CHERRY TWP. - Union made more first downs, committed fewer penalties and gained more total yardage than Moniteau.

But Union didn't have Matt Schandelmeier.

Moniteau's 6-foot-3, 216-pound senior gained 161 yards and scored four touchdowns as the Warriors cruised past Union, 40-0, in high school football Friday night.

"It is nice to see that he has gotten faster and he runs harder and he is able to turn the corner and really go," said Moniteau coach Steve Wilson.

On the first drive of the game, Union was able to march to the Moniteau 33-yard line. However, Knights quarterback Toby Painter threw an interception to Garth Kohlmeyer, who returned the ball to the Union 43.

Four plays later, Schandelmeier bulldozed his way into the end zone from the 1-yard line, giving the Warriors a 6-0 advantage.

Moniteau scored again less than two minutes later when Ryan Protzman intercepted a Painter pass and returned it 40 yards for the touchdown.

"A couple of those picks early in the first quarter that led to touchdowns killed us, momentum-wise," said Union coach Tom Kidder. "We're just making a lot of mistakes out there.

"We're playing a little better football than we have been, but we're still making too many mistakes."

With 7:55 left in the second quarter, Moniteau added to its lead when Schandelmeier blasted through the Union defense for an 8-yard score.

Schandelmeier set up the touchdown run by rumbling 65 yards down the sideline before being forced out of bounds at the Union 8-yard line.

The Warriors extended their lead to 26-0 with two minutes left in the first half when Schandelmeier ran a halfback dive up the middle for a 27-yard score.

Schandelmeier averaged a whopping 16 yards per carry.

The Union backfield duo of Colton Davis and Colby Davis (no relation) were able to rush for 147 yards combined, with Colby Davis leading the way with 97 yards.

"We had to put Colby and Colton in the same backfield tonight because Josh Holden got hurt and (Holden) is a good wingback for us," said Kidder. "I don't like to run a freshman as much as I did Colby tonight, but he is up to the challenge."

"Both those Davis kids run the ball very, very well," said Wilson. "You can't hit Colton up in the shoulder pads and expect to bring him down."

Adam Cousins got into the scoring act for the Warriors when he raced 13 yards for the last score of the game with 3:18 left in the third quarter.

Cousins had 64 yards on seven carries.

"(Cousins) is great in space," said Wilson. "We try to get him the ball on the perimeter, and when he breaks into the secondary, he is a threat to score at any time."

Union outgained Moniteau 263 yards to 253 and the Knights had 10 first downs compared to the Warriors eight.

"That is probably the best Union football team I have seen in years," added Wilson.