SAINT MARYS — In one respect, the Moniteau football team's effort improved immensely in Friday's rematch with St. Marys.

But where it mattered most — on the scoreboard — the Warriors fell just short.

Moniteau's defense held a potent Flying Dutchmen ground attack to just 64 yards, but the offense failed to adequately support it in a 7-6 loss in a District 9 Class AA semifinal at Dutch Country Stadium.

The Warriors gave up 261 rushing yards to St. Marys in a 35-6 setback Oct. 24.

“We stuck with our 5-3 (defense) and the guys left it on the field tonight,” said Warriors' coach Wade Vogan. “They played with heart.”

Moniteau (5-6) managed a late drive that reached the Dutchmen's 22 yard-line, where the Warriors faced a fourth-and-7. With an anemic passing attack that had yielded just one completion for 15 yards in the game, Vogan elected to have Brendon Stamm try a 39-yard field goal, but the senior never got the chance.

The snap slipped from the grasp of holder Josh McBride, who picked the ball up and raced around right end before being tackled two yards shy of a first down. St. Marys took over with one minute left in the game and kneeled on the ball.

Stamm was not called on to kick an extra point following the Warriors' lone touchdown in the game — McBride's 20-yard run midway through the second period. Rather, the Warriors' two-point conversion attempt failed.

“That was our first field goal (attempt) this season,” said Vogan. “Brendon had only kicked extra points this season and he hadn't done that since the Redbank Valley game (Oct. 17). But I felt going for the field goal gave us the best chance.”

Moniteau's last drive began on its own 42 with 5:56 left in the game. McBride carried the ball five times and gained 23 yards to help move the ball to St. Marys' 25. But he was stopped for no gain on back-to-back plays. On third down, Shawn Giddings was held to a 3-yard gain before the field goal unit was sent onto the field.

Cody Skiver, usually Moniteau's starting quarterback, did not play under center due to a leg injury, but did play at wide receiver and at cornerback on defense.

“He got hurt last week against Union,” said Vogan. “In our offense, the quarterback runs a lot and I didn't want him to get beat up.”

Derek Boben replaced Skiver at signal caller and struggled, completing one of his nine pass attempts and throwing a pair of interceptions.

But Boben did lead a spirited defensive effort that held St. Marys' running back duo of Kyle Glatt and T.J. Hogan to 75 yards on 28 carries. In the teams' first meeting, the two backs gained a combined 205 yards.

“That first game was an anomaly,” said St. Marys coach Tony Defilippi. “We knew this game would be much different. Moniteau had a nice game plan.”

The Dutchmen used a turnover to set up their only scoring drive of the game. Matt Marconi recovered a fumbled snap and St. Marys took over at Moniteau's 40-yard line with 3:30 left in the first half.

Personal foul and face-mask penalties on the Warriors aided the hosts. Glatt gained six yards on a fourth-and-3 play and four plays later, Hogan plowed into the end zone from a yard out. Zach Fox kicked the extra point, which proved to be the difference in the game.

McBride finished the game with 112 yards on 22 carries.

Vogan was in his first season as head coach at Moniteau. The Warriors missed the playoffs last year.

“I'm proud of every one of them,” he said of his players. “It was a great group to coach in my first season.”

St. Marys (8-3) will face Karns City (9-1) in the district title game at 7 p.m. next Friday at Clarion University's Memorial Stadium.

The Gremlins defeated the Dutchmen 42-0 Sept. 12.

“After we lost to Karns City in Week 3, we said our goal was to get a home playoff game. We got that,” Defilippi said. “Now we've given ourselves a chance to play for the title.”

St. Marys 7, Moniteau 6

Moniteau 0 6 0 0 — 6

St. Marys 0 7 0 0 — 7

M SM

12 First Downs 7

45-164 Rushes-Yards 40-64

15 Passing Yards 18

1-9-2 Comp.-Att.-Int 3-10-0

179 Total Yards 82

5-2 Fumbles-Lost 2-0

6-40 Penalty Yards 4-30

Second Quarter

M — Josh McBride 20 run (run failed), 5:51

SM — T.J. Hogan 1 run (Zach Fox kick), :50

Individual Statistics

Rushing: Moniteau, Josh McBride 22-112, Shawn Giddings 7-40, Wyatt Ifft 3-11, Derek Boben 11-10, Dacota Skiver 1-(-11), Cody Skiver 1-2. St. Marys, Kyle Glatt 11-12, T.J. Hogan 17-63, Pat Schlimm 10-(-7), Jordan Straub 2-(-4).

Passing: Moniteau, Derek Boben 1-9-15-2. St. Marys, Pat Schlimm 3-10-18-0.

Receiving: Moniteau, Cody Skiver 1-15. St. Marys, Jordan Straub 3-18.