Rivalry Renewed
This is one in a series of articles previewing Butler County high school football matchups this weekend.The Moniteau and Karns City football teams aren't really sure what to expect off the football field Friday night.The Warriors and Gremlins are a little foggy about what will transpire on the field, too.It's a new age of high school football amid a pandemic.A game that would usually draw a huge crowd will only have a smattering of people on hand when the two teams clash at 7 p.m. at Moniteau in the first of two meetings this season.“I don't know what it's going to be like,” said Karns City coach Joe Sherwin. “It's my first time experiencing anything like this. You're kind of into the fans the first few plays and then I think you just focus on your job for that play. I'm hoping that's the mental focus we have.”Karns City will have to show a lot of focus against Moniteau and its two-headed quarterback attack.With senior Brady Thompson running the offense, the Warriors will be a spread team, as it showed in their scrimmage this weekend.When senior David Stamm takes the reins, Moniteau will run more of a Wing-T attack.That means the Gremlins essentially have had to prepare for two attacks this week.“We have a couple of different looks, a couple of vastly different philosophies on offense and we have to be prepared for both of them,” Sherwin said.Thompson started last season at quarterback for Moniteau, but lasted just one half of the first game after breaking his wrist. He returned late in the season.Stamm filled in for him and spent the offseason improving his arm strength and accuracy.Moniteau coach Bob Rottman said he is confident with either QB.“We're going to use them both,” Rottman said. “I'm going to use both of their abilities depending on what the situation is.”Rottman isn't alone.Sherwin also plans on using two quarterbacks against Moniteau.Luckily for these teams there is no limit on how many quarterbacks can be used in a game during a pandemic.Brayden Christie, a 6-foot-1 senior, and 6-foot, 200-pound sophomore Eric Booher will both play, Sherwin said.“Brayden is a little better runner,” Sherwin said. “He's accurate with his passes. Eric has a little better arm strength and is a decent runner.”Both teams also feel good about their defenses.Karns City returns eight to that unit and added sophomore Micah Rupp to that equation.Rupp is an athletic safety who can cover the pass and come up for run support.Moniteau also is excited about its defense with J.D. Dessicino returning to anchor the linebacker corps.Two years ago, Dessicino had an 18-tackle game against Karns City as a sophomore.“Playing Moniteau and with everything else going on on top of that, I think the guys are ready to go,” Sherwin said. “We're just ready to finally play football.”
