CHERRY TWP — Moniteau took advantage of big plays to secure its second straight win of the season Friday night on its home field, 12-7 over Bradford.

Moniteau quarterback Chance Nagy put up big numbers in a several ways, starting with an 80-yard punt in the first quarter. He also passed for a 57-yard touchdown to running back Cody Wise in the second quarter.

“Honestly I didn't even know I could do that (punt),” Nagy said. “I wasn't punting the ball very well in pregame and all the sudden I guess I just found a leg and got a hold of her.”

But it was his 81-yard rushing touchdown that sealed Moniteau's come-from-behind victory in the fourth quarter. The Warriors (3-2) entered the fourth quarter trailing 7-6.

“We started pounding the ball. (Nick) Martino was doing a heck of a job and (Cody) Wise was doing a heck of a job, and we came back on that lead,” Nagy said. “I just found an opening right there, cut it up and there was one-on-one with the safety, and scored.”

Nagy said the offensive line deserved a lot of credit for their work, too.

“The pass protection was pretty good throughout the game, but the O-line has been doing a tremendous job this season,” Nagy said. “They're blocking everyone and our running backs are finding holes.”

Despite the excitement surrounding the win, Moniteau head football coach Bob Rottman said he acknowledges the Warriors' weaknesses, specifically in being penalized.

The Warriors were flagged 11 times for 90 yards.

“We need to reign it in,” Rottman said. “We need to be smarter.”

The Warriors also gave up a few big plays of their own, almost costing them the game multiple times.

Bradford's starting quarterback Nate Blauser ran 66 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter, and the Owls' running backs also produced big yardage plays at times.

Bradford running back Nic Erickson ran for 57 yards on one of his four carries and finished with 87 yards. Danny Pattison averaged 5 yards per carry on his 17 runs for 87 yards.

“We've gotta start stringing things together. We're not consistent,” Bradford head football coach Jeff Puglio said. “That's why we're not finishing drives right now.”

Puglio said the game was close and definitely in reach, but the Owls couldn't close out the game.

“We've been making the same mistakes we've been making for the past couple of weeks,” Puglio said. “We can't seem to correct them, and it's killing us.”

He said his defense played well, but didn't tackle well enough, which allowed Moniteau to break off too many big plays.

“We held them to 12 points on two big plays,” Puglio said. “But we're letting them extend drives because we're not tackling. We're tackling up high. We don't want to go low and drive people back.”

Linebackers Cody Wise and Trent Kelly were stout inside, stuffing Bradford's running game.

Kelly and defensive lineman James Parenti both recorded sacks on drives where the Owls offense was on the move. Parenti's sack resulted in a 15-yard loss.

“What hurts us every time is just a few plays. That is guys being a little too aggressive and not playing their position,” Rottman said. “At the end of the day, I'll take seven points any game.

“Our guys have heart and that's what won the football game for them tonight,” Rottman said. “It was the heart of never giving up.”

Bradford 0 0 7 0 — 7

Moniteau 0 6 0 6 — 12

Second Quarter

M — Chance Nagy pass 54 to Cody Wise (Pass failed), 1:28

Third Quarter

B — Nate Blauser run 66 (Caleb Nuzzo kick), 4:36

Fourth Quarter

M — Nagy run 81 (run failed), 4:16

Individual Statistics

Rushing: Bradford, Donny Pattison 17-87, Nik Erickson 4-87, Nate Blauser 5-58, Jason Ambrose 5-16, Doug Hannon 1-7, Patrick Caskey 4-(-4), Caleb Nuzzo 3-(-9); Moniteau, Chance Nagy 5-81, Cody Wise 15-75, Nick Martino 6-24, Trent Kelly 4-19, Austin Yeager 1-4, Mason Mershimer 2-3.

Passing: Bradford, Blauser 0-3-0-0, Nuzzo 0-3-0-0; Moniteau, Nagy 3-9-75-0.

Receiving: Moniteau, Wise 1-54, Brayden Risinger 1-10, Brady Thompson 1-1.