Unbeaten through four games, Moniteau is looking for a measuring stick.

Keystone is happy to provide it.

The Panthers (2-2) invade Moniteau at 7 p.m. Friday hoping to split its four games against the preseason favorites in the Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference: Redbank Valley, Clarion, Karns City and now the Warriors.

Keystone lost 14 of 18 games the past two seasons.

"We've come a long way,"Keystone coach Jason Nellis said. "We were getting beaten pretty badly in most of our games the past two years. This year, we've either won or come close to winning those games.

"It's the same players. They're just older now, playing with more confidence, and we're rolling with it."

Keystone lost to Redbank (13-0) and Karns City (26-21) and defeated Clarion (14-7) and Union (25-7).

Moniteau posted victories over Clarion-Limestone, St. Marys, A-CValley and Union thus far — opponents with a combined 3-13 won-loss record.

"Keystone is definitely the best team we've faced to this point,"Moniteau coach Steve Wilson said. "They have more weapons than what we're used to seeing.

"They've played the top three teams in the conference and were competitive against all three. This is an opportunity for us to see where we stack up."

Tyler Armagost, a sophomore who has thrown for 297 yards in two games, will remain at quarterback for the Warriors. Josh Loos will see action at wide receiver.

"Tyler's done well for us and deserves a chance to show what he can do against a top team,"Wilson said. "Josh is probably the best all-around athlete on the team. He will strengthen an already-strong receiving corps for us.

"Going into our first game this year, we coaches spent two hours going over the pros and cons of both guys. It was practically a coin toss to decide which one started in the first place."

Keystone changed quarterbacks as well during the off-season. Mike Switzer threw for 814 yards and nine touchdowns a year ago but was moved to running back in favor of sophomore Ben Black, younger brother of former Panthers QBAdam Black.

Black has completed 28 of 62 passes for 402 yards. Switzer caught three passes for 116 yards — including touchdowns of 78 and 37 yards — against Karns City last week.

Derek Swartfager leads the Panthers' ground attack with 84 carries for 338 yards and three touchdowns.

Moniteau will be without outside linebacker Kyle Mauthe for possibly six weeks after he dislocated a finger last Friday and is undergoing surgery. Armagost replaces him at outside linebacker.

Receiver Adam Pry is battling a bad hamstring, but likely will play Friday.

"We're hoping to have Kyle back for a playoff run,"Wilson said. "That's a big loss for us."

Wilson lauded the play of linebacker Aaron Randall, who has been ably filling the void left by graduated middle linebacker Clay Campbell.

"Aaron has been a standout in the middle for us,"Wilson said. "He's been directing traffic for us defensively."

Keystone has been led defensively by tackle Adam Dechant, linebackers Matt Bashline, Luca Montana and Swartfager, and safety Kyle Rhoads.

Moniteau leads the series 22-19-3 and has won the last three meetings between the squads.