You have to appreciate a feel-good moment.

Moniteau’s football program — Cecil Blauser and Cody Skiver, in particular — realized one last weekend with a 33-26 victory over St. Marys at home.

The win was not only the Warriors’ first of the season, it marked the first of Blauser’s head coaching career and came on the heels of heartbreaking losses the two weeks before.

At Brookville, Moniteau held a 14-6 lead in the third quarter, only to fumble and allow a winning TD drive with three minutes left.

Skiver, a junior quarterback, threw for 113 yards and two touchdowns in that game. He also ran for 125 yards.

Moniteau headed to Redbank Valley the following Friday and lost a wild 29-26 decision, the deciding points coming in the form of a 39-yard field goal with three seconds left.

Skiver threw for 197 yards and two touchdowns in that game.

So imagine what was going through the Warriors’ minds last week when, after building a 33-20 lead over St. Marys, Moniteau watched the Dutchmen mount a comeback.

A touchdown pulled St. Marys within seven and the visitors were driving downfield. Finally, an interception — snared by Skiver at the Warriors 9-yard line — sealed the win with a minute to go.

By the way, Skiver ran for 178 yards and threw a touchdown pass in that game. That pick was poetic justice

Yes, it’s only one win and it’s unlikely Moniteau will be participating in the playoffs.

But this team deserved its moment in the sun.

Moniteau’s players did not know who their head coach was going to be until the first day of August practices began.

Blauser had been an assistant coach for the three previous regimes of Tom Kidder, Steve Wilson and Jeff Campbell. He never had any desire to become a head coach.

Blauser applied for the job in an effort to maintain some continuity in the program for the kids. He ran the offseason conditioning program while the team had no official coach and organized the August practice schedule without knowing if it would be his team.

And because of the late hiring date, Blauser was prepared to stay on as an assistant coach to help in transition for the new head coach.

How long Blauser stays on as head football coach at Moniteau remains to be seen. It was just good to see the man being able to celebrate a much-earned and deserved victory.

The same can be said for the Warrior players.

Dustin Geagan, chasing the school’s career rushing records, put such numbers aside his senior year and has helped Skiver to shine this season.

As evidenced by such close losses of late and another win on Friday, this football team never lost its fight, never lost its desire to succeed.

The school district should be proud of such perseverance.