Journal-News.com

MONROE — With Braden McMonigle, it's always a game-time decision.

The senior wide receiver/defensive back for the Monroe Hornets has a surgically repaired right wrist, a broken left wrist, a separated shoulder and, after Friday's Division III regional final victory against Indian Hill, a dislocated and broken finger.

And then there was the Gatorade bottle to the head that landed him in the hospital and forced him to miss two games last season.

But those injuries don't have anything to do with the game-time decision. Not hardly.

It doesn't matter how much pain McMonigle is in, coach Jason Krause knows he will be on the field ready to go. It may just take Krause awhile to find him. That's because with McMonigle, the game-time decision refers to his jersey number. Sometimes it's 6. Sometimes 9. Sometimes 99.

"I was originally No. 9, that's always been my number," McMonigle said. "But I separated my AC (acromioclavicular) joint in my shoulder and my away jersey is smaller than my home jersey, and it puts a lot of pressure on it.

"So I wore 99 in the Madison game, and then I switched to 6 — an upside-down 9," he continued. "I have to keep the 9 number in there somehow. That was always (brother Sean's) number, too."

When Krause had to submit the official roster for the playoffs, which continue Friday with a state semifinal game at Lima Senior Stadium against Sunbury Big Walnut, he said he left both 6 and 9 open for McMonigle.

"If we're in any other jersey, he's in 9, but this white visitor's jersey is just so tight, it's hard just to get him in it," Krause said.

The irony, of course, is that McMonigle has always been a substance-over-style type of player.

"He's one of those old, throwback type of kids," Krause said. "He's gritty and gutty. He doesn't wear gloves. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, but he's not one of those kids who looks real dolled up. He's just a gritty performer."

McMonigle has 29 receptions for 542 yards and seven touchdowns this season, but catching passes isn't his first love. He said he much prefers the defensive side of the ball, and that certainly showed in Friday's win against Indian Hill.

McMonigle led the Hornets with 13 tackles to give him 79 for the season, fifth best on the team. His seven tackles for loss are tied for second most on the squad.

"Defense is just so much more fun than offense," he said. "The best was last week when we stopped Indian Hill on four straight plays from the 1-yard line. That was right before halftime, and it got us so pumped."

You could say McMonigle and the Hornets had the Braves' number., which would only be appropriate, since McMonigle seems to have more than his share of numbers.

There is, of course, one more he's looking for — No. 1.