CLARION – The Clarion Bobcats snapped a three-game losing streak with a 40-6 trashing of Moniteau in Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference action Friday.

"It was our best overall performance of the year," Clarion coach Larry Wiser said.

Clarion (3-4 overall, 2-4 KSAC) used a strong running attack, an opportunistic passing game and a staunch defensive effort in temporarily deflating Moniteau’s playoff hopes.

The Warriors (3-4, 3-4) need two more wins to get into the District 9 Class AA playoffs.

But with the loss to the Bobcats, Moniteau has dropped its last three games.

"We didn’t step it up today," Moniteau coach Steve Wilson said. "That is more disappointing to me more than anything. We came out and (Clarion) just beat us."

Meanwhile, Clarion bounced back from a disappointing 8-6 loss at West Shamokin Oct. 4^th.

The Bobcats were successful against Moniteau by mixing things up offensively, taking advantage of good field position and causing multiple Moniteau turnovers.

"Our kids came out and just played great disciplined football," Wiser said. "We came out with a lot of enthusiasm and heart. They really played well as a team tonight."

Clarion gained 257 total yards on the ground, while Jamie Arner threw for a season-high four touchdowns. He went 6-of-13 passing for 98 yards.

"We needed to get more pressure on the quarterback," Wilson said. "We can’t be giving him all day to be throwing the ball. Our secondary was not breaking on the ball well.

"There are a lot of things you can point at, but, quite simply, we didn’t get the job done."

Clarion also intercepted five Moniteau passes, including Brady Buzard’s three picks, and recovered a fumble.

"We have a young passing game so we expect to have some interceptions," Wilson said. "But we can’t fumble the football. We had been doing pretty well all year with turnovers, but we can’t be doing those things."

Jason Reed led Clarion in rushing and receiving. Reed gained 73 yards on 10 carries and caught two passes totaling 41 yards.

Will Lewis had two catches for 35 yards and two touchdowns, while Joel McNeil had a 15-yard touchdown run and a 9-yard TD catch.

"We got a lot of great players the football tonight," Wiser said. "We got them in good situations where they could get the ball."

The Clarion offense started off hot by scoring on its first four possessions.

The Bobcats accumulated 20 first downs and held a 355-183 edge in total yards. They also scored more points against Moniteau (40) than in Clarion’s three previous losses combined (22).

As for the Warriors, they gained only 66 total rushing yards and went only 7-of-21 passing.

Part of Clarion’s strong defensive play may have been due to the fact that Clarion was showing a different look on defense, switching to a 5-2 scheme.

"When I decided to go back to that (scheme), it was like going back home," Wiser said. "I coached the thing for about 14 years. Our defensive line is healthier, and I think that allowed us to go in there and play that."

Things did not start well for the Warriors, as they received the opening kick but saw the series stall at their 16-yard line.

Clay Kohlmeyer punted the ball to the Moniteau 42, but Clarion’s Corey Corbett returned the punt 22 yards to the Moniteau 20, giving the Bobcats excellent field position for their first possession.

Clarion took advantage of the field position by scoring on a fourth-and-2 at the Moniteau 12, as Arner connected with Lewis for the touchdown.

The extra point attempt failed, but Clarion had the early edge at 6-0 with 7:39 left in the opening quarter.

The Bobcats had relatively good field position on their next possession, which started at the Clarion 39.

The 7-play, 61-yard drive, highlighted by a 34-yard catch by Reed, ended on a 14-yard touchdown run by Corbett.

Brian Luton ran in the two-point conversion to give Clarion a 14-0 lead with 1:23 left in the first frame.

The Clarion homecoming crowd enjoyed more explosiveness on Clarion’s next possession.

The Bobcats once again had excellent field position, this time at the Moniteau 38-yard line.

Clarion put together a 6-play drive capped by a 9-yard Arner-to-McNeil touchdown.

The Bobcats could not convert the two-point play but led 20-0 with 9:26 remaining in the second quarter.

On Clarion’s next series, the ‘Cats put together their longest scoring drive up to that point, moving the ball 70 yards for the score.

A 16-yard run by Dave Larson and a 13-yard run by Reed helped to set up a 23-yard touchdown catch by Lewis, his second touchdown of the game.

Clarion failed on the two-point play again but led 26-0 with 4:13 left in the half.

Moniteau did respond on the following possession, eventually finding the endzone on a 39-yard touchdown pass from Kohlmeyer to Pat Rumbaugh.

Moniteau’s extra point try went wide left, but the Warriors had lit up the scoreboard at 26-6 with 1:28 left in the first half.

The Bobcats looked to make a quick strike on the first possession of the second half.

Clarion drove the ball 53 yards on nine plays before Moniteau’s Steve Saul picked off an Arner pass in the endzone at the 7:08 mark.

Neither team was consistent offensively in the third quarter, but a McNeil interception with 53 seconds left led to another Clarion scoring drive.

After the interception put the ball at the Moniteau 17, Clarion scored on its third play of the series when McNeil rumbled into the endzone from 11 yards out nine seconds into the fourth quarter.

The Bobcats scored their final touchdown with 8:32 left in the game when Arner threw his fourth touchdown of the night, finding Brady Buzard for a 13-yard score.

Moniteau 0 6 0 0 - 6

Clarion 14 12 0 14 - 40

C – Will Lewis 12 pass from Jamie Arner (Kick failed), 7:39

C – Corey Corbett 14 run (Brian Luton run), 1:23

C – Joel McNeil 9 pass from Arner (Pass failed), 9:26

C – Lewis 23 pass from Arner (Pass failed), 4:13

M – Pat Rumbaugh 39 pass from Clay Kohlmeyer (Kick failed), 1:28

C – McNeil 15 run (Pass failed), 11:51

C – Brady Buzard 13 pass from Arner (Arner run), 8:27

M C

First Downs 11 20

Rushes-Yards 31-66 48-257

Passing Yards 117 98

Passing: Comp-Att-Int 7-21-5 6-13-2

Total Yards 183 355

Punts-Avg. 5-27.0 1-31

Fumbles-Lost 4-1 3-2

Penalties-Yards 1-5 5-40

Rushing – Moniteau: Steve Saul 16-43, Ryan Rumbaugh 6-29, Matt Schandelmeier 1-7, Pat Rumbaugh 2-5, Josh Warburton 3-1, Clay Kohlmeyer 3-(-19). Clarion: Jason Reed 10-73, Corey Corbett 11-68 TD, Dave Larson 8-45, Joel McNeil 3-25 TD, Ambrogio Giambanco 2-23, Will Lewis 1-15, Jamie Arner 2-9, Zack McKissick 3-6, Caleb Kifer 4-5, Justin Arner 1-0, Brian Luton 3-(-12).

Passing – Moniteau: Clay Kohlmeyer 5-for-18, 85 yards, TD, 4 INT, Garth Kohlmeyer 2-for-3, 32 yards, INT. Clarion: Jamie Arner 6-for-13, 98 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT.

Receiving – Moniteau: Pat Rumbaugh 3-65 TD, Greg Kepple 1-26, Ryan Rumbaugh 1-12, Brandon Timblin 1-8, Josh Deal 1-6. Clarion: Jason Reed 2-41, Will Lewis 2-35 2 TD, Brady Buzard 1-13 TD, Joel McNeil 1-9 TD.

Punting – Moniteau: Clay Kohlmeyer 5-135 (27.0 avg.). Clarion: Brady Buzard 1-31 (31.0 avg.).

Kickoff Returns – Moniteau: Pat Rumbaugh 5-73, Steve Saul 1-9, Greg Kepple 1-2. Clarion: Will Lewis 1-39. Corey Corbett 1-23.

Punt Returns – Moniteau: Pat Rumbaugh 1-6. Clarion: Corey Corbett 5-67.

Fumble Recoveries – Moniteau: Greg Kepple, Team – 1. Clarion: Justin Arner – 1.

Interceptions – Moniteau: Steve Saul, Brandon Timblin – 1. Clarion: Brady Buzard – 3, Joel McNeil, Travis Smith – 1.