Moniteau vs. KC, Part II
This is one in a series of articles previewing Butler County high school football matchups this FridayBoth teams are coming off heartbreaking losses.That's why both teams are happy to be playing each other.Nothing refocuses a group like playing a rival. And nothing helps soothe the sting of a last-second loss like a good ol' Karns City vs. Moniteau matchup.“That helps,” said Karns City coach Joe Sherwin.When the two teams clash at 7 p.m. Friday at Diehl Stadium, both will be licking wounds from a game that got away.Moniteau (1-4) led DuBois 16-12 late, but the Beavers scored the game-winning touchdown with three seconds remaining.Karns City (3-2) led Central Clarion by 20 points in the fourth quarter, but watched the Wildcats snag a 43-35 lead with 28 unanswered points.In the final minute, the Gremlins drove and scored on a 15-yard pass as time expired, but the 2-point conversion try failed, handing Karns City a disheartening two-point home loss.
“You're certainly disappointed by the outcome,” Sherwin said. “You're in control of the game the first three quarters. We have to fix some things. We have to protect the ball.”Karns City won the first meeting, 31-8, all the way back in Week 1.Both teams have changed quite a bit since then.Karns City has settled on Eric Booher at quarterback.Booher threw for 212 yards in the loss to Central Clarion. He has completed 24 of 53 for 440 yards and four touchdowns this season.Booher threw a pair of touchdowns and also ran for one against Central Clarion.“He made a lot of plays this last game,” Sherwin said. “We're hoping he continues to improve. He has some little things to get better at, but he made some nice throws. We look forward to seeing how he progresses.”Moniteau has also settled on David Stamm under center.Stamm has thrown for 151 yards in the Warriors' run-heavy attack.Mason Mershimer has emerged as the bellcow of the Moniteau attack. The senior running back has 537 yards and five touchdowns this season.“I've been impressed with Mershimer,” Sherwin said. “He's a warrior. I give that kid a lot of credit.”He's been running well thanks to the unsung efforts of center Maverick Sutton and guard Connor Kline, Rottman said.“(Kline isn't) the biggest kid in the world, but he's given absolutely everything he's had on Friday nights,” Rottman said. “Maverick Sutton is the same. He gives a lot of effort every single night.”That's one thing Rottman hasn't had to concern himself with this season, even with his team winning just one game.Effort.“I know the record doesn't show it, but I don't have to get them ready to play,” Rottman said. “All year long they've been ready to play, given great effort, played for each other and worked hard.”Moniteau's secondary may be tested again this week.The Warriorss gave up 430 yards in the air to Central Clarion's Calvin German and 329 to Brookville's Jack Krug in back-to-back weeks. Cam-Ron Hays threw for 191 yards last week for DuBois.“We've shuffled some personnel around and we got (defensive back A.J. McElravy) back — he's still not quite where he was,” Rottman said. “We have Stamm at corner and that helps a little bit. We're trying to get better in that area. If you can't cover 'em, you have to get pressure.”Rottman is expecting a much closer game on the scoreboard this time around.“The scores haven't really shown how well we've played this season,” Rottman said. “If we can put four quarters together, I think we can surprise some people.”
