MONITEAU LOOKING TO CONTEND FOR KSAC; D9 TITLES IN 204

By Chris Rossetti

WEST SUNBURY – Last season Moniteau had a break-out year for its football team, as the Warriors posted their first winning season since 1986 going 6-4 in 2003 while qualifying for the District 9 playoffs for the first time in school history.

So will there be an encore for Moniteau in 2004?

Factors including a strong junior high program the past few years point to the answer being yes, and the expanded seven-team playoff bracket in Class AA won’t hurt with the Warriors needing to post just a 5-4 mark to reach the postseason.

"Our goals for the year including winning in the playoffs," third-year head coach Steve Wilson said. "We want to legitimize ourselves as a playoff-caliber program."

Moniteau will need to replace several key players from last season’s team including six starters on offense, five on defense and its kicker if it wants to accomplish its goals.

"We are trying to replace a plethora of key loses," Wilson said.

On offense, the biggest loses come at the skill positions where the Warriors will have a new quarterback, a new running back, a new flanker and a new tight end. They must also replace two offensive linemen.

Garth Kohlmeyer looks poised to take over at quarterback from Clay Kohlmeyer, who passed for 1,239 yards and 11 touchdowns last season while completing 51 percent of his passes (74 of 145).

Brent Spawn will try to fill some of the void at tailback left by the departure of Steve Saul (1,285 yards, 15 touchdowns; 26 catches, 498 yards, 3 TDs), although he will get held from returning fullback Matt Schandelmeier (365 yards, 2 touchdowns).

Ryan Protzman steps in at tight end after seeing limited action last year.

Moniteau does have some key returning offensive players including wide receiver Eric Hilliard, who ranked 14^th in District 9 in receiving a season ago with 20 catches for 458 yards and eight scores.

The offensive line returns three starters including junior center Clay Campbell, who has been playing varsity since his freshman season, as well as senior guard Jim Cottrill and junior guard Aaron Anderson.

"We will be a more balanced team on offense this year," Wilson said. "We have a mobile quarterback who will add a dimension to our offense."

On defense, the Warriors will feature Schandelmeier at defensive end with Brandon Keane returning at defensive tackle and Chris Cooper at nose guard.

Josh Warburton and Campbell will lead a talented linebacking corps and will be joined by Protzman.

Greg Kepple is the lone returning starter in the secondary and will be joined by newcomer Matt Pry at cornerback.

"Our team quickness and our aggressive play will be our strengths on defense," Wilson said.