REDBANK VALLEY KEEPS PLAYOFF HOPES ALIVE WITH UPSET WIN OVER MONITEAU

NEW BETHLEHEM – Redbank Valley kept its slim District 9 Class A playoff hopes alive with a 23-16 upset win over Moniteau Friday night at Redbank Valley.

With the win the Bulldogs (4-3 overall, 4-2 KSAC) can still clinch the KSAC’s automatic bid if they beat C-L next week, C-L loses to Moniteau in Week Nine and Clarion loses to either Moniteau or A-C Valley. Redbank Valley could also gain a wild card spot if its wins its final two games and either Ridgway or Port Allegany loses next week. Even if that happens, some other scenarios have to take place for the Bulldogs to make the playoffs.

Meanwhile, the loss could hamper Moniteau’s chances at a Class AA playoff loss. The Warriors (5-2 overall, 5-1 KSAC) can still reach the postseason by at least splitting their final two games against C-L or Clarion or having Otto-Eldred or Karns City lose once in the final two weeks.

Redbank Valley jumped out to an early 7-0 lead thanks to another great return by Tyson Truitt.

Truitt returned a Shawn Manuel punt 25 yards to the Moniteau 18. On the next play Shane Reed hit Truitt with a 17-yard pass to the 1-yard line, and two plays later Skyler Smith scored from two yards out to give Redbank the lead.

On Redbank Valley’s next possession, the Bulldogs went 66 yards on five plays to make it 13-0. A 50-yard pass from Reed to Brandon Johnston was the big play of the drive, and Johnston scored on a 10-yard run.

Redbank Valley made it 16-0 midway through the second quarter on a 32-yard field goal by Brock Shaffer.

Moniteau cut the lead in half right before the half thanks to a key special teams play. Redbank Valley tried a fake punt from its own 37-yard line, but the Warriors stopped it for a 4-yard loss. Clay Kohlmeyer then hit Steve Saul with a 25-yard pass to the 8, and the Saul scored on an 8-yard run. Ryan Rumbaugh added the two-point conversion to make the score 16-8 Redbank Valley at halftime.

The game remained 16-8 until the fourth quarter when Bryce Miller scored on a 24-yard run with 11:38 left to play making it 23-8.

Moniteau wasn’t through scoring on a 24-yard pass from Kohlmeyer to Eric Hilliard to make it a 7-point game at 23-16 with 4:52 left to play.

The Warriors then forced a punt setting Moniteau up at its own 47-yard line.

Four plays later, Moniteau was looking at a first-and-10 from the Redbank Valley 20.

Kohlmeyer, however, threw two incomplete passes and Ryan Toth sacked him for an 8-yard loss. A penalty on Moniteau helped to make it fourth-and-23 from the Redbank 33, and Kohlmeyer’s desperation pass fell incomplete.

Smith had a big game for Redbank Valley rushing 22 times for 135 yards.