Brockway football coach Ray Reckner has won 124 games in his 21 years with the Rovers.

His 124th was a doozy.

Brockway (7-3) earned a berth in Saturday's District 9 Class AA championship game by completing a 41-yard touchdown pass with 1:20 remaining — to the fullback on a fourth-and-21 play — for a 12-7 semifinal win over Redbank Valley last Saturday.

That play capped a 12-play, 82-yard drive for the win.

"Honestly, I figured we were done," Reckner said. "Fourth-and-21 is not a down you expect to convert.

"They (Redbank) only rushed three people. They dropped four into deep coverage and had four underneath. Our quarterback was flushed out of the pocket and our fullback kept drifting downfield. I guess nobody picked him up."

Quarterback Anthony Varischetti picked him up, however, and connected with Ben Donlin for the winning score. Donlin is the only skilled player back this season for Brockway.

The victory gave the Rovers their sixth straight seven-win season. Brockway was 8-2 last year, bowing out of the district playoffs in the semifinal round.

The Rovers are seeking their third District 9 title in four years Saturday when they face Moniteau (6-5) at 2 p.m. at Clarion University's Memorial Stadium.

This is Brockway's seventh district championship game. It is Moniteau's first. The Rovers are in the playoffs for an eighth consecutive season.

"Yeah, the playoff experience may help us a little bit," Reckner said. "But these are kids. We can't take Moniteau lightly.

"If we do, they'll jam it down our throats."

While Brockway features a balanced attack, Moniteau is a physical, running team that ranks last among the district's 26 teams in passing yardage.

Brockway used to play a similar style.

"A few years ago, we threw the ball maybe 23 times the entire season," Reckner said. "All we did was run the ball.

"We faced Karns City in the district finals, they stopped our running game and they clobbered us. Ever since, I've been striving for a more balanced attack."

He found it this year. Varischetti has completed 54 of 114 passes for 962 yards, 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Donlin has 15 catches for 211 yards and two scores to go with his 158 carries for 779 yards and eight touchdowns.

Andy Fremer has rushed for 409 yards on 74 carries. Joe Antonuccio has 10 catches for 204 yards, Erik Johnson eight catches for 149.

Sophomore running back Dillon Park stands just 5-foot-4 and weighs 125 pounds, but he has 271 yards and three touchdowns rushing, 286 yards and three TDs in pass receptions.

"He's really been a sparkplug for us," Reckner said. "Dillon's a gritty kid who wrestled at 119 pounds last year. He's a tough kid who's hard to defend."

Antonuccio is a returning starter from last year at tight end and three offensive linemen — tackle Matt Ehrgott, guards Ian Pifer and Bob Delio — started a year ago as well. None weigh more than 210 pounds.

"Moniteau is a one-dimensional team offensively, but we still have to stop them," Reckner said. "And we have to move the ball on their defense."

Defensively, Varischetti has eight interceptions for the Rovers, who are a plus 11 in turnovers-takeaways. Veteran defensive end William Taylor returned last week after missing three games with an injury.

Brockway was 3-3 after six games, then shifted Ehrgott from end to middle linebacker. The Rovers haven't lost since.

"That was our missing piece defensively," Reckner said.

Four of the Rovers' wins are by six points or fewer: 12-6 over Sheffield, 12-6 over Johnsonburg in overtime, 13-12 over Otto-Eldred and 12-7 over Redbank Valley.

"We've given up yardage between the 20s, but we've been outstanding inside the 20," Reckner said. "Opponents have had first-and-goal at our 1-yard line on three occasions and didn't score.

"Our down side has been penalties. We have to be leading the district. We get eight a game or so."

Ehrgott is the team's kicker and has converted most of Brockway's PATs. He has not attempted a field goal all season.

"But a 35- or 40-yarder? We'd be comfortable taking a shot at that," Reckner said. "But, hopefully, it won't come down to that."