MARYSVILLE — The Tomahawk football is taking nothing for granted this season. Despite their streak of seven straight wins, practices have only gotten tougher, according to junior defender Vini Talataina.

“It’s been really hard in practices,” said the defensive tackle, who sacked Monroe quarterback Bryan Sonneveldt for a nine-yard loss early in the second quarter.

The mission to improve is something M-P coach Brandon Carson talks about after every win, including their eighth, a shutout of Monroe on homecoming, Oct. 24.

But he recognizes the improvements, too.

“I think our DBs played well, linebackers played well. Of course it always comes back to our defensive line,” he added after M-P defeated Monroe 34-0, their second shutout of an opponent in three weeks.

The teams were scoreless in the first quarter, but just over a minute into the second quarter, running back Austin Denton broke free on a 36-yard run that only ended as the junior crossed the goal line. The Monroe defense proved little obstacle to Denton as the Tomahawks scored again three and a half minutes later, thanks to a Tomahawk defense that kept Sonneveldt on the run. Denton carried the ball three times for a total of 40 yards on that drive, scoring from two yards out on the third attempt.

As Monroe trailed by 14 with four minutes left in the half, the Bearcats tried going through the air to gain downs. While they had some success, a near interception by Tomahawk safety Levi Cartas forced Monroe to punt, denying them a chance to get on the board before halftime.

Instead, lining up this time on offense, Cartas completed a 48-yard catch from quarterback Devin Peterson, setting up Travis Sanderson’s touchdown to give the Tommies a 21-0 lead at halftime.

A Tannon Hillis sack of Sonneveldt shortly after halftime ensured the tempo of the game would not be affected by the break. Monroe was forced to punt and the Tomahawks started their first drive of the second half with great field position. A combination of carries by Peterson and senior running back Ryan Sterley gave the Tommies their fourth touchdown with six minutes left in the period.

Monroe moved down the field on the ensuing drive, going for a touchdown from the Tomahawk 12-yard line on fourth down. With the incomplete pass, Monroe missed their best opportunity to get on the board.

With the game in the fourth quarter, Sterley and Peterson had nice runs on keepers intended to run down the clock. Though M-P turned the ball over on downs deep in Monroe territory, Monroe’s next drive didn’t go far, ending in a punt. Even worse for the luckless Bearcats, the punter fumbled the ball. Talataina and Sanderson were all over the punter, pulling him down at the Monroe four-yard line. Peterson scored on a keeper on the next play, missing the two-point conversion.

Despite all the season highlights, Talataina called the homecoming victory his favorite so far.

“It was senior night and we showed what our seniors can do,” he said. “Put that zero on top of the board.”

M-P closes out their regular season at Oak Harbor, having secured a playoff berth with their win over Monroe.