Titletown Tradition: Monroe City embraces its football team

Published 1:59 am Tuesday, July 28, 2026

MONROE CITY, Mo. — Lankford Field is a popular place in the fall for the gridiron-obsessed Monroe City community.

The stands are full of black and gold cheering on the Panthers, who are coming off a Class 2 state semifinal appearance.

“We have a fantastic community that loves the sport of football,” said Monroe City head coach David Kirby. “You got a lot of kids here that bought into what we want to accomplish. There is an expectation with this program and there’s a standard that we established.”

Under Kirby, Monroe City has had 10 straight winning seasons, two state semifinalist teams, a second-place state team and a Class 1 state championship in 2017.

The example set by previous classes keeps getting passed down to the newer generation.

“We’ve had some great graduating classes,” said Kirby. “We’ve had some great football players here, but they’ve also laid a blueprint and foundation for that next group. These kids understand if they follow that blueprint and they go play at a high level, they’re going to have an opportunity to be really good.”

The current group of players know the expectations that come with being a Panther.

“Around here (in Monroe City), it’s a football town and you don’t want to disappoint the town,” said Monroe City senior quarterback Wyatt DeGrave. “Everyone here loves football, so it’s easy to step up and just enjoy the game and enjoy the process.”

Wyatt DeGrave grew up watching the Panthers and his older brother Waylon DeGrave, who was on the 2022 team that went 13-1 and into the state semifinals. Wyatt was then a freshman the next season for Waylon’s senior year, with Waylon now a redshirt sophomore at Lindenwood University.

Besides that, Wyatt DeGrave has had an opportunity to play football with his younger brother, Wes DeGrave, a sophomore running back and defensive back.

“Not too many people get to do that,” said DeGrave. “So I’m happy to have been one of those people.”

The summer practices have not been focused on the ‘Titletown’ past, but what Monroe City hopes to accomplish this season.

“What we’ve done in the past is special,” said Kirby. “Those are cool chapters in the book. We’re trying to write our own story this year, and I think that’s one of the big things is focusing on the here and now. That’s the key. Focus on the here and now, and don’t worry about what happened in the past and don’t worry about what will happen in the future. Just try to come out every day and get a little bit better.”

Monroe City is coming off a 11-2 season that ended with a 40-36 loss to St. Pius X (Festus) in the closing seconds of the Class 2 state semifinal game.

“We want to get to the same game, and hopefully win it and see what we got in the state championship game,” said DeGrave. “That’s the goal every year, but I feel like it’s always an opportunity to happen here.”

There’s still a sense of unfinished business and hunger in Panthers camp.

“I think everybody always wants more,” said Chinn. “We want to win it all. That’s what everybody wants.”

Monroe City opens up the season with a home game against Brookfield at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 28.

“I’m really excited,” said DeGrave. “I haven’t had a home game to start here since my sophomore year. I was a little nervous back then, but now I feel like I’ll come in with some excitement and some way better energy and leadership than my sophomore year.”