RIMERSBURG - When Steve Wilson talks, his football team apparently listens.

"I wasn't happy with our first series of downs today," the Moniteau football coach said Saturday. "We can't wait two or three series to figure out our blocking schemes.

"I told the kids I expected better."

After going three-and-out on their initial possession Saturday, the Warriors scored touchdowns on their next six possessions of the first half and went on to throttle Union, 46-0, at Vidunas Stadium.

Moniteau's offense rang up 301 yards in the first half. The team's first-unit didn't play the second half.

The Warriors' first three touchdowns were set up by Union turnovers.

"Turnovers just killed us," Union coach Tom Kidder said. "They buried us."

Moniteau's Greg Kepple intercepted a pass at Union's 45-yard line with 8:36 left in the first quarter. Four plays later, fullback Matt Schandelmeier scored on a 26-yard run.

The Knights fumbled the kickoff and Moniteau's Vance Farren recovered the ball at the Union 21. Schandelmeier capped a five-play drive with a 4-yard run.

Schandelmeier wound up with 129 yards and three touchdowns - all in the first half.

On third-and-1 from his 42, Union quarterback Josh Holden was sacked and lost the football and Moniteau's Clay Campbell recovered at the 35-yard line.

Two plays later, Garth Kohlmeyer connected with Adam Cousins for a 28-yard touchdown pass. Kohlmeyer found Eric Hilliard for touchdown passes of 13 and 46 yards later in the half.

The score was 40-0 at intermission.

"I was particularly pleased with our defense today," Wilson said. "We feel we're stronger defensively than we are offensively right now."

The winless Golden Knights managed just one first down - courtesy of a roughing the punter penalty - all day. An 8-yard run by Toby Best was Union's most productive play from scrimmage.

Union never got past its own 45-yard line and had minus 31 yards in total offense. The Golden Knights suffered five turnovers.

"I knew they were going to be (physically) stronger than us," Kidder said. "We've had my weight program in place here for a month now.

"I'm trying to instill in these kids … Five years ago, Moniteau was where we're at right now."

Already low on numbers, Union played without injured left guard Donald Anthony Saturday. Tight end Nate Carmichael had to move to guard.

While Union has yet to score a point this season, Moniteau improved to 3-0 for the first time since 1960. The Warriors host Keystone Friday night.

Moniteau had 12 different players run the ball from scrimmage Saturday.

"We would have liked our first unit to play a little more than two quarters," Wilson said. "This wasn't an ideal situation for us, but the other kids on the team work just as hard. They deserve to get on the field, too."