CHERRY TWP - The mission is clear in the minds of Moniteau's senior football players:

It's time to for their team to progress.

The Warriors have been to the District 9 playoffs each of the last three years only to lose in the first round each time.

"It's definitely time to take the next step," quarterback Garth Kohlmeyer said. "Our defense is strong again and our offensive line has a lot of starters back this year.

"Besides, we're seniors. This year is very important to us."

Moniteau has only eight seniors, but each will start on at least one side of the ball and at least half will start on both sides.

"We're a better team this year," senior tight end-linebacker Ryan Protzman said. "We're bigger, we're faster and we have players in the right positions this year.

"In the past couple of years, we weren't sure what players were suited where. That's not a problem anymore."

Offensively, Moniteau football starts in the backfield with fullback Matt Schandelmeier, who rushed for 1,096 yards and 14 touchdowns last year. Junior halfback Adam Cousins rushed for 413 yards.

Schandelmeier averaged 6.0 yards per carry last season while Cousins averaged 5.6.

Schandelmeier is being recruited by a number of Division II schools and a few Division I programs, including Eastern Michigan, Cincinnati and Miami of Ohio.

"Adam is the perfect complement to Matt back there," Moniteau coach Steve Wilson said. "Other coaches asked me why we didn't give Cousins the ball more last year.

"With defenses forced to stack up against Matt, Adam should have opportunities to make some big plays. He's excellent at coming out of the backfield to catch passes, too."

Running a West Coast offense, the Warriors want to throw to their backs more. Schandelmeier had only one catch last year - for minus four yards.

"That's not a very encouraging statistic for the offense we run," Wilson admitted. "That has to change."

Kohlmeyer threw for 804 yards and 10 touchdowns last year and has new receivers to work with in senior David Rumbaugh, juniors Adam Pry and Travis Shaffer.

Protzman had nine catches for 154 yards and three touchdowns at tight end and returns to that spot this season.

"How well we do offensively will depend on how well we develop a deep passing game," Wilson said. "Our receivers are very fast. We're going to be looking at eight or nine defenders in the box every game and we have to stretch them out.

"Garth is bigger this year and a little faster. He'll be able to run the football more, which gives us another option.

"Having a returning starter at quarterback is a big plus. Garth will be our leader on the field. He'll call audibles. He will run the show," Wilson added.

Seniors Aaron Anderson and Clay Campbell will comprise the starting guard spots for Moniteau. Tackles will come from 339-pound senior Ryan Flick, Justin Castello, Tim Homison and 6-foot-5, 297-pound sophomore Brice Schwab.

Junior Matt Sloan and sophomore Justin Ellenberger are competing for the starting center spot.

The Warriors return six starters on defense: Campbell and Protzman at linebacker, Flick at tackle, Schandelmeier and Ryan Eberline at end, and Cousins at free safety.

Anderson and sophomore Joe Criley are working at the other tackle spot while Castello will see action at end.

Kohlmeyer and sophomore Aaron Randall are other linebackers who will see time. Cornerbacks will come from Pry, Shaffer and sophomore Clayton Drnek.

"Our defense will be physical," Wilson promised. "We're not going to sit back and wait. We're going to get after people."

Protzman said Moniteau football continues to start with defense.

"We had one of the best defenses in Butler County last year and it should only improve," he said. "Defense is the heart of our team."

Moniteau has 43 players on its varsity roster and will field an additional 23-player freshman team this fall. The school has never fielded a freshman football team before.

"They'll play a seven-game schedule," Wilson said. "Getting young players like that game action against kids their own age rather than have them standing on the sidelines Friday nights is a big plus.

"Clarion has a lot of quality players back and should be the team to beat in our conference. There are some programs in our league where even in a down year, they're pretty good.

"Hopefully, we'll be in the mix somewhere," Wilson added.