‘We are back’ | Moniteau football’s rise from rock bottom to District 9 playoffs will leave a legacy
Moniteau’s football program hit rock bottom two seasons ago, going winless and losing the nine games — there was a forfeit to Central Clarion — it played by an average of 40.5 points.
There was a dejected mood surrounding Warriors football. Some walked away from the team.
That’s all in the past now.
Moniteau (4-4) is ticketed for the District 9 postseason for the first time since 2018, following a 6-2 win over Brookville last week. It has created a spark, junior guard/linebacker Bryan Hazlet said.
“And the flame finally lit,” he said. “We are back. I’m so glad to say it.”
“Everyone’s speaking about it. We’re getting nicknames, shirts are being made, stuff like that. It’s all fun. Everyone’s coming together.”
Winners of four of their past five games, the Warriors have their best record since 2018, when they went 7-5.
“We’ve become this good football team after not-so-great seasons,” junior center/defensive tackle Bryce Stamm said. “I think it’s just shocked people, because they weren’t expecting this out of us. … It’s definitely a great feeling when you just prove people wrong that underestimate you.”
When Moniteau graduate Clay Kohlmeyer took over has head coach in 2025, changing attitudes was the utmost priority. He had to convince players to stay and recruit others to join.
“We’re not just losers,” Kohlmeyer told the team upon his arrival. “We’re not out there for everybody to come beat up. We need to actually play with them.”
Hazlet stuck around in part because Kohlmeyer was the one hired.
Moniteau has improved from 0-10 to 3-7 and now 4-4 in the last three seasons — it visits Keystone on Friday to close out the regular season.
Part of that growth has been learning to keep battling in games. At times in 2025, Warriors players would slump after falling behind. That’s changed this season.
“This year, they’ve fought the whole time,” Kohlmeyer said. “They figured that out. Just because you’re down a touchdown doesn’t mean the game’s over.”
During a 34-0 loss at St. Marys in Week 2, the Warriors’ effort showed Kohlmeyer “they figured out that they can play football,” he said. The next week against Lakeview — a 28-20 setback — showed the group what it could be, Hazlet believes.
The program’s resurgence has brought players closer. Teammates make regular trips to Texas Roadhouse and Family Tradition in Harrisville. They push each other in offseason workouts and sit in the locker room after games and talk about the high points of the week.
“Three or four of those guys that are in that locker room will be (groomsmen) at my wedding,” Hazlet said.
The Warriors won’t know until Saturday, but they are anticipating a postseason matchup with either Karns City or Central Clarion.
Facing the Gremlins would mean “the Backyard Brawl again,” Hazlet said. “There’s just an extra bit of heart there. But the last time we played Clarion, I was in eighth grade, and (the Warriors’ varsity team) lost 70-6. I feel like that burns (a fire in) us a little bit more.”
Kohlmeyer knows how different the playoffs are, though. He’s trying to prepare his players for that.
“It’s gonna be faster, they’re gonna hit harder, the lights are gonna be brighter and your head’s gonna spin in the first quarter,” Kohlmeyer said. “You’ve just gotta get through that and then settle down and start playing football.”
The coach believes the players that weathered the storm of the 0-10 campaign have left a legacy already.
“They’ve done the most for the program, really,” Kohlmeyer said. “To come back and stay and keep fighting, that’s all we can ask for (from) them.”
