CHERRY TWP — Moniteau's football program got a taste of District 9 success last season.

Now it wants to finish the meal.

The Warriors recorded their first two playoff wins under fifth-year coach Steve Wilson before dropping a 22-20 decision to Brockway in the District 9 Class AAchampionship game last fall.

"Last year we got there. This year we want to win it,"Wilson said of the district championship.

To do so, the Warriors will have to move on without some key weapons from last season. Matt Schandelmeier (1,221 yards rushing) and leading tacklers Clay Campbell and Ryan Protzman have graduated and gone on to play California (Pa.)University, Norwich (Conn.) and Thiel.

"We've got 32 lettermen back,"Wilson said. "There are a lot of kids in our lineup who got on the field last year."

Cousins was a productive player out of the backfield last season with 514 yards rushing and 179 receiving during the regular season. He replaces Schandelmeier as Moniteau's prime ball carrier.

"I'd love to be the workhorse back,"Cousins said. "I'm not so sure it's going to work out that way. We've got plenty of talent on offense. A lot of guys can carry the ball."

Four players are vying for time at fullback in Kyle Mauthe (111 yards rushing last season), Tom Bell, Clayton Drnek and Ricky Best.

The Warriors struggled throwing the ball last season, managing just 471 yards and three touchdowns through the air. Vying for the quarterback spot are 6-foot-3 junior Josh Loos and 6-0 sophomore Tyler Armagost.

"Both throw really well and I'm comfortable going into battle with either of them,"Wilson said. "That's a nice problem to have. And both can throw the deep ball, something we were lacking last year."

Cruz Eshenbaugh and Adam Pry return at receiver with Aaron Randall expected to be at tight end. Both starting tackles return in Justin Castello and Brice Schwab. Center Justin Ellenberger is back as well.

Five players — Mark Holfelder, Donnie Keene, Adam Overly, Aaron Smith and Beau Eshenbaugh — are competing for the open guard spots.

"We need to find two we can work with by our opener,"Wilson said.

Defensively, Moniteau will play a 35, a formation the Warriors evolved into late last season.

"It works for us because we have a lot of quick linebackers and secondary people who can fly to the football,"Wilson said.

Castello is the lone returning starter on the defensive line, but is switching to middle linebacker to replace Campbell.

Schwab (6-7, 316) will play nose guard while a host of players are competing for the defensive end spots, most notably Ellenberger and Tim Homison.

"We've got guys who can play up front,"Castello said. "I like the challenge of moving to middle linebacker. I like to hit people and I know I've got to plug the gap there."

Cousins and Mauthe return to outside linebacker posts with Cruz Eshenbaugh, Bell and Drnek expected to see time there. Randall will join Castello as an inside linebacker.

Both starting cornerbacks return in Travis Shaffer and Loos. Dakota Campbell, a sophomore, steps in at safety.

"We lost a lot of quality players and don't have a ton of seniors, but we have a chance to be better than last year,"Cousins said. "We're quicker on defense and everybody is tight-knit. We'll play better as a team."

Wilson said Clarion is the class of the Keystone-Shortway Athletic Conference this year, followed closely by Karns City and Clarion-Limestone.

"We're in that second tier in the league with Redbank Valley and Keystone, but we're on the verge of cracking into that upper echelon,"the coach said. "That's where our focus needs to be.

"We've been around .500 for too long now. We can't settle for that. We need to step forward."