauled in 15 catches for 300 yards with seven touchdowns and helped block for a team that averaged 444.8 yards per game.

Monroe City quarterback Kyle Hays was a second-team selection as an athlete after he threw for 1,955 yards with 29 touchdowns against just five interceptions and completed 57 percent of his passes. He also rushed for four touchdowns.

Also earning recognition in Class 1 were Highland’s Cameron Bringer and Robert Goehl and Mark Twain’s Coleman Epperson.

Bringer, a junior defensive back, was a second-team selection as he piled up 73 tackles, five interceptions and one forced fumble. Goehl, a senior running back, was a third-team pick as he rushed for 1,280 yards and 18 touchdowns while averaging 6.4 yards per carry. Epperson, a senior defensive lineman, picked up third-team honors as he finished with 51 tackles, six sacks, two fumble recoveries and a blocked punt.

In Class 2, Palmyra had two players honored. Senior defensive back Landyn Smith was a second-team selection, while senior offensive lineman Luke Triplett was a third-team pick.