Moniteau leans on QB
CHERRY TWP — Tyler Armagost made sure the start of the Jeff Campbell era of Moniteau football would be a success.
The Moniteau junior quarterback threw for 233 yards and five scores to led the Warriors past Clarion-Limestone 39-6 in their Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference opener.
"It feels good to get the first one under your belt," said Campbell, talking about his first game as the Warriors' head coach.
From the opening drive, Armagost looked poised and confident in the pocket to help Campbell earn a victory in his debut.
Armagost hit four different receivers for five touchdowns and also ran for 49 yards on seven carries.
"He is a phenomenal athlete," Campbell said. "He is a real good quarterback. He showed so much poise. He stepped up when he needed to. He ran when he needed to."
"(Armagost) is good," said Clarion-Limestone coach Todd Smith. "If we could have broken on the ball better, we could have had a few more plays."
Armagost showed that poise and composure on Moniteau's first possession.
After the first two plays netted one yard, Armagost threw a strike to Mitch Czech for a 25-yard gain. Four plays later on fourth and 9, Armagost launched a 30-yard bomb to Josh Loos to move Moniteau to the Clarion-Limestone 4-yard line.
"I felt good," Armagost said. "I took what they gave us."
On the ensuing play, Armagost took an easy score as he found Loos in the end zone just 2:40 into the game for an early 7-0 lead.
"I felt on the first couple of plays we had the jitters," Campbell said.
Armagost also had scoring throws to Dakota Campbell, Czech and two to Clay Casper.
As successful as Armagost was, so was Moniteau's defense.
Campbell likes to run the 5-3 defense and ran it through the team's two scrimmages.
But he said he "felt we needed to make a change." On Monday, Campbell instituted the 4-3 defense. His players had four days to learn the defense and make it work.
It was a success.
Moniteau held Clarion-Limestone to 23 yards on the ground on 28 attempts and 201 total yards.
"I felt that was the best defense that fits our kids," Campbell said. "The kids picked it up quick. I am not saying we won't run the 5-3 this season, but that fit us the best. It is only going to get better."
In the first half, Clarion-Limestone rushed for minus-23 yards.
Moniteau plays St. Marys in a nonconference game next week.
