Mayfield, Panthers prime themselves for district title showdown by walloping Indians

MONROE CITY, Mo. — Quincy Mayfield chose his words carefully.

When asked how badly he wanted to avenge the Monroe City football team’s 44-22 loss to South Shelby in Week 3, the Panthers junior running back and linebacker paused for about five seconds to gather his thoughts.

What he said — or did not say — made his answer quite clear.

“I’d probably get in trouble for saying what I want to say, but I just know I want to get them bad,” Mayfield said.

Mayfield and the Panthers will get their chance to get back at the Cardinals in the district championship game. Monroe City trounced Clark County 48-8 in Friday’s Class 2 District 7 semifinal at Lankford Field. South Shelby’s 48-19 win over Macon sets up a rematch between the Clarence Cannon Conference foes and the top two seeds in the district.

“Everybody just felt like we had to send a message,” Mayfield said. “It’s late in districts. It’s win or go home, so we had to do everything we could.”

Mayfield put his stamp on the Panthers’ semifinal statement early and often. He recovered a fumble, rushed for a touchdown and had an interception, all in the first 17 minutes.

Dylan Ross sauntered his way into the end zone from a yard out to give the Panthers a 6-0 lead just 2:11 into the game. On the Indians’ second play of their ensuing possession, Panthers senior defensive back Gage Woolen ripped the ball out of running back Brennan Fuller’s hands, and Mayfield was in the right place at the right time. He pounced on the ball, setting up the Panthers’ offense a yard shy of midfield.

“I was just crawling on the ground looking for it, then I found it, and I tried to get up as fast as I could so nobody could try to fight me for it on the ground,” Mayfield said.

On the seventh play of the Panthers’ drive, Ross scored again, this time on a 5-yard touchdown toss from Wyatt DeGrave.

“I saw they were lined up way too close to guard him because he’s too quick,” DeGrave said of that touchdown. “I already kind of knew where I was going with it before. He was wide open. Just an easy little pass for the touchdown.”

Even though Ross was indeed wide open, he still commended DeGrave for throwing him a beautiful ball.

“I knew Wyatt had me,” Ross said. “He’s just got like eagle eyesight. He dropped me a dime.”

This fast start was a pleasant sight to Monroe City coach David Kirby.

“It was good for those kids to get that early success,” Kirby said. “For us to score, force a turnover, then score again, that really boosted our morale and allowed us to play a little freer in some areas.”

The Panthers kept right on rolling. 

A bad snap that sailed over Corrick Hunziker’s head and a punt that netted minus-19 yards gave the Panthers the ball at the Clark County 15-yard line for their next crack on offense. Abram Smyser cashed in with a 2-yard touchdown run to extend the Panthers’ advantage to 20 with 2:23 left in the first quarter.

Following two more empty trips by the Indians, Mayfield got in on the scoring fun. On the first play of a Panthers possession that began at the Indians 43-yard line, Mayfield slipped through the line, broke several ankle tackles and pulled away from the defense to score a touchdown and push the lead to 26-0 with 6:17 remaining in the half.

“All I remember is just trying to get through the hole and dodge as many people as I could,” Mayfield said. “They were all trying to ankle bite me, so I just had to hit them with the (stiff arm) and take it to the crib.”

Mayfield was not finished. On the third play of the Indians’ next chance with the ball, Mayfield snatched that ball right back. Defensive end Grant Yager deflected Chayce Webster’s pass, and Mayfield corralled the interception.

“I was just lucky to be behind it and just snagged it,” Mayfield said.

That pick set up another score three plays later when DeGrave found Woolen wide open behind the defense on a play-action fake. This 18-yard touchdown followed by Ross’ run for the two-point conversion gave the Panthers a 34-point cushion.

DeGrave credited the Panthers’ offensive scheme for creating that easy pitch and catch.

“When you run a Wing T, you run so much that sometimes they get lost in the run,” DeGrave said. “If you get a good play fake, they’ll just forget that you can pass it, then it’s wide open. It was just right there for me.”

Ross’ second touchdown run extended the Panthers’ lead to 40-0 at halftime and put the running clock into effect in the second half.

Trey Smyser took a screen pass 62 yards for a score for the Panthers’ final points with 5:48 left in the third quarter. It was DeGrave’s third touchdown pass of the game and sixth in the last two games. DeGrave also threw for three touchdowns in the Panthers’ 54-14 victory in the district quarterfinals.

DeGrave completed 6 of 7 passes for 116 yards to go along with those three scores on Friday. The sophomore signal-caller has fewer incompletions — four — than touchdowns in the last two contests.

“The kid’s playing well,” Kirby said. “He’s understanding the offense and growing into it. We knew he was talented. Now we’re just trying to make it to where he’s getting a little more command of the offense, and he’s doing a great job.”

The Panthers’ and Cardinals’ clash for the district title will kickoff at 7 p.m. Nov. 15 in Shelbina.

“We’re going to have be locked in all week,” Mayfield said. “We’re definitely going to have to stop the run. They have explosive backs and they can pop off runs at any time just like we can. Our linebackers have to fill our gaps and not let them bounce to the outside.”