There's no quarterback controversy at Moniteau — just ask coach Steve Wilson.

"What we have is a quarterback blessing,"Wilson said. "A school our size having two kids we have confidence in, both excellent passers who support each other and work with each — it's been a lot of fun this year."

With Josh Loos sidelined by illness last week, sophomore Tyler Armagost made his first varsity start behind center look easy, completing 10 of 13 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns in a 35-0 win over A-C Valley.

Armagost likely will start again Friday as the Warriors (3-0) travel to Union (1-2) for a 7 p.m. kickoff. Loos is listed as questionable and did not practice Monday or Tuesday.

"This is why I'm glad we have both of those guys,"Wilson said.

Moniteau limited A-CValley to 35 yards of offense last week and faces a Golden Knights team that's improved in moving the football this season.

Union snapped a 30-game losing streak in Week 1 before dropping decisions of 49-20 and 25-7 to Redbank Valley and Keystone the past two weeks.

"We're more competitive this year, and that's showing on the scoreboard,"Union coach Tom Kidder said. "We're getting more of a push upfront and we're playing more physical.

"Moniteau will be a challenge because they put eight or nine in the box and like to blitz their linebackers. They play a very aggressive style of defense."

Zach Himes has thrown for 246 yards for the Golden Knights while Nate Boltz has rushed for 141 yards and caught seven passes for 103 more.

Boltz returns kickoffs and punts as well.

"Boltz is the guy who makes you nervous because he's one of those kids who can pop one for the distance at any time,"Wilson said. "We want to force teams to drive down the field against us.

"We have a kid of our own like that in Adam Cousins. We know the kind of damage those guys can do."

The Warriors have permitted only 13 points so far this season.

Offensively, Cousins leads Moniteau with 24 carries for 146 yards. Loos has 18 carries for 120 while Adam Pry is developing into a big-play receiver with eight catches for 139 yards.

Kidder said his defensive line has led his team on that side of the ball.

Drew Logue is the nose guard with Tom Rainey and Jake Myers at end, Matt Kelly and Colby Davis at tackle.

"It's a slow, painful process, but as the kids learn the system, get stronger and execute, they're getting better,"Kidder said. "This is the same system we used at Moniteau, only the difference in the won-loss column isn't showing up as quickly here."

Wilson, who replaced Kidder at Moniteau, is a big supporter of the former Warriors coach.

"Tom is doing a great job with those kids," he said. "It's definitely not the Union of old."

Except in the size of the roster. The Golden Knights have on 23 players compared to Moniteau's 53.

"That's tough to overcome,"Kidder said. "But we can both only play 11 at a time."

"We try to take advantage of our depth, shuttle kids in and out and wear down the opposition by the fourth quarter,"Wilson said. "There's no denying that could be a factor this week."

Union leads the all-time series between the teams, 30-15, though Moniteau has won the last five meetings. The Golden Knights' last win in the series was a 30-21 decision in 2000.