CLARION — Clarion had so much riding on its game against Moniteau Friday.

A win would allow the Bobcats, a pre-season favorite to win the KSAC title, to qualify for the District 9 playoffs.

Still, they had to go without top running back Brad Rapp. Worse still, they fell behind 7-0 on the opening drive, which included a costly penalty that continued the drive.

Enter Larry Stout.

The senior running back churned out 168 yards on 17 carries and scored two touchdowns as the Bobcats rolled to the 26-7 victory at Clarion University's Memorial Stadium.

The Bobcats' defense tightened up as well, giving up only 61 total yards after Moniteau's first-quarter score.

"They were bringing more pressure on us and we broke down offensively," said Moniteau coach Steve Wilson. "I didn't know if we put it in cruise control after that. We lost our intensity. We didn't play four quarters.

"They made the big plays. That was the first time we had a breakdown in defense this year,"Wilson added.

A six-minute span saw the Warriors go from a 7-all game to a 26-7 deficit.

The Warriors (6-3, 4-3) had taken a 7-0 lead when Clayton Drnek scored from three yards out with 7:45 remaining in the first quarter.

A running-into-the-punter call kept the drive alive, and Moniteau quarterback Tyler Armagost completed consecutive passes of 24 and 26 yards to Cruz Eshenbaugh and Josh Loos, respectively, before Drnek's score.

Stout's 2-yard score with 9:19 left before halftime capped an 11-play drive to knot the game.

The Bobcats (5-4, 4-3) took the lead when quarterback Adam Bevevino found Tony McMillen on a 15-yard pass play seven seconds before the half on a fourth-and-4 play.

"That was a dagger," said Wilson.

Bevevino had completed a 19-yard pass to James Seidle on a third-and-11 from the Moniteau 40 to continue the drive.

Moniteau had 75 yards and four first downs on its initial drive, but had minus-six yards and no first downs the rest of the half.

Following the second-half kickoff, Seidle caught a 75-yard pass down the middle on the first play from scrimmage to open up a 20-7 lead.

On its next possession, Clarion scored on a Stout 67-yard run on the second play of the drive with 6:14 left in the third quarter.

"I thought at halftime we were ready to go, but then they come out and get that 75-yard pass and you could see the balloon deflate," said Wilson. "That's the first time I saw the kids get down.

"It's frustrating. We start out 6-0 and take it for granted. We knew we were in the playoffs. seeding wasn't a factor. Clarion was playing to make the playoffs. What concerns me is not playing with intensity and fire,"Wilson added.

Wilson is optimistic his team can rebound before the District 9 playoffs, which begin in two weeks. The Warriors have a Week 10 game scheduled against District 10 opponent Wilmington next Friday.

Notes: Seidle led all receivers with 107 yards on three receptions. Cruz Eshenbaugh had three catches for 45 yards for the Warriors. ... Bobcats running back Eric Grejda left the game with two minutes before halftime when he broke his leg following a 26-yard run. The game was delayed for almost 20 minutes.