DOUBLE A SHOWDOWN IN KSAC WHEN KARNS CITY VISITS MONITEAU

Karns City (4-1 overall, 4-1 KSAC) at Moniteau (4-1, 4-0)

Week Six - 7 p.m. Friday Oct. 3

WEST SUNBURY – Two potential if not likely District 9 Class AA playoffs teams meet Friday night when Karns City travels to face neighboring rival Moniteau.

Both teams come into the game with 4-1 records with Moniteau (4-0 KSAC) holding a ½ game lead over Karns City (4-1) in the KSAC standings. Moniteau currently is in a first-place tie in the conference with Clarion-Limestone.

The Warriors have been the surprise of the KSAC racking up points like oil barons racking in money. Moniteau is averaging a stunning 41 points per game this season, and the Warriors have not been held under 40 points since Week Two. In fact in the last three weeks Moniteau is averaging 52.3 ppg, and the Warriors are coming off a 48-26 win over West Shamokin.

Quarterback Clay Kohlmeyer, running back Steve Saul and wide receiver Eric Hilliard, lead the offense.

Kohlmeyer is 40-for-72 passing this season for 711 yards and nine touchdowns while throwing six interceptions, while Hilliard has been his favorite target with 12 catches for 323 yards and seven touchdowns. Saul has added 11 catches for 200 yards and two touchdowns, and Greg Kepple has eight grabs for 105 yards and a score.

Saul is one of the top running backs in District 9 having gained 672 yards on 82 carries while scoring 10 touchdowns. Fullback Mark Schandelmeier has added 36 carries for 210 yards and two touchdowns.

Moniteau has also found creative ways to score this season scoring numerous defensive and special teams touchdowns.

Karns City, meanwhile, has relied on a tough defense all season to win football games. The Gremlins are allowing just 10 points per game and they have held their opponents to 12 points or fewer in four of their five games. It isn’t like the Gremlins offense can’t score, though, as Karns City is averaging 25.6 points per game. The offense has been inconsistent, though, putting up 49 points, then 7 points, then 29 points, then 7 points then 40 points.

Karns City’s offense relies on a running game-by-committee with Josh Fiscus, Mike Stitt, Mike Stimac and Jake Sweeney all seeing considerable action.

Fiscus is the leading rusher with 62 carries for 424 yards and seven touchdowns, while Stitt has added 49 carries for 304 yards and four scores. Stimac has chipped in with 32 totes for 142 yards and three scores. Sweeney has 26 carries for 105 yards and a touchdown.

Quarterback Mike Croyle is 30-for-56 passing for 329 yards. He has not thrown a touchdown pass but has thrown two interceptions. Dave Black and Chris Pickett are his two favorite targets. Black has 10 catches for 128 yards, while Pickett has eight for 146 and a touchdown.

Revenge might be on the mind of the Warriors in this game, as Karns City pummeled Moniteau 69-23 in the District 9 Class AA playoffs last season. The Warriors are also looking for their first win over Karns City since 1995 when they beat the Gremlins 33-26. Since then they have lost seven straight regular-season games and eight in a row to Karns City.