The won-loss records are misleading. The numbers are very similar.

The rivalry is very, very real.

Moniteau (4-1, 3-0) travels to Karns City (2-3, 1-3) for a 7 p.m. kickoff Friday to renew one of Butler County's longest rivalries. The Gremlins hold a 30-16-3 edge in the all-time series.

"It's a good, healthy rivalry," Moniteau coach Steve Wilson said. "A lot of these kids are friends with each other outside of school.

"I think it's great they can have a competitive battle with each other in a healthy environment. Both teams are looking forward to this."

Both teams are also coming off losses. The Warriors were knocked from the unbeaten ranks by a 39-14 loss at home to Linsly Institute (W.Va.), a game Linsly led 39-0 at one point.

"We knew Linsly had speed at the skilled positions and it turned out their linemen were just as good," Wilson said. "They pushed us around for a while before we made some halftime adjustments and scored twice in the third quarter.

"In the long run, that game will help us and that's how the kids are looking at it. They showed us some things we have to do against quality competition."

The Gremlins suffered a 13-7 loss at Clarion.

"We got the physical effort Friday night," said Karns City coach Ed Conto. "There was a lot we worked on, but (Clarion) still got a lot of yards."

While Moniteau is 3-0 in KSAC play, it has yet to play fellow contenders Clarion, Clarion-Limestone or Redbank Valley. Karns City is 1-3 in league play and has lost to all three of those teams.

"They're a very good team - again," Wilson said of the Gremlins.

Skill-wise, the teams are comparable. Moniteau's Garth Kohlmeyer has thrown for 668 yards, Karns City's Stephen Black has thrown for 680.

Matt Schandelmeier of the Warriors has rushed for 549 yards and nine touchdowns. Josh Fiscus of the Gremlins has rushed for 504 yards and seven scores.

Moniteau's Eric Hilliard has 358 receiving yards and five touchdowns, Karns City's David Black 434 receiving yards and four scores.

"(Kohlmeyer throws a good ball and he has a good receiver in Eric Hilliard," said Conto. "He exploits the defense. They have a good connection. They're great players. That's why they're winning. They have the talent and the experience."

"There's not a lot of difference between us," Wilson said. "This may come down to the team making the fewest mistakes winding up the winner.

"Matt Schandelmeier vs. Josh Fiscus is a key match-up. Fiscus is their middle linebacker and a darn good one, and you know Matt's going to be coming through the middle."

Conto has seen first hand the improvement of the Warriors over the past few years.

"Where they're different than five or six years ago is they have good players at each position, but they have the backups too. They're talented players and they're deeper."

Wilson said approximately 4,000 people were at last year's Karns City-Moniteau game.

"Traffic was backed up down the road and it will be that way again," he said. "When the 50-50 drawing is worth $2,000, you know it's a big crowd.

"We're not used to artificial turf, but there won't be much of a difference playing over there because I'm sure we'll be well-represented in the stands."