District 9 Class AA Playoff Home

By Chris Rossetti

KARNS CITY – When Karns City (8-1) hosts Moniteau (4-5) in the semifinal round of the District 9 Class AA playoffs at 7 p.m. Friday it will be a game matching teams with very different playoff history. Karns City is the three-time defending District 9 Class AA champions, and the Gremlins have played in the postseason eight times since the district started the tournament in 1987. Moniteau, meanwhile, is making its first-ever trip to the playoffs.

"Winning last week and making the playoff is huge for our program," first-year Moniteau head coach Steve Wilson said. "I would have liked to have entered the postseason with a couple of more wins, but it is a big lift never the less. Hopefully it will get players more dedicated in the weight room and winter workouts."

Wilson believes Karns City might also an advantage because of the Gremlins playoff experience.

"Karns City’s playoff experience is a slight advantage," Moniteau’s first-year head coach Steve Wilson said. "But our kids seem ready. They are excited this week because we are going to the playoffs and because we have another chance at Karns City."

While the Gremlins have a lot of playoff experience and have had the more successful season to this point, the one intangible in this game is the rivalry factor. The Gremlins and Warriors both play in the KSAC and are neighboring school districts. Karns City beat Moniteau 33-6 Sept. 27

"We played them pretty well for the final three quarters during the regular season," Wilson said. "But we spotted them 26 points in the first quarter.

"We are a different team after Week Nine than we were at Week Five. Our blocking has gotten increasingly better, and we have become more complex on both sides of the ball."

Karns City head coach Ed Conto said that despite his team having been in the playoffs the last few years, the experience factor might not be as big as one might think.

"Most of the players in our starting lineup will be getting their first (playoff) start and playing four quarters of a playoff game," Conto said. "So we don’t hold much of an edge that way. Most of our players will be going through the same thing Moniteau will be going through before the game gets started.

"Our starters that do have playoff experience must step up and be leaders for the other guys to follow. The best way to do that is to be focused and lead by example.

"The players know if they worked hard and have the desire to give everything they have on every down, then the streak and tradition at Karns City will always be there. We don’t want to be like any previous Karns City football team. We have our own identity and only focus on what we can do instead of worrying about what last year’s team or any team has done in the past. They know not too focus on those types of pressures that may come from outside the team. Because if we play the way we know we are capable of, the streaks and traditions will continue every year."

Wilson believes it will help his team that they have already played Karns City.

"It helps us know what they do," Wilson said. "It also helps us mentally to know they are beatable. We also know they are a good team that makes few mistakes. So we need to play a solid game.

"Our team has greatly improved over the past couple of weeks in being mentally ready. The first time we played Karns City, the kids were nervous and intimidated. It took us a full quarter to realize we could play with them. By then we were down three scores."

Conto doesn’t think the first meeting will be an advantage for either team.

"Neither team should have a distinct advantage over the other because we played earlier in the season," Conto said. "Both teams are familiar with each other. The team that will have the advantage will be the one that is more focused and executes better than the other throughout the game."

The two teams probably want a different style of ball game. Moniteau would most likely like a low-scoring affair, the Warriors are averaging 16.2 ppg and have scored 16 or fewer points five times, while Karns City liked a shoot-out, the Gremlins average 34.8 ppg and have scored 30 or more points in seven of their nine games.

Moniteau, which started the season 3-1 before dropping four in a row before beating Pymatuning Valley last week to qualify for the playoffs, is averaging 153.8 yards per game. The Warriors average 82.9 yards per contest on the ground and 70.9 yards per game in the air.

"Our offense has come on a lot over the past few weeks," Wilson said. "We have seen a great deal of improvement in our technique even if it doesn’t show up in the statistics."

At quarterback for the Warriors is Clay Kohlmeyer. Kohlmeyer is 43-for-126 passing for 564 yards and three touchdowns. He has thrown 13 interceptions.

Leading the Warrior ground game is Steve Saul with 108 carries for 378 yards and four touchdowns. Ryan Rumbaugh has toted the ball 50 times for 205 yards and two scores.

Pat Rumbaugh leads Moniteau’s receiving corps with 20 catches for 270 yards and a touchdown, while Brandon Timblin has seven grabs for 104 yards. Saul has four catches for 97 yards and a touchdown.

Moniteau’s offense will have to be good to score on a much-improved Karns City defense. The Gremlins were allowing an average of 28.5 ppg in the first four weeks of the season, but in the final five weeks Karns City allowed only 25 total points, an average of 5 ppg.

"We need to control the line against Karns City this week," Wilson said. "We had a lot of trouble last time with their quickness on the line. We have made a few changes that should help our run game."

"On the defensive side of the ball, we need to continue to improve and play the way we know we are capable of," Conto said. "The defense has seemed to improve after every game this year, and we need that to continue through the playoffs. We can never be satisfied with where we stand on defense, because if you don’t improve and correct mistakes any team in the playoffs can find and capitalize on your weak points to beat you."

Karns City, which has won eight straight games since losing 42-6 in Week One to Clarion-Limestone, has a strong offense that goes to the ground about 70 percent of the time.

"On the offensive side of the ball, we just need to continue what we have been doing all year to be successful," Conto said. "We are a well-balanced offensive that that isn’t just one dimensional. We believe we can run or throw the football very well against any opponent. If you try to stop the running game, we will beat you with the pass. If you try to stop the passing game, we will beat you with the run."

Senior quarterback Erik Fuhrer, who has been the starter since midway through his sophomore season, has completed just over 50 percent of his passes (66-130) for 879 yards and seven touchdowns while throwing five interceptions. Fuhrer is also a threat to run the ball having toted the pigskin 44 times for 246 yards and 6 scores.

On the ground, Matt Carnahan has emerged as the go-to back having rushed 147 times for 1,184 yards and 22 touchdowns. All but nine of Carnahan’s yards and all of his touchdowns have come in the final eight weeks. Jordan Collins is adding 245 yards rushing and two touchdowns for Karns City.

Noll Steiner (25 catches, 319 yards, 3 touchdowns) and Nate Wilson (15 grabs, 289 yards, 4 touchdowns) lead the Karns City receiving corps.

On defense, Moniteau enters the game surrendering 22.6 ppg. The Warriors, statistically, were stronger on defense in the first half of the season allowing 9.25 ppg in the first four games as compared to 33.2 ppg in the last five.

"Our defense has been up and down all year," Wilson said. "We have maybe the best secondary in the league with Brandon Timblin, Pat Rumbaugh and Steve Saul. We have given up a few touchdown passes, but we also have 14 interceptions. We believe our secondary can cover Karns City’s receivers. So for us to win the game, we need to control the line of scrimmage up front. We also need to establish a physical presence, something we failed to do in our last meeting."