CHERRY TWP — Warren Christy shrugs off the question much like he shrugs off double teams as a nose tackle for the Moniteau High football team.

How does he handle what might be the most thankless job on the field?

"It takes a lot to do it," Christy said. "You just have to be ready for it."

Christy has been more than ready.

The 6-foot-2, 290-pound senior has been the key to the Warriors' switch to a 3-4 defense this season.

Christy's responsibility is to take up as much space and as many blockers as possible so that Moniteau's big and athletic linebackers can make the stops.

He won't jump out on the stat sheet. He won't get many sacks or tackles. But he is arguably the most important player on the Moniteau defense.

"What we do on defense we wouldn't be able to do with Warren Christy," said Moniteau coach Jeff Campbell.

Playing in the middle is not all that different for Christy. He had a similar position last year in Moniteau's 3-5 scheme.

But his role is even more important this season.

"His job is to work," Campbell said. "He's either slanting or working in those A-gaps, making sure he is clogging stuff up.

"He couldn't care less about stats or getting beat around all game," Campbell said. "That's the type of kid he is."

With Christy as the rock in the middle, the Moniteau defense certainly hasn't disappointed.

The undefeated Warriors have the top-ranked defense in Butler County, yielding a total of 196 yards rushing in four games.

Opponents are averaging 111 total yards and 6.5 points per game.

"I think it's going to be really hard for teams to scheme," Campbell said. "This is the first year I can honestly say we are proficient in all three phases of our defense. We have things we haven't even shown yet."

That's got to be scary for Moniteau's future opponents.

What's even scarier is watching 6-foot-3, 235-pound Tyler Armagost and 6-4, 200-pound Jake Boy running free toward the quarterback as Christy swallows up blockers in the middle.

"Everyone is attacking this year," Armagost said. "This year, we want to come out and prove something."

There have been games this season in which Armagost said the attacking Warriors defense has been nearly unblockable.

"Me and Jake, it's nice," Armagost said. "It's nice to be able just to crash in there and kill people."

They are free to act on their murderous impulses thanks to the big — and humble — man in the middle.

"I just do my job," Christy said. "It doesn't bother me much. Whatever I can do to help the team. If that means getting knocked around in there, that's OK."