KARNS CITY — After giving up 200 yards to the Karns City football team in the first half, Moniteau made a decision in the locker room at halftime.

The line must be drawn here. This far, and no further.

"We went into halftime and said, 'We are having no more of this,'" said senior defensive end Ryan Protzman. "We are laying it on the line in the second half. If we win or lose, it's going to be all on the field."

The pep talk worked.

In the first half, Karns City quarterback Steve Black victimized the Warriors defense by throwing for 137 yards and a touchdown to build a 7-0 lead. Most of the of the damage came on simple fade patterns to Justin Switzer, who caught three passes for 102 yards, including a 43-yard touchdown.

In the second half, though, Moniteau's defense tightened, giving up just 43 yards and only 11 through the air. It didn't give up a play covering more than 10 yards.

The Warriors also forced three turnovers in the final 24 minutes, including an interception return for a touchdown by David Rumbaugh and another interception by Protzman that stalled a Karns City drive deep in Moniteau territory.

It all led to a 10-7 victory in the District 9 Class AA semifinal.

"Basically, we made adjustments to take away their passing game," said Moniteau coach Steve Wilson. "That really paid off for us. It forced them to run, and our strength is stopping the run."

Karns City managed just 95 yards rushing on 36 carries as the aggressive Moniteau defense was swarming Friday night.

Protzman ended up with 11 tackles and Clay Campbell had seven for the Warriors.

But perhaps the player with the biggest impact was outside linebacker Matt Schandelmeier.

The senior had only four tackles, but he was disruptive all night. Karns City players were called for holding three times while trying to block Schandelmeier, and he got to Black and forced an incomplete pass on a fourth-and-4 at Karns City's 22 late in the fourth quarter to give the Warriors the ball back for good.

"Teams are holding him every play," Wilson said. "He's been a team player all year. He's gone back in coverage instead of pressuring the quarterback as much as he did last year, and that's really helped us out."

Schandelmeier isn't about statistics. Last year he had 12 sacks, but this year he has only three.

"I said last year in the Butler Eagle I'd rather have a game-saving tackle than a bunch of big stats," Schandelmeier said.

Instead, he had a game-saving block.

Schandelmeier swatted down a 23-yard field goal attempt by Gremlins kicker Matt McConnell on the final play of the first half that kept the score at 7-0.

"I just went for a gap, gave it my all and hoped to God I would get there and get a hand on it," Schandelmeier said.

The win served notice that, contrary to popular belief, the Warriors can play defense.

Moniteau lost three games this season in which it gave up a combined 25 points.

"Defense is attitude," Wilson said. "That's what we have out there."

And they had a little good fortune, too.

Protzman's interception of Black off a tipped ball at the line by Campbell, snuffed out Karns City's last good scoring chance.

It literally fell into his lap.

"I looked up and all I saw was the lights," Protzman said. "All I did was put out my hands and the ball just fell into them. I was like, 'Oh my God. How did I catch that?'"

Now Moniteau will ride a wave into the district finals against either Redbank Valley, the only team to exploit the Warriors defense, or Brockway. Those two teams play Saturday.

"Our defense," Protzman said, "That's the heart of our team. This team never gives up."