The Mona Shores Sailors and Wyoming Wolves began the Division 2 playoffs in Norton Shores on Friday night. Mona Shores showed why they are one of the state’s best teams in a 54-6 victory.
Elijah Johnson got things rolling with a six yard touchdown run in the closing minute of the first quarter. This gave the Sailors an early 7-0 lead.
Keondre Pierce would take the football across the goal line from nine yards out for the first touchdown in the second quarter to double Shores’ lead. The Wolves would respond with a Cam Simon two-yard touchdown plunge to bring the score back to 14-6.
Mona Shores would close out the first half with a pair of touchdowns. First, Brady Rose kept the football and ran three yards for a score. On their final drive of the half, he passed to Eli Farnum for a thirteen yard touchdown. This gave the Sailors a 27-6 halftime advantage.
The opening kickoff of the second half was returned for a touchdown, as Khyree Hamel ran sixty-seven yards to the end zone. After a quick defensive stop, the Sailors struck again. Brady Rose found Gary Humphrey for a thirty-five yard touchdown pass. This ballooned the lead to 41-6 in favor of Shores.
Mona Shores would add two more touchdowns in the third quarter, although the running clock was rolling. Brady Rose stepped in front of a Wolves pass and ran the football fifty yards to the end zone. Finally, Mark Konecny rumbled fourteen yards to the end zone for Mona Shores’ last touchdown of the evening.
The Sailors turned 47 carries into 381 yards in this game. Elijah Johnson led the way with 80 yards, while Brady Rose added 76.
Rose is tonight’s Redi Rental Sailor of the Game, as he captained the ship on both sides of the ball. He scored in three different varieties (passing, rushing, interception return). He added 101 passing yards and two tackles to his tally as well.
Next week, Mona Shores will host Forest Hills Central in a district semifinal. The Rangers advance to this game after beating Forest Hills Northern 24-6. This will be the third time these schools have met in the last four postseasons, with each team winning one game. FHC won 28-21 in 2017, but the Sailors got revenge in 2018 by winning 34-28.
