CHERRYTWP — Six and stop.

That's a trend Moniteau hopes to change Saturday when the Warriors face unbeaten Karns City at 4:30 p.m. for the District 9 Class AAfootball championship at Clarion University's Memorial Stadium.

Three of the last four years, Moniteau lost in postseason play while seeking its seventh win of the season. The exception was a 5-5 record in 2004.

"Maybe it will help us, playing them for a second time,"Warriors coach Jeff Campbell said. "We've seen what they can do. We've seen them at the top of their game.

"I don't know that they've seen us at our best. I hope not."

Karns City handed Moniteau a 39-19 loss on Oct. 12, jumping on the Warriors for a 32-7 lead by halftime and starting its rival on a four-game slide that wasn't halted until Saturday's 38-12 playoff win at Brookville.

"Our kids still feel like we've got something to prove ... maybe not to anybody else, but to ourselves,"Campbell said. "The team that showed up last Saturday, that's our football team. We need to play with passion and intensity. We need to play mad.

"The first quarter of this game is going to be huge. If we start on defense, we need to make a play, force a mistake or get them off the field quickly. If we start on offense, we need to score quickly or use a long drive to put points on the board."

Campbell defends his team's record by looking at the Warriors' schedule.

"We played St. Marys, Western Beaver and Sharon out of conference. All three of those teams were still in the playoffs up to last week,"he said.

When it comes to beating the Gremlins, there isn't much margin for error.

Karns City has numerous quality running backs, including Brett Green, Markus LaVan and Stephon Conto. Quarterback Anthony Stimac can go to any number of receivers and run the ball himself.

"They have so many weapons that you're never sure from which direction they're going to come at you,"Campbell said. "Conto can break a big play at any time. LaVan would be a standout back on most teams. On this team, he's just one piece of the arsenal."

When it comes to physicality, tight end-defensive end Cameron Turner brings it as well as anybody.

"He's a big target and a great blocker,"Campbell said. "Defensively, the kid just disrupts plays. There's not a high school coach anywhere around here who wouldn't love having Cameron Turner on his team."

Matt McConnell and Mike McConnell handle the kicking and punting chores for the Gremlins. The former has booted five field goals and 50 PATs this season.

"He's only missed two or three extra points all year,"Campbell said. "He could make a pretty good Division I kicker for somebody."

Moniteau opted for two-point conversion attempts after each of its touchdowns Saturday.

Warriors sophomore running back James Shope enters this game needing 17 yards rushing for 1,000. Junior quarterback Tyler Armagost went over the 2,000-yard passing mark for the season on Saturday and has 23 touchdown tosses.

Defensively, Justin Ellenberger and Brice Schwab give Moniteau physical power as down tackles.

"They wreaked havoc against Brookville and they need to do that again,"Campbell said.

Outside linebacker Jacob Boy had a huge game Saturday, tallying seven solo tackles, a forced fumble, a recovered fumble, a quarterback sack, interception, pass deflection and two quarterback hurries.

"He picked up about every stat you can on defense,"Campbell said.

Moniteau has had little luck against Karns City in recent years. The Gremlins lead the overall series between the teams 35-17-3 and have won 13 of the past 15 meetings.

The teams have met in the playoffs both of the last two years and split close games. Moniteau claimed a 10-7 triumph in 2005 and lost the district title game to Brockway the following week.

Karns City defeated the Warriors 32-29 in the district semifinals last year, then lost to Brookville in the district finals.

Moniteau has never won a District 9 title. Karns City's last title was in 2001.

Video highlights of Saturday's Karns City-Moniteau District 9 title game will be available at www.butlereagle.com.