There wasn't much to do this summer in the time of COVID-19 restrictions except for working out.

The 11 seniors on the Moniteau football team took full advantage of that time.

In what was an unorthodox offseason, the Warriors embraced the strangeness of the times and reported to camp in the best shape of their lives.

It was in stark contrast to when this senior group was sophomores.

Running the steep hill at Moniteau High School was a supreme challenge.

This year, not so much.

“Two years ago we were all just sophomores and training camp hit us hard,” said Moniteau senior quarterback Brady Thompson. “It was real rough. This year we are all in better shape and more focused.”

Thompson, like many of his teammates, had a challenging campaign last season.

Moniteau was 3-7. The Warriors showed flashes of the team that finished strong in 2018, but was too inconsistent.

Thompson missed most of the season with a broken wrist suffered on the first offensive play of the campaign.

“It made me work harder, that's for sure,” Thompson said. “I'm in way better shape this year. (The injury) took most of my season away, which really stunk. It's nice to be back.”

Thompson is in a battle for the quarterback job with close friend and senior teammate David Stamm, who is the fleeter of foot of the two of them.

Stamm said this senior class is supremely motivated to put last year's sour season behind them.

And it's shown in all aspects of camp.

“We definitely didn't have the right attitude last season, and we didn't keep our heads on straight throughout the season,” Stamm said. “If we got down by a touchdown, everyone put their heads down. I think we're definitely more up-beat this year and we have the motivation to win.

“Us being leaders now and showing the younger groups how to do things has definitely straightened our heads out.”

Some of this large crop of seniors got some playing time as sophomores under what was another large senior class.

“Playing with the bigger dudes, we've been used to the bigger hits and competition on the field,” said senior running back/linebacker J.D. Dessicino, who had some big games on defense as a sophomore. “It prepared us very well on and off the field.”

Dessicino has a breakout year on offense last season.

He's hoping to do even better on both sides of the ball in 2020.

“I'm still not living up to my own expectations,” Dessicino said. “I still want to build on what I've done in every practice, every game.”

Senior running back Mason Mershimer, who will split time with Dessicino in the backfield, has been a strong utility player for the Warriors since his sophomore campaign.

He said one thing he noticed this season was the level of participation in the offseason program.

“We've been putting in good work,” Mershimer said. “We had a lot of kids show up. In past years, we didn't have a lot of kids show up to summer workouts. That's helping a lot.”

It also has this senior class thinking it can leave Moniteau on a very high note.

“As of right now, I feel like we can do better than just (a District 9 championship),” Thompson said. “We've looked very solid. I think we can even make a run in the state playoffs — if there is a state playoffs.”

And that's always in the back of their minds, Thompson said. What kind of season will they have.

The schedule is radically different with two games each against Karns City, Brookville, Punxsutawney and Clarion and one against DuBois.

Will there be a state playoff? Will the season end with only a district championship game.

The seniors don't know.

Instead, they are trying to stay focused on what's important.

Playing. Together.

“COVID has put it all in perspective,” Dessicino said. “It's made us realize we don't have as much time left as we want.”