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CHERRY TWP — There will be no postseason play for Moniteau this season.
But the Warriors remain very much intent on playing quality football.
Moniteau (2-6) hosts Punxsutawney (0-8) at 7 p.m. Friday in its next-to-last game of the campaign.
“It is an open tournament, but our school has a .500 policy, that you have to finish .500 or better to enter the playoffs,” Warriors coach Bob Rottman said.
“I agree with that policy. Playoffs should be a goal, something the kids can earn. We didn't get there.”
The Warriors are coming off a 47-11 defeat at St. Marys last week. Prior to that, Moniteau had defeated Brockway (14-7) and lost a competitive game (21-8) to powerful Brookville.
“Before last week, I thought we were turning the corner,” Rottman said. “We took a major step back at St. Marys, playing like we did three or four weeks ago.
“I know we're a better football team than we showed last week. We want to use these last two games to build momentum toward next year and send our seniors out on a positive note.”
David Stamm and Brady Thompson are splitting time at quarterback for the Warriors. Stamm runs the basic offense and Thompson enters when Moniteau goes to a spread attack.
J.D. Dessicino leads the ground game with 617 yards and four TDs. Mason Mershimer has 300 yards rushing.
“Nick Martino is underrated on offense for us because he's the prime blocker for J.D., Mason and when our quarterbacks run,” Rottman said. “I believe he's the best fullback in the district.”
Martino leads Moniteau with 65 solo tackles. Dessicino has 49.
Punxsutawney is allowing an average of 52.5 points per game. The Chucks have managed only two takeaways (both on interceptions) and four quarterback sacks all year.
Freshman Peyton Hetrick has taken over at quarterback for Kameron Falgout, who has become an all-purpose back. Falgout has 437 yards rushing and 10 receptions for 103 yards.
Punxsutawney quarterbacks have thrown four TD passes and 15 interceptions. Max London has rushed for 608 yards and has 58 tackles as a defensive back. Linebacker Josh Miller has 59 tackles.
“They run a variety of offensive plays and rarely run the same play two or three times in a game,” Rottman said. “We'll show them three, four and five-man fronts. If we stay disciplined on defense and handle our responsibilities, we'll be OK.”
Moniteau leads the series between the teams 6-5, including a 32-21 win last year.
7 p.m., FridayThe Knights close the regular season with two non-league games and need ample help to reach the WPIAL playoffs. ... Knoch has won all three of its prior games with the Hillers, including 41-14 last year.RB Matt Goodlin is out for the season for Knoch, suffering a fractured elbow in last week's 34-7 loss to New Castle. He rushed for 1,017 yards and 11 TDs this year. Keith Washington (258 yards rushing) will take over at fullback. He ran for 102 yards last week. QB Kam Grassi has thrown for 269 yards and rushed for 284.Trinity returns eight starters offensively and defensively from last year. Micah Finley has scored four TDs to lead Trinity, but the team has been outscored 48-7 by Belle Vernon and 55-14 by Penn Trafford the past two weeks.
7 p.m., FridayThe Yellowjackets were eliminated from playoff contention with last week's overtime loss to Burrell. Mt. Pleasant has lost four of its last five games, the only win being a 34-18 decision over Burrell.QB Garret Schaffhauser has put together a productive season for Freeport, throwing for 1,093 yards and 10 TDs, rushing for 451 and eight scores. RB Ricky Hunter has 546 yards and 7 TDs rushing. He also has 1,193 all-purpose yards for the Yellowjackets to go with his kicking duties. ... WR Brodey Woods has 27 catches for 400 yards and 5 TDs.Jake Johnson leads the Mt. Pleasant attack with 747 yards and 13 TDs rushing, along with 291 yards on 15 receptions. ... RB Nick Loughner has 516 yards and 5 TDs on the ground.
7 p.m., FridayKiski was defeated by McKeesport last week in a non-conference game, 46-0. Mars sustained a Northern Conference upset, losing 30-28 to Fox Chapel.The Cavaliers' two conference wins have come against Fox Chapel (36-17) and Hampton (21-17).Mars' slight passing game received a boost last week when sophomore QB Quinn Fuller threw for 158 yds. Defensively, the Planets allowed Fox Chapel QB Shane Susnak to pass for 258 yards and three TDs. ... Mars can clinch a WPIAL playoff spot with a win. Mars has made the postseason 19 straight years.The Planets defeated Kiski last year, 38-0.
7 p.m., FridayNorth Catholic won big at Uniontown last week, 56-14. Yough fell, 42-6, at Derry.Trojans' RB Anthony Serventi rushed for 142 yds. and scored four total TDs last week. WR Nick Maher added two TD receptions from QB Zack Rocco, who leads Butler County with 1,437 passing yards and 15 TDs.Yough QB Gamal Marballie has passed for 949 yards and eight TDs and also leads the team with 582 rushing yards ... The Cougars have scored six or fewer points in four games this season.North Catholic defeated the Cougars last year, 41-0.
7 p.m., FridayBoth teams were involved in a shutout last week. While Union/ACV crushed Cameron County, 52-0, Redbank lost a 56-0 decision at Coudersport.U/ACV signal caller Luke Bowser has thrown 12 TD passes and 12 INTs. He also leads the team with 6 rushing TDs.The Falcon Knights have averaged 32.6 points in their six wins, but have scored a total of 22 points in 2 defeats.The Bulldogs are led by a dynamic quartet in the ground game. Ray Shreckengost, Kobe Bonanno, Hudson Martz and QB Gunner Mangiantini have combined for 1,541 yards and 25 TDs.Redbank defeated the Falcon Knights last season, 33-7.
12:30 p.m., SaturdaySteel Valley defeated Apollo-Ridge last week, 20-14. Summit won for the first time this season with a 14-0 decision over Valley.The Ironmen began the season with three straight losses, but have won three of their last four games. ... Steel Valley, the defending WPIAL champion, is led by former longtime West Mifflin head coach Ray Braszo.Summit's Paul Hines intercepted three passes last week, all of them in Knights' territory. Da' Shea McCoy returned a fumble 87 yards for a TD. Those plays came as part of a defensive effort that held Valley QB Cayden Quinn to 2-of-20 passing for 18 yards. ... Summit's offensive TD came on a 9-yard run by QB Camer Curry.The win snapped an 18-game losing streak for the Knights.Steel Valley beat the Knights last year, 48-0.
