KARNS CITY 20, MONITEAU 18

Oct. 13, 2006

Despite being outgained by Moniteau 445 yards to 168, the unbeaten Gremlins squeaked out a 20-18 come-from-behind win over the previously unblemished Warriors Friday night in Karns City. Karns City (7-0 overall, 5-0 KSAC) needs only to beat either Union or A-C Valley to grab a share its first KSAC crown since 2001.

Moniteau (6-1, 4-1) probably believes it should be the team needing only one conference win for the share of the title after throwing all over Karns City.

The Warriors, behind sensational sophomore quarterback Tyler Armagost, threw for 332 yards on the night while grabbing a 12-0 lead early in second quarter.

But Karns City, which trailed 12-7 at halftime, found a way to rally for 13 straight points in the fourth quarter thanks to its defense to take a 20-12 lead early in the final stanza.

The first score came with 10:13 left in the game on a 15-yard pass from Matt Endlish to Matt McConnell. The touchdown was set up by a Mike McConnell recovery of a Ricky Best fumble at the Warrior 16-yard line. The 2-point conversion failed, but Karns City had its first lead at 13-12.

Less than a minute later that lead grew to eight points when Justin Switzer picked up a fumble and went three yards for a touchdown. It was Karns City’s third straight game with a fumble return for a touchdown. Cameron Turner, just as he did last week against Clarion, caused the fumble with a hit on Armagost.

Moniteau wasn’t quite done rallying to within two points on a 2-yard run by Armagost with 1:29 left. But Armagost was sacked by Nick Sypulski on the 2-point conversion.

The Warriors had one last chance following a Karns City punt, but Anthony Stimac intercepted an Armagost heave to seal the win.

Moniteau built the 12-0 lead on the leg of Adam Cousins.

Cousins scored on a 27-yard run early in the first quarter, but Clayton Drnek’s extra point was blocked by Mike McConnell.

Cousins then hit a 27-yard field goal giving the Warriors had 9-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

A 30-yard Cousins’ field goal made it 12-0 2:56 into the second quarter before Karns City got on the board on a 6-yard Roy Beham run.

Moniteau had a chance to go ahead 15-7 at halftime, but Cousins missed a 33-yard field goal try.

Armagost had by far the best game of his young career going 15-for-36 passing for 332 yards and two interceptions. He also ran 16 times for 41 yards and a touchdown.

Cousins had three catches for 118 yards and ran 11 times for 41 and the score. Cruz Eshenbaugh added four catches for 71 yards and Adam Pry two for 60.

Endlish was 8-for-17 passing for 113 yards, one touchdown and one interception for Karns City, while Beham had 18 carries for 59 yards and a score. Switzer caught four passes for 78 yards.

NOTES – Armagost’s 332 yards passing where the most for a District 9 quarterback since Clearfield’s Tanner Kelly threw for 344 in a playoff loss to Bradford Nov. 7, 2003. It was also the first 300-yard passing game of the season for a D9 QB and the first in D9 since Kane’s Zach Anderson threw for 321 in a playoff loss to Coudersport Nov. 4, 2005.

KARNS CITY 20, MONITEAU 18

Score by Quarter

Moniteau 9 3 0 6 – 18

Karns City 0 7 0 13 – 20

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

M – Adam Cousins 27 run (Clayton Drnek kick blocked), 9:02

M – Cousins 27 field goal, 7:02

Second Quarter

M – Cousins 30 field goal, 9:04

KC – Roy Beham 6 run (Matt McConnell kick), 5:47

Fourth Quarter

KC – Matt McConnell 15 pass from Matt Endlish (Pass failed), 10:13

KC – Justin Switzer 3 fumble return (Matt McConnell kick), 9:16

M – Tyler Armagost 2 run (Armagost sacked on conversion attempt), 1:29

M KC

First Downs 17 8

Rushes-Yards 42-113 30-55

Passing Yards 332 113

Passes: Comp-Att-Int 15-36-2 8-17-1

Total Yards 445 168

Penalties-Yards 8-57 5-55

Individual Statistics

Rushing – Moniteau: Adam Cousins 11-41, Tyler Armagost 16-41, Kyle Mauthe 4-27, Josh Loos 2-9, Tom Bell 1-3, Ricky Best 6-0, Team 2-(-8). Karns City: Roy Beham 18-59, Stephon Conto 2-5, Markus LaVan 2-1, Team 1-(-1).

Passing – Moniteau: Tyler Armagost 15-for-36, 332 yards, 2 interceptions. Karns City: Matt Endlish 8-for-17, 113 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception.

Receiving – Moniteau: Cruz Eshenbaugh 4-71, Adam Cousins 3-118, Adam Pry 2-60, Ricky Best 2-25, Josh Loos 1-27, Travis Shaffer 1-26, Kyle Mauthe 2-5. Karns City: Justin Switzer 4-78, Cameron Turner 1-19, Matt McConnell 1-15, Josh Callender 1-3, Roy Beham 1-(-3).