Karns City football routs Moniteau in rivalry rematch as Owen Heginbotham, Hunter Scherer put up big games
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Karns City lines up against Moniteau during the first quarter of the game Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at Moniteau High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Karns City celebrates after scoring its third touchdown of the game against Moniteau, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at Moniteau High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau running back Brendin Sankey (9) runs the ball during the first quarter of the game against Karns city, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at Moniteau High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau football head coach Clay Kohlmeyer talks with quarterback Weston Cook (20) before the start of the game against Karns City, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at Moniteau High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Karns City defensive lineman Hayden Coone (55) brings down Moniteau quarterback Weston Cook (20) during the first quarter of the game, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at Moniteau High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Karns City lines up against Moniteau during the first quarter of the game Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at Moniteau High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Karns City wins against Moniteau 56-7 in a football game Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at Moniteau High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Karns City wins against Moniteau 56-7 in a football game Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at Moniteau High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Karns City wins against Moniteau 56-7 in a football game Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at Moniteau High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Karns City wins against Moniteau 56-7 in a football game Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at Moniteau High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Karns City wins against Moniteau 56-7 in a football game Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at Moniteau High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Karns City wins against Moniteau 56-7 in a football game Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at Moniteau High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Karns City wins against Moniteau 56-7 in a football game Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at Moniteau High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Karns City wins against Moniteau 56-7 in a football game Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at Moniteau High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Karns City wins against Moniteau 56-7 in a football game Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at Moniteau High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau running back Brendin Sankey runs the ball during the first quarter of the game against Karns city, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at Moniteau High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Karns City defensive lineman Hayden Coone (55) brings down Moniteau quarterback Weston Cook (20) during the first quarter of the game, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at Moniteau High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau football head coach Clay Kohlmeyer talks with quarterback Weston Cook before the start of the game against Karns City, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at Moniteau High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Karns City wins against Moniteau 56-7 in a football game Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at Moniteau High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau wide reciever Blaine Jamison (7) runs the ball during the game against Karns City, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at Moniteau High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau water boy Caiden Czepiel, left, talks with his brother Landon Czepiel during the game against Karns City, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at Moniteau High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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The Moniteau High School band performs during the halftime of the game against Karns City, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at Moniteau High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau offensive lineman Tyler Boring (65)warms up before the game the game against Karns City, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at Moniteau High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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The Moniteau High School cheer team performs alongside the band during the halftime of the game against Karns City, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at Moniteau High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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The Moniteau High School band and cheer team perform during the halftime of the game against Karns City, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at Moniteau High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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The Moniteau High School band performs during the halftime of the game against Karns City, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at Moniteau High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Karns City kicks the ball during the game against Karns City, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at Moniteau High School. Matthew Brown/Butler EagleMatthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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The Karns City High School band performs during the halftime of the game against Karns City, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at Moniteau High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Karns City quarterback Cole Johnston (7) throws the ball downfield during the game against Karns City, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at Moniteau High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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The Moniteau football team run onto the field carrying the American flag, alongiside flags to honor members of the armed forces before the game against Karns City, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at Moniteau High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Karns City running back Owen Heginbotham (22) runs the ball during the game against Karns City, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at Moniteau High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
CHERRY TWP — Karns City convincingly won the battle for northern Butler County, defeating arch-rival Moniteau 56-7.
On its eight offensive drives, the Gremlins' offense scored touchdowns seven times. Perhaps even more dominant was the Gremlins’ defense. The Warriors did not pick up a single first down on offense until the final play of the third quarter and were held off of the scoreboard until Brendin Sankey scored a consolation touchdown with less than nine minutes remaining.
“I don’t think you ever come into a game expecting that,” Karns City head coach Joe Sherwin said. “Our focus was just trying to get better, improving our techniques, improving every part of our game so that we can become the best football team we can.”
The Gremlins (3-1) scored first after they capitalized on a botched snap on a Moniteau punt, which gave Karns City excellent field position. Hunter Scherer closed out the drive with a 2-yard touchdown, and less than four minutes later he had a second after breaking off a 15-yard run.
In the second quarter, the Gremlins picked up their fourth touchdown on a drive that lasted minutes in game time, but close to 10 minutes in reality. Initially, Cole Johnston scored on a 45-yard quarterback keeper, but the score was called back for holding and another 15 yards were tacked on afterward for an unsportsmanlike conduct foul.
This was only a minor setback for the Gremlins, who made up the combined 25 penalty yards to score on a 12-yard touchdown by Nathan Hess, even after two more Karns City penalties set them back further.
KC’s Bryce Galan had a exceptional day, returning a punt for a touchdown and picking off a pass from Cook. Meanwhile, Owen Heginbotham and Hunter Scherer combined for 194 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.
Moniteau (2-2) was able to avoid the shutout thanks in large part to a lengthy kickoff return from Ian Ross, which almost went the distance before defensive end Mason Bell stopped him at the Gremlins’ 25-yard line. The Warriors were able to drive the length of the field on six plays to nab their only points of the game.
Moniteau was held to just 37 yards on the ground and 7 through the air. Sankey led with 14 carries for 9 yards.
“They were a big, tough, physical team, and they just bullied out around the field tonight,” Moniteau head coach Clay Kohlmeyer said. “They’re angry because it’s a rivalry, but after tomorrow, they’ll be all right. I basically told them to let it sit in and let it go.”
Karns City’s win moves it to 3-1, and the Gremlins hope to build on that in their next game, at home against Punxsutawney. Moniteau heads on the road to play Keystone next week.
Karns City 21 21 14 0 — 42
Moniteau 0 0 0 7 — 7
First quarter
KC — Hunter Scherer 2 run (Trevor Rumbaugh kick good) 7:50
KC — Hunter Scherer 15 run (Rumbaugh kick good) 4:01
KC — Bryce Galan 70 punt return (Rumbaugh kick good) 2:11
Second quarter
KC — Nathan Hess 9 run (Rumbaugh kick good) 5:45
KC — Owen Heginbotham 8 run (Rumbaugh kick good) 3:15
KC — Cole Johnston 21 run (Rumbaugh kick good) 0:52
Third quarter
KC — Tyson Frazer 1 run (Rumbaugh kick good) 6:30
KC — Keagan Schrecengost 21 pass from Cole Johnston (Rumbaugh kick good) 1:30
Fourth quarter
M — Brendin Sankey 1 run (Kern kick good) 8:48
Individual statistics
Rushing: Karns City, Johnston 3-39, Heginbotham 11-133, Scherer 6-61, Hess 1-12, Szczygiel 3-33, Hamilton 2-8, Frazer 1-1, Galan 1-3, Neal 1-2, Geibel 2-4. Moniteau, Sankey 14-9, Lacava 4-5, Shakley 2-5, Cook 2-8.
Passing: Karns City, Johnston 5-7-95-0, Geibel 0-1-0-0. Moniteau, Cook 1-4-7-1.
Receiving: Karns City, Hess 2-14, Farren 1-44, Schrecengost 1-21, Galan 1-16. Moniteau, Allison 1-7.
