CHERRY TWP — When an opposing quarterback drops back to pass, there's only one thing racing through the mind of Joey Deal.

“Do everything I have to do to get him down,” said the Moniteau senior defensive end without a hint of humor.

It's all business for Deal, and lot of the time, his simple plan works to perfection.

In fact, Deal has hunted down the quarterback and sent him to the ground this season more than any other player in Moniteau history.

With four sacks in Moniteau's 40-0 District 9 Class AA semifinal win over Sheffield, Deal raised his season total to 25, topping the school record.

Jake Boy — currently in the midst of his sophomore season for the Harvard University football team — previously held the school's single-season mark of 24.

Deal isn't alone on his assault of the quarterback, though.

Andrew Armagost has 17 sacks on the year, which is tied for second in the state according to MaxPreps.com — Deal tops the list and is tied for sixth nationally.

“My goal on defense is to just blitz,” said Armagost. “That's what I love about football, I'm a ‘Mike' backer and I can just go wherever I want pretty much.”

Usually, it's straight to the ball, and Deal is either leading the way or not far behind.

Moniteau coach Jeff Campbell is happy to have the dynamic pass rushers on his side.

“It certainly helps the coverage guys out,” said Campbell with a chuckle. “We tell the coverage guys, ‘If you can hang with them for 2 or 3 seconds, we can have someone on the quarterback.'

“It allows (the defensive backs) to play a little tighter,” Campbell added. “If the the QB can scramble, then all bets are off.”

That's rarely a problem for Moniteau, which has made the Warriors (10-0) a good bet to win each week.

At 5-foot-10, 170 pounds, Deal doesn't intimidate would-be blockers with size, he simply overwhelms them with a non-stop motor and solid technique.

“He's worked on perfecting a couple of different moves. He's not just a bull rusher,” said Campbell of Deal. “He gets a lot of tackles, too. He's a true defensive end, not just a pass rusher.”

Deal's greatest assets might be his business-like demeanor and commitment to his fellow Warriors.

“I want to help my team out so much in any way possible,” Deal said.

Deal enjoys using the swim move or a simple speed rush to pressure the quarterback, but he let's the offensive tackle dictate how he attacks the pocket.

“I usually just go by how the tackles are playing me,” Deal explained. “If they drop step, I cut underneath. If not, then just speed rush.”

Armagost — a 6-foot-1, 230-pound junior — appreciates Deal's work ethic and results.

“Joey, he's an all-around player. He's an athlete. I've never seen a kid like that at Moniteau ever,” said Armagost. “If you tell him to do something, he will do it. He won't look at your wrong, he'll go out there and make the plays happen.”

Deal and Armagost both credited their teammates for helping them achieve their individual statistics.

“It all comes down to our d-linemen. They have to be one of the best (group of) d-linemen out there,” said Armagost. “If they don't do their job, then I can't get in there.”

Armagost took a year off from the grid iron last season, but Campbell is glad he's returned in full force for his junior campaign.

“We did not know what we were going to get out of Andrew. We knew he could play ... and we found out early on,” said Campbell. “We pretty much had open tryouts at linebacker and he stepped right in.

“He brings 230 pounds, he's smart and takes good angles,” said Campbell. “He knows where the line will be and he's never really out of position. Even when he doesn't get the tackle or sack, he forces a lot of plays to other people.”

With Deal and Armagost pacing the defense — which limited Sheffield to 9 yards of offense Saturday — Moniteau is just one win away from the program's first District 9 football championship.

The Warriors square off with rival Karns City (8-3) for the title at Clarion University on Friday at 7 p.m.

Another opportunity for Deal to etch his name into Moniteau history, but to him, it's all about the team.

“I just can't wait to play Karns City and help the team out however I can,” said Deal. “I love playing with these guys.”