Stalker, Warriors use ground game to dispatch Bradford
CHERRY TWP — Visiting Bradford came in with its sights set on ending a 23-game losing streak, dating back to October 2019.
After falling behind by two scores in the second frame, Moniteau’s Hunter Stalker and David Dessicino had other plans.
The former rushed for a total of 160 yards, while the latter passed for a crucial touchdown before halftime. Both grabbed interceptions that helped keep the Owls scoreless in the second half and the Warriors came out on the right side of a 29-19 decision.
It was a battle of contrasting philosophies, as Bradford relied on sophomore quarterback Talan Reese’s arm and the hosts went for 289 yards on the ground.
“That’s the Wing-T,” Owls coach Jeff Puglio said. “It’s kind of painfully slow until they hit a big one ... It’s frustrating.”
Stalker entered the contest as the Butler County area’s second leading ballcarrier with 394 yards over the first five weeks.
“The kid is ful
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Moniteau kicks off to Bradford in the first quarter after a touchdown by Kole Scott on Friday night. Shane Potter/Butler Eagle 9/30/22
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Ashton Grossman 6, jumps up to celebrate with Kole Scott 28, after Kole scores Moniteau's first touchdown of the night Friday in their game vs Bradford. Shane Potter/Butler Eagle 9/30/22
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Moniteau's Hunter Stalker 8, breaks out for a big gain on the ground on Friday night in their game vs Bradford. Shane Potter/Butler Eagle 9/30/22
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Moniteau's Mike Boozel takes a break on the sidelines late in the first half watching teammates play Bradford on Friday night. Shane Potter/Butler Eagle 9/30/22
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The Moniteau Marching Band puts on a great halftime show for everyone in attendance on Friday night. Shane Potter/Butler Eagle 9/30/22
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Kole Scott, 28 of Moniteau runs the ball for a good gain early in the first half of their game against Bradford on Friday night. Shane Potter/Butler Eagle 9/30/22
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Logan Campbell 11, for Moniteau runs around two defenders from Bradford in their gameFriday evening. Shane Potter/Butler Eagle 9/30/22
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Moniteau special teams comes up big with a blocked extra point in the first quarter of their game vs Bradford on Friday night. Shane Potter/Butler Eagle 9/30/22
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Trent Beachem, 10 carries the Warriors flag and Levi LaCava, 33 carries the American flag leading the Moniteau football team onto the field on Friday evening. Shane Potter/Butler Eagle 9/30/22
l-speed after a step,” Moniteau coach Bob Rottman said. “He makes one cut and hits the whole. That makes him effective. That’s what we need.”
That being said, a dozen-point deficit was no reason for panic.
“I knew we could run the ball on them,” Stalker said. “That’s what I just put in the back of my mind. We were down, but we could keep going, we could keep climbing.”
Late in the second quarter, the Warriors (2-4, 1-3) couldn’t punch it in on three tries from the Owls’ 3. Pushed back to the nine, Rottman dialed up a rollout pass on fourth-and-goal, hoping that Dessicino could tuck it and wheel in while the Owls (0-6, 0-4) were preoccupied with covering patterns.
“He thought about it,” Rottman said. “He saw mitts in the back of the end zone ... I was nervous. I knew we needed that.”
The strike to junior Mathew Baptiste allowed the team to breathe a sigh of relief heading into the break. After allowing him to strike twice in the first half — including a pretty, 82-yard bomb to senior Lucas Laktash — Moniteau held Reese in check in the last 24 minutes.
“Defensively, we started getting a little bit of pressure, making him throw those throws a little quicker,” Rottman said. “We started clamping down a little better on the back end.”
The effort included three picks, the most important being Stalker’s goal-line takeaway late in the third period.
“I knew, if they didn’t get it, then we were going to get the ball right there,” Stalker said. “I just saw that he threw it and that was pretty much it. I took it for a good 10 yards.
“It helped a lot.”
About three minutes later, Bradford had another chance to change the complexion of the game, set up on the Warriors’ 44 after recovering a fumble. Dessicino gave it two plays before getting in front of a pass on the edge, reaching out with one hand, and snatching the ball back.
“I honestly wasn’t expecting it,” Dessicino said. “It came by a little quick and it was just reaction.”
“I don’t know how many passes he’s batted down,” Rottman said. “That was his second interception as a defensive end. Tackles for losses, sacks, he’s been an absolute stud.”
Senior linebacker and Homecoming king Colton Thomas also intercepted a pass in the fourth quarter.
Rottman will tell you that he looked at the clash as he would any other.
“I don’t look at their (other teams’) records coming in. You try to just play your football game and do what you do best. That’s all we focused on.”
His leading rusher admitted that avoiding embarrassment was a motivating factor.
“That’s definitely something you think about,” Stalker said. “You don’t want to be the first team to lose to a team that hasn’t won a game all season.”
Bradford 12 7 0 0 — 19
Moniteau 7 15 0 7 — 29
First Quarter
M — Kole Scott 41 run (Conner Alfreno kick), 11:07
B — Nate Girdlestone 1 run (kick blocked), 9:00
B — Lucas Laktash 82 pass from Talan Reese (Reese pass failed), 2:50
Second Quarter
B — Logan Kohler 7 pass from Reese (Isaiah Fitton kick), 8:22
M — Hunter Stalker 22 run (Alfreno kick), 5:18
M — Mathew Baptiste 9 pass from David Dessicino (Stalker run), 0:10
Fourth Quarter
M — Logan Campbell 5 run (Alfreno kick), 5:15
Individual Statistics
Rushing: Bradford, Nate Girdlestone 7-35, Talan Reese 2-5, Jordan Thompson 2-5, Lucas Laktash 1-(3), Troy Adkins 2-(-5). Moniteau, Hunter Stalker 33-160, Logan Campbell 15-79, Kole Scott 7-54, Mathew Baptiste 1-13, Trent Beachem 1-11, David Dessicino 1-(-2), TEAM 1-(-2).
Passing: Bradford, Talan Reese 21-36-238-3. Moniteau, David Dessicino 2-5-25-1.
Receiving: Bradford, Lucas Laktash 8-96, Troy Adkins 4-62, Isaiah Fitton 5-51, Nate Girdlestone 2-20, Logan Kohler 1-7, Carter Colley 1-2. Moniteau, Logan Campbell 1-16, Mathew Baptiste 1-9.
