CHERRY TWP — Now this game has taken on a whole new meaning.

With Moniteau's reversal Monday of a two-game forfeit against Karns City and Clarion, the Warriors and Gremlins will each try to pick up an all-important KSAC victory.

Moniteau (0-2, 0-0) enters the 7 p.m. contest Friday looking for its first victory after losing to Sharpsville and West Middlesex, the District 10 Class A finalists last season.

Forfeit or not, the Warriors weren't changing their approach against the Gremlins.

“We were planning on playing regardless and we were planning on playing hard regardless,” said Moniteau coach Jeff Campbell. “It's better now that we have a chance to win.”

To break into the win column, the Warriors must minimize critical errors, keeping Karns City out of favorable field position and making the Gremlins fight for every yard.

“We can't make mistakes and kill drives. We can't give them points,” Campbell explained. “We're just not that proficient of a team right now.”

Despite Moniteau's lopsided losses in its first two games, Karns City coach Ed Conto understands the Warriors will steadily improve.

“Moniteau has played two teams with high hopes of getting to the playoffs right out of the gate,” said Conto. “Moniteau has some young kids. They have to find their way.

“They'll be strong later in the season, just like us.”

Last season, Dustin Geagan rushed for 1,534 yards and 17 touchdowns and pulled in 10 catches for 268 yards. After two games this year, he has just 60 yards on 26 carries and no scores.

Quarterback Denny Pry is 9-of-23 passing for 101 yards with one TD and one interception. His top target has been Drew Yeckel with five receptions for 64 yards and one score.

“We improved from Week 1 to Week 2. We hung with (West Middlesex) until the half,” said Campbell. “The kids never quit in either game. They fought until the very end.”

Karns City (1-1, 1-0) opened with a 38-25 victory against St. Marys before a 34-12 loss to Clarion on Saturday.

“We thought Clarion was a very good team coming in,” Conto said. “They are a senior-loaded team and they're clicking on all cylinders.

“We're still shuffling some people around. It usually takes about three or four weeks to gel. We did improve throughout the game, but, five turnovers, you can't have that.

“I saw some good things. We played better, but we still have to improve,” Conto added.

The Gremlins offense has been paced by quarterback Tyler Kepple, who has completed 14 of 26 passes for 180 yards, one touchdown and one interception and leads the team with 167 yards and one score on 14 carries.

“Kepple is developing into a very nice quarterback. Their line is good off the ball both offensively and defensively,” said Campbell. “It's going to be a tough game.”

Coaches: Knoch, Mike King; Derry, Al GaiardoLast Week: Knoch defeated Trinity, 40-7; Derry lost to Mars, 56-0Numbers: Knoch RB Ben Tackett has scored eight touchdowns through two games. ... Derry RB Josh Wannamaker has scored all five of his team's touchdowns. ... Derry coach Gaiardo was 2-7 in his first season at the helm for the Trojans. He replaced Ron Polinsky, who was 10-40 in five seasons.Notes: Derry is 13-39 in league games since 2004 and just 13-25 in home games. The Trojans have not played Knoch during that time. The Knights are 1-2 all-time against Derry.

Coaches: Central Tech, Rob Matz; Slippery Rock, Brendan HathawayLast week: Central Tech fell to East, 28-22 in OT while Slippery Rock hammered Meadville 42-7Numbers: Slippery Rock FB Jeff Croll is off to a great start with 190 yards rushing and three touchdowns on only 18 carries ... Rockets' QB Ryan Currie is similarly off to a hot start with 260 yards and five TDs rushing. ... Central QB Paul Kadfando rushed for 1,152 yards and 14 TDs last season, but missed the game against East for disciplinary reasons. ... Sophomore Eric Mitchell filled in and threw for 88 yards in the loss for the Falcons.Notes: Central has not had a winning season in the last 10 years. ... The two teams haven't met since Oct. 26, 2007 when the Rockets won 42-8

Coaches: Deer Lakes, Todd Hazlett; Freeport, John GaillotLast Week: Deer Lakes lost to Shady Side Academy, 20-7; Freeport edged Ford City, 19-14Numbers: Deer Lakes QBJosh Plocki, a junior, threw for 481 yards and six touchdowns last year. ... The Lancers returns 13 starters from a year ago. ... Freeport was in a scoreless duel with Ford City at halftime and trailed 14-13 before Damon Smith's 1-yard touchdown run with 11 seconds remaining gave the Yellowjackets the win. Smith rushed for 62 yards on 16 carries. ... Quarterback Brendan Lynch also scored on a 22-yard run and threw a 13-yard scoring pass to Dustin Koedel.Notes: Freeport blanked the Lancers 30-0 last season.

Coaches: Union, Dave Louder; Redbank Valley, Ed WasilowskiLast week: Union beat Punxsutawney 21-6; Redbank Valley lost 22-13 by Brookville.Numbers: Union QB/CB Brody Shick picked off three Punxsutawney passes last week, giving him four interceptions for the year. ... Bulldogs QB Jake Dougherty rushed for both Redbank Valley TDs last week. ... RB Brandon Bailey led the Bulldogs with 53 rushing yards on 18 carries in the loss to Brookville and scored a TD in Week 1.Notes: Opponents have outgained Union in each of the first two games, but the Golden Knights still prevailed. ... Redbank Valley has been outscored 43-20 in the first two weeks by Keystone and Brookville.

Coaches: Reynolds, Jerry Pacifico; Grove City, Jeff BellLast week: Reynolds downed Titusville 19-6 while Grove City outlasted Wilmington 19-7.Numbers: Sophomore QB Jared Graham has been impressive in his first two starts for Grove City, completing 7-of-10 passes for 181 yards and a pair of scores. ... Graham also has rushed for 67 yards. ... Senior RB Harold Price and junior RB Foster Reznor lead the Eagles with 134 yards rushing each. ... Senior WB Chad Williams has become a big-play threat for GC with 89 yards and three touchdowns on the ground and 120 yards on three receptions in the air and a score. ... Reynolds attempted just one pass in its 44-0 Week 1 win over Maplewood.Notes: The Raiders are off it their first 2-0 start since 2005. That also was the last year Reynolds beat Grove City. ... The Raiders have just one winning season (2005) in the last 10 years.

Coaches: Clarion-Limestone, Jason Kundick; A-C Valley, Brad DittmanLast Week: The Lions fell 83-12 at Warren while A-C Valley dropped a 26-13 decision at Clay-Battelle (W.Va.).Numbers: C-L junior quarterback Christian Bakewell completed 13-of-23 passes last week for 113 yards and two touchdowns ... Falcons' QB Kevin Kaufman has completed 23-of-50 passes for 280 yards with two TDs and three interceptions ... Sophomore DB Hunter Defibaugh leads the Falcons in tackles with 18 (16 solo).Notes: The Lions have been outscored 140-12 in their two contests ... A-C Valley has dropped 12 straight to the Lions. The Falcons' last win in the series was a 40-10 triumph in 1999.Burrell (2-0, 1-0) at Summit Ac. (1-1, 0-1) 12:30 p.m., Saturday

Last Week: Burrell dispatched Valley, 41-6; Summit Academy beat Waynesburg, 8-7.Numbers: Burrell RB Cole Bush continues to impress, ringing up 242 yards and three touchdowns against Valley. In two games so far, he's rushed for 473 yards and eight TDs... The Knights used a 65-yard scoring pass from Chris Harp to Jamel King in the third quarter to take the lead against the Raiders. William Johnson's critical two-point conversion run proved to be the difference.