CHERRY TWP — Whatever could go wrong did go wrong for the Moniteau football team last season.

A small roster to begin with was ravaged by injuries.

Three players — quarterback Brady Thompson, running back Mason Mershimer and offensive/defensive lineman Conner Kline — were injured on the first offensive play of the season.

Thompson and Kline missed multiple weeks. Mershimer played the entire season hobbled.

It led to some trying times on the grass field at the bottom of the hill at Moniteau and a disappointing 3-7 campaign.

But a new year — and a roster swelled nearly double the healthy bodies the Warriors had last year — has optimism brimming in Cherry Township.

“I'm excited for them,” said Moniteau coach Bob Rottman. “One of the things you try to think about is how to motivate your team. This year, I haven't had to do it. They've been working hard and bringing a great attitude and effort to practice. They're motivating me.

“It's been a really nice surprise.”

The biggest competition in camp has been at the quarterback position where Thompson, a senior who is fully recovered from his broken wrist, is battling with senior David Stamm.

The two bring radically different skill sets to the field.

Thompson has a strong arm — he hit a streaking receiver down the sideline 60 yards away at a recent practice — while Stamm is fast and a gifted runner.

“I'll say this: it's going to be a tough decision when it comes down to it,” Rottman said. “They both bring something different to the quarterback position. Brady has a big arm and he has a good head on his shoulders for the game.

“David has totally transformed his body,” the coach added. “He's fast and he's really worked hard on his throwing and he's gotten a lot better. It's going to be a tough decision and it may be something where it comes down to them splitting time again.”

Thompson and Stamm are taking the quarterback battle in stride.

Close friends off the field, the two have been able to focus on the competition and making the team better.

“It's honestly weird,” Thompson said. “David is faster than I am — he's a fast kid and has me beat on all the RPOs and keepers and stuff like that. I feel like I have him on the passing concepts. We know the plays equally. I don't know what's going to happen.”

Stamm said: “We've been friends forever, so it is a bit weird. We always root each other on, though, and encourage each other.”

The odd man out is going to help Moniteau in other ways.

“Whoever doesn't get the job is going to move to another position and make us better there, so it's a win-win for me,” Rottman said.

Also a win-win is the backfield tandem of seniors J.D. Dessicino and Mershimer.

Dessicino had a breakout campaign in 2019 with 738 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. He was also second on the team with eight receptions.

Mershimer showed flashes when is balky ankle was behaving last year with 295 yards and five TDs rushing. He also had seven receptions for 135 yards.

“I look for a big year from J.D. and Mershimer,” Rottman said. “Mershimer limped all year long on that ankle. You watch him this summer, he looks totally different. Both of them are going to carry the ball an equal amount. It's going to be fun to watch.”

The offensive line returns all but one starter. The competition in camp has been at center.

Isaiah Usselman, Noah Wheeler, Matt Martino and Kline are the incumbents up front.

Defense, though, may be Moniteau's strength in 2020.

Dessicino piled up 72 tackles last season at linebacker and Martino had 48 tackles as a freshman.

There's some size up front and athletes in the secondary.

“I think the defense is going to be spectacular,” Rottman said. “We lost Nick Martino (90 tackles), but Matt may be stronger. He has that Martino attitude on the football field.”

Rottman will also have more roster flexibility with 33 players available.

“That's going to be a huge help to us,” Rottman said. “Last year I was dressing 17. Last year I would look around on the sidelines when someone got tired and I had no one to play that position. I had to move three kids around to give one kid a break.”

Perhaps one of the silver lining to the COVID quarantine that limited offseason workouts was the Warriors got in tip-top shape.

“Once we got the go-ahead on July 1 to start workouts, I never had less than 25 kids here,” Rottman said. “We worked a lot on strength training and agility.”

The schedule will be different with home-and-home series with Karns City, Brookville, Clarion and Punxsutawney.

But it is 2020 — everything is different.

“We're just happy to be playing at all,” Rottman said.