CHERRY TWP — The third time proved to be a charm for Redbank Valley coach Ed Wasilowski.

During their Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference game Friday against Moniteau, the Bulldogs had two touchdowns nullified by penalties.

But when Jake Smith tossed a 12-yard scoring pass to Jerrett Magagnotti with 59 seconds left in the game and Justin Dunnivan added the extra point, it was enough to give Redbank Valley a 7-6 victory.

"I told the kids that I've been here since 1994 and this was the gutsiest win I've ever had," said Wasilowski.

Dunnivan had caught what appeared to be the game-tying score just before halftime, but he was called for pushing off in the end zone before making the catch.

"He made a mental mistake," said Wasilowski. "The kids picked him up. That was great."

"Redbank Valley has a good team," said Moniteau coach Steve Wilson. "We have to put up more than six points. They did a great job in the second half and we didn't."

On an extremely muddy field Friday, field position proved to be the difference. It was beneficial for Moniteau (6-2, 4-2) in the first half and Redbank Valley (6-2, 5-1) in the second half.

A fumble on a punt return by the Bulldogs late in the first quarter gave the Warriors the ball on the RV 15.

Moniteau turned the ball over on downs four plays later, but the field position helped Moniteau on its next possession.

After taking over at the RV 45, Moniteau embarked on a 10-play drive that consumed 5 minutes, 42 seconds, culminating with a Kyle Mauthe 3-yard run.

A Ricky Best 11-yard run started the drive and an 11-yard pass from Tyler Armagost to Clayton Drnek kept it moving.

The conversion run was stopped short of the goal line to give Moniteau the 6-0 lead with 2:24 left before halftime.

On the second play from scrimmage in the third quarter, the Bulldogs looked to score on a 53-yard Alex Bladel run, but an illegal block brought the ball back.

Three plays later, Bladel broke loose for a 26-yard run to give the Bulldogs a first-and-10 at the Moniteau 17, but a fumble on the next play was recovered by Moniteau.

The Warriors, however, ran only 10 offensive plays on their next three possessions. The defense did come up with a key fourth-and-1 stop at the Moniteau 3 to thwart a Bulldogs' drive.

With 7:46 remaining, Moniteau moved the ball to its own 41-yard line before punting to Redbank with 3:38 remaining.

Staring at midfield, a 12-yard pass to Magagnotti from Smith and a 13-yard run from Bladel opened what would be the game-winning drive.

Five plays later, Smith found Magagnotti down the middle for the touchdown. On the preceding play, Bladel eked out three yards on a fourth-and-2 to extend the drive.

A squib kick by the Bulldogs helped give the Warriors the ball at their own 45-yard line, but Armagost was intercepted on the first play and the Bulldogs were able to run out the clock.

The loss gave Moniteau two defeats in as many weeks (after a 20-18 loss to Karns City), Still, Wilson knows what his team can achieve down the road.

"I think the players understand they're still a good football team," said Wilson. "I feel they've played well and have to play four full quarters.

"The kids are more mad than upset," Wilson added.

Notes: Smith finished the game with 100 yards passing and Bladel 99 yards rushing. Bladel, a sophomore, passed the 1,000-yard mark during the game.