BIG PLAYS HIGHLIGHT MONITEAU WIN OVER KEYSTONE

KNOX – In a game marked by big plays, Moniteau had more big plays than Keystone helping the Warriors to a 41-14 win over the Panthers in a KSAC game Friday night at Keystone.

The game featured four plays of 50 yards or longer, two kickoff returns for touchdowns and an interception return for a touchdown.

Moniteau got the contest started with a bang when Eric Hilliard returned the opening kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead.

Hilliard made it 14-0 with a little under six minutes left in the first quarter when he caught a 57-yard touchdown pass from Clay Kohlmeyer.

Keystone got back in the game early in the second quarter on a 2-yard scoring run by Justin Bifano making the score 14-6.

Moniteau answered the Bifano touchdown when Steve Saul intercepted a Bifano pass and returned it 37 yards for a score and a 21-6 Moniteau lead with 3:14 left in the first half.

But on the ensuing kickoff, Billy Colwell sprinted 87 yards for a touchdown, and Sam Swartzfager’s two-point conversion run made it 21-14 Moniteau at halftime.

The second half belonged to the Warriors, who outscored Keystone 20-0 in the final 24 minutes including 14-0 in the game’s final 3:06.

A 26-yard run by Saul with a 1:54 left in the third quarter made it 27-14 Moniteau, and then with 3:06 left in the game Saul caught a 51-yard scoring pass from Kohlmeyer to make it a 34-14 game.

Just a little under a minute-and-a-half later Hilliard grabbed a 5-yard pass from Kohlmeyer to put the game away.

Kohlmeyer finished the night 4-for-10 for 141 yards but three of his four completions went for scores. Saul had 18 carries for 111 yards and a touchdown while adding the one catch for 51 yards. Matt Schandelmeier added 11 carries for 77 yards. Hilliard had three catches for 90 yards and two touchdowns while scoring three total touchdowns.

Keystone’s offense under new starting quarterback Bifano struggled to get going amassing just 151 yards of total offense including just 21 through the air.

Bifano was 3-for-16 passing for 21 yards and three interceptions. Swartzfager carried the football 22 times for 90 yards, while Colwell had seven carries for 28 yards.

With the win Moniteau (3-1 overall, 3-0 KSAC) remains in a three-way tie for first place with Clarion-Limestone and Clarion. Keystone, meanwhile, falls to 1-3 overall and 1-3 in the conference.

M – 14 7 6 14 – 41

K – 0 14 0 0 – 14

M – Eric Hilliard 85 kickoff return (Jason Fleming kick), 11:44

M – Hilliard 57 pass from Clay Kohlmeyer (Fleming kick), 5:44

K – Justin Bifano 2 run (2-point conversion failed), 10:00

M – Steve Saul 37 interception return (Fleming kick), 3:14

K – Billy Colwell 87 kick return (Sam Swartzfager run), 3:00

M – Saul 26 run (Kick failed), 1:54

M – Saul 51 pass from Kohlmeyer (Fleming kick), 3:06

M – Hilliard 5 pass from Kohlmeyer (Fleming kick), 1:41

First Downs 6 9

Rushes-Yards 36-183 36-130

Passing Yards 143 21

Passes: Comp-Att-Int 6-10-0 3-16-3

Total Yards 326 151

Penalties 4-35 3-35

Fumbles lost 1 0

Punts-Avg. 9-41.3 4-29.5

Rushing – Moniteau: Steve Saul 21-123, Ryan Rumbaugh 3-0, Matt Schandelmeier 10-59, Chris Cooper 1-2, Greg Kepple 1-(-1). Keystone: Sam Swartzfager 22-90, Billy Colwell 7-28, Buck Neely 2-5, Zach Curran 3-3, Justin Bifano 2-4.

Passing – Moniteau: Clay Kohlmeyer 6-for-10, 143 yards, 3 touchdowns. Keystone: Justin Bifano 3-for-16, 21 yards, 3 interceptions.

Receiving – Moniteau: Eric Hilliard 3-67, Steve Saul 1-51, Greg Kepple 2-25. Keystone: Billy Colwell 1-22, Sam Swartzfager 2-(-1).