CHERRY TWP — The ending of Moniteau's 2008 football season was pretty painful.

The beginning of 2009 is pretty promising.

The Warriors return six offensive and nine defensive starters from last year's 10-2 team, including a pair of all-state players and a probable record-setting running back.

All of that makes last year's 42-9 District 9 Class AA championship game loss to Karns City easy to forget.

"That loss put a dent in our heart," said senior running back-defensive back Austin Hogsett. "We know we're good enough to get to the championship game. Now we want to prove we're good enough to win it."

"I won't even talk about it," all-state defensive end-outside linebacker Jacob Boy said of last year's defeat.

But the Warriors plan to do something about it.

"All of our focus is game to game," third-year coach Jeff Campbell said. "All we're thinking about right now is Clarion.

"But long term? Yeah, we want to win the KSAC and the district. We feel like those are attainable goals."

Moniteau has never won the District 9 title, bowing to Karns City in the finals the past two years.

Returning starters on offense include senior running back James Shope, who is coming off a 1,304-yard rushing season. He ran for more than 1,000 yards as a sophomore as well and needs 977 yards to break the Warriors' career record of 3,299, which is held by Bill Staab.

Also returning is wide receiver Tony Campbell (43 catches for 1,017 yards), a second-team all-state receiver who became the first 1,000-yard receiver in Moniteau history.

"Those guys are exciting players and they're working hard to get even better," Jeff Campbell said.

Receiver Victor Santoyo, guard Zane Barnhart and tight end Zach Sloan are other returning starters. Zach Wheeler, a receiver last year, is competing with sophomore Kyle Armagost for the quarterback spot.

Both could wind up playing.

"We're going to line up in pretty much everything," Campbell said. "We'll use some pro-I, pro-T, go to a spread and some Wing-T.

"Zach is a drop-back quarterback who can scramble. Kyle is an option quarterback who can also get the ball downfield. We'll utilize all of our weapons."

Barnhart said his personal goal is to be an all-conference player on both sides of the ball.

"We've got guys well over 200 pounds, even 300 pounds, up front," he said. "We haven't had that combination of size and strength before."

Except for Shope, Moniteau's top backs from a year ago graduated. Hogsett, a senior who started at cornerback last year, will give Shope a breather in the offensive backfield.

"Austin will get his share of touches," Campbell said. "He's having a tremendous camp."

The Moniteau defense returns its entire secondary in Santoyo, Shope, Hogsett and Jeremy Wiegand at the corners, Wheeler at safety.

Boy, who tallied a school-record 25 sacks, and Robert Moore are back at outside linebacker, with Devin Wheeler at inside linebacker.

Mike George is 6-feet-3, 220 pounds at one tackle spot, nose guard Tyler Steinheiser is 6-4, 320 and Boy will put his 6-5, 220-pound frame along the line of scrimmage at times. Add to those three 6-2, 220-pound Nathan Guterry.

"The size and strength of our three down linemen in the 34 is impressive," Campbell said. "We've never been that powerful up front."

Anthony Miller returns at placekicker for the Warriors.

"He's been drilling 45-yarders in practice," Campbell said.

Campbell lists Clarion and Redbank Valley as fellow contenders in the KSAC, "and Karns City will be good because they're Karns City.

"Punxsutawney brings back a lot, and Brookville had a young team on the field that got into the playoffs last year. Those two teams should be pretty strong as well."