Adam Cousins might be a do-everything senior for the Moniteau football team.

But keying on just one player won't be part of A-C Valley's defensive strategy when the two teams meet for a 7 p.m. kickoff Friday at Warriors Stadium.

Through two games, the 5-foot-6, 163-pound running back has scored three offensive touchdowns and is a threat on special teams, evidenced by his 95-yard kickoff return for a score in the season opener against Clarion-Limestone.

Also serving as the team's place-kicker, Cousins enters Friday's action with a total of 34 points.

But he isn't the Warriors' lone weapon.

And A-C Valley coach Randy Lemmon is well aware of it.

"We can't gear up to stop just one guy," said Lemmon. "If we do that, then somebody else will end up beating us."

Somebody, perhaps, like junior quarterback Josh Loos.

Loos has rushed the ball 18 times for 120 yards, including touchdown runs of 19 and 22 yards against C-L.

"We just have to try to get guys to play their positions and be in the right place," added Lemmon. "We're going to play them straight up."

The Falcons have started the season with back-to-back KSAC losses to Clarion (53-6) and C-L (14-6).

There was a bright spot in last week's defeat, however.

Junior tailback Mike Himes accounted for 245 offensive yards, returned two punts for 76 yards and returned a blocked punt 78 yards for his team's only score.

"He was our offense last week," said Lemmon. "He had a great night."

"He was outstanding in all phases of the game,"Moniteau Coach Steve Wilson said of Himes. "He's a dangerous athlete no matter how he gets the ball. We're gonna have to find a way to control him."

The bad news regarding Himes is that he's not sure who will be blocking up front for him against the Warriors (2-0, 1-0).

"We've played two games and we're starting to get nicked up a bit on the offensive line," said Lemmon. "I'm not sure who I'll have ready for Friday."

That could play into the hands of Moniteau, which prides itself on defensive play.

"We talk to our defense every week about getting the ball back in good position for the offense," Wilson said. "Field position is a big factor for us. We like to play in four-down territory.

"It always takes a few games for the passing game to come around. By week 4 or 5, you want to be operating on all cylinders offensively. But you have to get to that point."

Aaron Randall had the big game defensively for the Warriors in last week's 12-7 win over St. Marys. He had 13 tackles and two quarterback sacks in the contest.

Moniteau had to rally from a 7-0 halftime deficit to win last week, a fact that may benefit the squad in its preparation this week.

The Warriors opened the regular season with a 42-6 trouncing of Clarion-Limestone.

"Had we won by an easy score against St. Marys, the kids may have been resting on their laurels all week,"Wilson admitted. "But this hasn't been a week of smiles around here so far.

"We know we have to improve on technique and the kids want to get better. This is a pivotal week for a lot of reasons. It's good to be tested early as a team and succeed, but now, what do we do with it?

"The kids are using this game to keep moving forward,"Wilson added.

Himes and A-CValley quarterback Brad Rembold will be a tough tandem to defend Friday night.

"That's as good a one-two punch as anybody in the league has,"Wilson said. "But like most games, this one will be won up front."

The Falcons will be attempting to even the all-time series, which currently stands in Moniteau's favor at 18-17-4.

The Warriors have won five straight over A-C Valley, including last year's 48-7 result.