CHERRY TWP — Wade Vogan felt relieved he could finally get his anxiety out.

The first-year Moniteau football coach watched his team persevere through their first test together.

The Warriors held off a stiff test from Keystone Shortway Athletic Large Division foe Puxsutawney, winning 22-14 Friday night at home.

“It was almost like I felt like I was suiting up again as a player,” Vogan said. “The butterflies were definitely there, but after the first half we got things rolling and really started to pound the ball.”

Josh McBride did most of the bruising.

McBride exploded in the third quarter.

He had three double-digit runs — 37, 33 and 11 yards — before scoring on a 1-yard run to put the Warriors ahead for good, 14-6, with 2:53 left in the third.

McBride finished the game with 137 rushing yards on 20 attempts.

“We worked hard since the first day of camp for this win,” McBride said. “We stuck together and we knew how to shut them down.”

The Chucks (0-1) landed the first blow.

Punxsutawney's Braxton Giadavoni broke out for 60 yard touchdown run with 9:24 remaining before halftime.

Moniteau answered with a scoring drive of its own.

Quarterback Cody Skiver set up the score, finding Josh McBride for a 34-yard reception that landed the Warriors on Punxstuwaney's 1-yard line.

Skiver punched the ball into the endzone to tie the game at 6 entering halftime.

Skiver finished with 92 yards passing.

Punxsutawney starting quarterback, Dakota Thomas, was injured half way through the third quarter and was replaced by junior quarterback Ryan Jones.

Skiver took advantage of Jones' inexperience. He intercepted a pass and returned it 14 yards for a score.

Skiver converted the 2-point conversion to put Moniteau up 22-6.

Punxsutawney didn't lie down.

When Thomas returned in the fourth quarter, he got the Chucks offense moving.

Thomas connected with wide receiver Braxton Giadavoni for a 44-yard touchdown pass with 6:37 remaining.

After Thomas complete a pass to Ethan Riley for the two-point conversion, the Warriors' lead was cut to just 22-14.

Moniteau's defense was able to protect the lead and seal the win.