CLARION — Once again, Tyler Armagost has proven himself to be one of the top quarterbacks in the KSAC.

With 2:48 left in the fourth quarter, Armagost pounded his way into the end zone for a 4-yard touchdown run, propelling Moniteau to a 26-20 victory over Clarion in Friday's season opener.

"It's a war every time we play them," said Moniteau coach Jeff Campbell.

This game was no exception, as the teams battled back and forth all night, with the largest lead being only six points.

Clarion took advantage of a failed fake punt attempt by Moniteau at the end of the Warriors' first possession and scored on an 8-yard run by junior running back Bubba Rue with 9:28 remaining in the first quarter.

The Bobcats began the two-play drive on the Warriors' 11.

Moniteau answered with two scores of their own in the first quarter.

The first capped an 11-play, 76-yard drive that took nearly six minutes off the clock when Armagost found his favorite target of the game, Clayton Casper, for a 9-yard touchdown pass.

Then, after a Clarion punt, Moniteau took the ball on its own 44. On the first play of the possession, James Shope took a pitch around the right side and sprinted 66 yards down the sideline for the touchdown, making the score 12-7.

Clarion regained the lead with only 1:11 remaining in the second quarter on a 16-yard scoring pass from sophomore quarterback Dan Walters to Jarrod Carpin.

However, Moniteau got the ball at its own 39-yard line with 1:06 to play in the half and needed only five plays and 39 seconds to find its way back to the end zone.

This time it was Armagost scoring on a 6-yard quarterback draw. Casper made a tremendous 44-yard grab to set up the touchdown.

Armagost found Zach Sloan for the two-point conversion, making the score 20-14.

Moniteau nearly scored in the third quarter, but was stopped on the 2-yard line by the Clarion defense. Armagost missed the last eight minutes of the quarter with an injury, but returned in the fourth.

Clarion had trouble moving the ball the entire second half until sophomore running back Kris Burkhart broke free for an 80-yard touchdown run with 9:59 to play in the game to tie the score at 20.

That set up Armagost's heroics.

The senior quarterback scored the game winner on another quarterback draw, this time shaking off several tacklers, making a second and third effort to get into the end zone. The score capped a nine-play drive that featured several passes and some well-executed running plays.

Campbell commended his players' ability to bounce back after Clarion tied the game.

"Our kids were not bothered when Clarion scored, it seemed to just fire them up more," the coach said.

"It was a heck of a game," said Clarion coachLarry Wiser. "There were just some small things we didn't do that hurt us. But we showed some real character in the second half."

Notes: Armagost finished with 232 yards passing, including 130 yards to Casper. ... Shope had 101 yards rushing for Moniteau. ... Burkart tallied 98 yards rushing for Clarion.