MONITEAU 10, KARNS CITY 7

Nov. 11, 2005 - District 9 Class AA Playoffs - Semifinals

Special thanks to Pat Kahle of C-93 Radio for providing the information from this game

KARNS CITY – At the start of this year’s District 9 Class AA Playoffs, Moniteau didn’t own a playoff win in school history. Two weeks later, the fifth seeded Warriors (6-5) are one win away from the D9 title thanks to a 10-7 win over top seeded Karns City Friday night at Karns City.

Adam Cousins’ 23-yard field goal with 9:54 to play proved to be the difference in the game. The field goal was the only offensive points the Warriors scored on the night.

Karns City (7-3) had a couple of chances to tie or retake the lead in the final 10 minutes but two turnovers cost the Gremlins.

The first giveaway was an interception that occurred on the drive following Cousins’ field goal after Karns City had moved to the Moniteau 36 aided by a 15-yard penalty on the Warriors. But Ryan Protzman thwarted the drive when he picked off a batted Stephen Black pass with around seven minutes to play.

After Moniteau was forced to punt, Karns City got the ball at its own 35-yard line. But Justin Macurak fumbled the ball right back to the Warriors with three-and-a-half minutes to go.

Moniteau, though, showed poor clock management running off just about 30 seconds before punting the ball back to KC giving the Gremlins the ball at their own 16.

The Warrior defense, though, rose to the challenge stopping Karns City and forcing the Gremlins to turn the ball back over on downs with under two minutes to play. Moniteau then ran out the clock on their second playoff win in history.

Karns City led 7-0 at halftime thanks to a 43-yard touchdown pass from Black to Justin Switzer with 1:12 left in the first quarter.

The Gremlins had a chance to add to their lead as time ran out in the first half, but McConnell had a 23-yard field goal attempt blocked.

Moniteau then used a big defensive play to tie the game in the third quarter when David Rumbaugh intercepted a Black pass and returned it 27 yards for a touchdown with 5:16 to play in the quarter.

The Warrior defense came up big in the second half limiting Karns City to just 29 yards in the half after the Gremlins gained 196 in the first 24 minutes. Moniteau also shut down Switzer who had three catches for 103 yards in the opening half. He didn’t catch a pass in the second half.

Moniteau won the game despite being outgained 225-143, the second straight week the Warriors have been outgained but still found a way to win.

The Warrior win keeps alive a remarkable streak for District 9 Class AA fifth seeds who are now 5-0 since the district expanded to an open playoff field in AA last year. Brookville went 3-0 last year while winning the D9 title as a fifth seed and Moniteau is 2-0 this season.

Moniteau will get a chance to run the fifth seeds record to 6-0 next week when it takes on either Redbank Valley or Karns City in the Class AA title game. That game will be either Friday or Saturday most likely Saturday. While the location is to be determined, Clarion University’s Memorial Stadium is the logical choice.

MONITEAU 10, KARNS CITY 7

Score by Quarter

Moniteau 0 0 7 3 – 10

Karns City 7 0 0 0 – 7

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

KC – Justin Switzer 43 pass from Stephen Black (Matt McConnell kick), 1:12

Third Quarter

M – David Rumbaugh 27 interception return (Adam Cousins kick), 5:16

Fourth Quarter

M – Cousin 23 field goal, 9:54

Team Statistics

M KC

First Downs 9 7

Rushes-Yards 41-131 31-79

Passing Yards 12 146

Passes: Comp-Att-Int 2-8-1 9-16-2

Total Yards 143 225

Penalties-Yards 7-77 6-55

Individual Statistics

Rushing – Moniteau: Matt Schandelmeier 18-64, Adam Cousins 13-46, Garth Kohlmeyer 7-9, Ryan Protzman 3-12. Karns City: Wayne Harris 13-44, Stephen Black 5-(-6), Joey Everett 5-20, Justin Macurak 5-11, Stephon Conto 3-10.

Passing – Moniteau: Garth Kohlmeyer 2-for-8, 12 yards, 1 interception. Karns City: Stephen Black 9-for-16, 146 yards, 1 touchdown, 2 interceptions.

Receiving – Moniteau: Ryan Protzman 2-12. Karns City: Justin Switzer 3-102, Justin Macurak 3-16, Cameron Turner 1-19, Chad Bell 2-9

Interceptions – Moniteau 2 (David Rumbaugh, Ryan Protzman). Karns City 1 (Mike McConnell).