Seasons this special don’t come around every year.

Baldwin High football coach Mike Berg is all too aware of that.

“It’s hard to let go of these seniors,” Berg said. “They mean so much to this school and our program.”

The tremendous senior class is done, yes, but fortunately for Baldwin, Berg doesn’t plan to go anywhere. His last four seasons as coach of the Bulldogs have all had winning records. This season, the Bulldogs went 9-3, convincingly won two Class 4A state playoff games and advanced to the state quarterfinals, the farthest they’ve gone since 1988 — long before any of the current players were in kindergarten.

With that, it was only right to name Berg the Journal-World All-Area coach of the year in 2003.

Of course, Berg will be the first to tell you that his talented players made him look good, and there’s some truth to that.

Among those in Baldwin’s standout senior class were lineman Ricky Spotz, wide receiver and cornerback Andy Hannon and running back Micah Mason. All three are on the J-W All-Area first team.

The three Bulldogs join one of the most talented All-Area teams ever — and one dominated by the senior class. Of the 11 players on the first team, only Mill Valley’s David Woods and Ottawa’s Caleb Blakesley have another year of high school football left.

Among those saying goodbye to the Friday night lights with an all-area selection are Eudora’s Josh Brouhard, Tonganoxie’s Luke McCarty and Justin Walker, Mill Valley’s David Gfeller and Brandon Smith, and Gary Van Horn from Wellsville.

This year's All-Area football team, from rear left: Justin Walker of Tongonoxie, Kuke McCarty of Tongonoxie, Caleb Blakesley, of Ottawa, and Ricky Spotz of Baldwin. Second row from left, David Woods of Mill Valley, David Gfeller of Mill Valley, Brandon Smith of Mill Valley, Micah Mason of Baldwin and Andy Hannon of Baldwin. Front left, Gary Van Horn of Wellsville, Baldwin coach Mike Berg and Josh Brouhard of Eudora.

And, of course, Baldwin’s big three.

Spotz, Mason and Hannon represented different facets of a Baldwin team that, to the dismay of opponents, clicked so perfectly so often. Sure, a lot of it was their talent. But it’s often good coaching that makes it all come together.

“We knew it was going to be a special team,” Berg said. “But from the start of the season, we wanted to take it one game at a time. One goal was to make the playoffs and win a game, but we really wanted to focus on one game at a time.”

It seemed to work. After a second-week loss to Paola, the Bulldogs reeled off five straight victories. Then, after a close loss to eventual state runner-up Topeka Hayden in districts, Baldwin crushed Perry-Lecompton, clinching a state playoff berth.

From there, it was a chilly 43-18 victory over Eudora on the road to win bi-districts. Then, a 41-20 victory over a talented K.C. Piper squad at home put Baldwin in 4A’s elite eight.

The season ended the next week at Fort Scott, but the team’s mark in Baldwin football lore was set.

“It’s something these kids have worked for for four years,” Berg said. “This is the first senior class we’ve had in a long time that had winning seasons all four years they were here.”

All four winning seasons were under one proven coach: Berg, the 2003 area coach of the year.

Here’s a look at the members of the 2003 Journal-World All-Area football team:

Caleb Blakesley, Ottawa

Ottawa’s spectacular offense started with the squad’s standout up front.

Blakesley, a 6-foot-5, 255-pound junior, was so big, so strong and so good in the trenches, it paved the way for a high-powered Ottawa offense that averaged 34.7 points per game.

Behind Blakesley and his wingmen on the offensive line, Ottawa running backs Jason Houston and Dom Nation combined for 2,024 rushing yards. In addition, Blakesley was equally effective in pass protection, paving the way for a successful air attack led by quarterback Gabe Sheffield.

Defensively, Blakesley was the main cog on a line that kept enough points off the board to give Ottawa a 7-3 mark, its best record in three years.

Josh Brouhard, Eudora

It wasn’t until Eudora coach Gregg Webb moved him from cornerback to safety that Brouhard really became comfortable on defense. As a result, he became a quarterback’s worst nightmare.

Brouhard led the area with eight interceptions in 2003, using a combination of great hands, leaping ability and what Webb called “a knack for being in the right place at the right time.”

Sounds perfect for a defensive back.

But Brouhard was just as effective as a wide receiver, too. This season, he caught 28 passes for 424 yards. By season’s end, he became one of Eudora’s top options on offense, helping lead the Cardinals to a 7-3 record and state playoff appearance.

“Going into the year, we knew he was going to be a big part of our team, both sides of the ball,” Webb said. “And as the year went on, he showed us more and more of his ability and what I really thought he could be.”

David Gfeller, Mill Valley

Gfeller, a three-year starter for the Jaguars, was the quiet contributor to Mill Valley’s 6,000 rushing yards the last two seasons.

As Mill Valley’s top offensive lineman, it was Gfeller who often opened up the holes for running back David Woods, who enjoyed a fantastic season with 1,405 rushing yards.

This season, Woods was the main culprit. Last season, it was a plethora of talented running backs for the Jaguars, including Woods, his brother Max Woods, and John Goodin. But whatever the offensive options, Gfeller was a steady weapon that every Mill Valley running back cherished. He was an All-Kaw Valley League lineman this season and an easy choice as an All-Area lineman, too.

“He was certainly our best lineman,” Mill Valley coach George Radell said. “The yardage we get running the ball, we don’t get that unless there’s a hole there. It takes guys like David Gfeller to allow guys like David Woods to score.”

Andy Hannon, Baldwin

Among the top pure athletes in the area, Hannon was one of Baldwin’s spectacular playmakers, helping the Bulldogs to a 9-3 mark and state quarterfinal appearance.

As quarterback Jeremy Wright’s go-to receiver, Hannon caught 33 passes for 533 yards this season, including four touchdowns. His ability to bring down a pass also brought honesty to opposing defenses, helping teammate and running back Micah Mason enjoy a huge season on the ground.

Hannon also picked off five passes as the team’s top cornerback and often returned kickoffs and punts so brilliantly; the Bulldogs seemingly always started drives in great field position.

His efforts made him an All-Frontier League and All-Area pick on both sides of the ball.

“He’s an amazing player,” Berg said. “He was our big-play guy. When it was a third-and-long situation, people knew we were going to him, and he still made the big play.”

Micah Mason, Baldwin

One of the most physically gifted football talents the area has seen, Mason was the workhorse and heart of Baldwin’s best team in decades.

A 6-foot, 210-pound muscle, Mason was not only an intimidating specimen on defense, but a rare running back that had the big three: size, speed and strength. Mason rushed for 2,011 yards on just 245 carries (8.2 average), including 27 touchdowns. In Baldwin’s three state playoff games, Mason rushed for 650 yards with six touchdowns. Not surprisingly, the Bulldogs scored 40-plus points in wins over Eudora and K.C. Piper before falling to Fort Scott in the state quarterfinals.

Mason, a four-year letterwinner and a starter since midway through his freshman season, graduates with jaw-dropping career statistics at running back: 690 carries, 5,320 yards, 69 touchdowns — an average of 7.7 yards per carry.

“I don’t know if I’ll ever coach a player like him again,” Berg said. “He was that special.”

Luke McCarty, Tonganoxie

A repeat All-Area selection, McCarty was faced with an even tougher task on the offensive line this season, but shook off the pressure and was as good as ever.

Tonganoxie’s run-dominated offense included runs that were actually scrapped pass plays. Thanks to scrambling senior Justin Walker, McCarty often had to adjust from pass protection to blocking for the fleet-footed quarterback. In addition, he paved the way for running backs Billy Baska and Tim Hopkins, who both had fine seasons.

McCarty, a 6-2, 210-pound senior, was also a major force in other areas of the game. At defensive end, he had 82 tackles, seven sacks and three forced fumbles. On special teams, he blocked two punts and caught three two-point conversion passes. He even saw time at tight end throughout the season.

“He was tremendous for us,” THS coach Mark Elston said. “Defensively this year, he really stepped up. For a defensive end to have 82 tackles, that’s phenomenal. Our defense isn’t designed for our ends to have that many tackles.”

Brandon Smith, Mill Valley

Smith once again had a tremendous season for the Jaguars, solidifying All-Area honors for the second straight year.

One of the area’s most feared defensive linemen, Smith, a senior, led the Jaguars with 100 tackles this season — impressive, considering Mill Valley’s defensive scheme doesn’t call for a lot of playmaking by the defensive end.

But Smith obviously is no ordinary end. Often, he was asked to drop back and play linebacker depending on offensive formations. No sweat. He also chipped in on the offensive line, aiding a lethal running game led by junior David Woods.

“He was our leading tackler, which was unusual for a defensive end,” Radell said. “He managed to have 21 tackles more than our second-closest guy. He was extremely effective for us this season.”

Ricky Spotz, Baldwin

Nominated by several coaches in the area, Spotz was Baldwin’s top lineman in 2003, and with a 2,000-yard rusher in the backfield, that stands for a lot.

Spotz, a 6-2, 220-pounder, was a strong-side blocker who often had running back Micah Mason streaking through the holes he created. Behind Spotz, Mason rushed for 2,011 yards this season, tops in the area by a long shot.

On defense, Spotz was a no-down-off defensive end who accumulated 16 tackles for a loss throughout the season. With his help, the Bulldogs finished the year 9-3 and advanced to the state quarterfinals after two convincing victories in the 4A state playoffs.

“Ricky will look back, and he’ll know that he was a big part of that,” Berg said of Mason’s 2,000-yard season. “Micah will be the first to tell you that his offensive line was a big reason he got all those yards.

“Every down, Ricky was a threat. He was one of our best blockers up front. When we wanted to get a yard, we ran behind him.”

Gary Van Horn, Wellsville

If football had a so-called utility player like baseball, Van Horn would be among the best. The 5-foot-8, 145-pound Van Horn started the season as a wide receiver, moved to running back midway through and back to receiver in the Class 3A quarterfinal game against Silver Lake.

All along, he was the Eagles’ top kick returner, a kicker and a solid defensive back.

“He has that one thing you can’t coach,” Wellsville coach Gary Oshel said during the playoffs. “Speed.”

Offensively, Van Horn ran the ball 123 times for 787 yards and nine touchdowns. He also had 760 yards and three touchdowns receiving, as well as 10 extra points and a field goal as the kicker.

Defensively, Van Horn had four interceptions and 58 tackles on the season.

There arguably wasn’t a player in the area more valuable to its team than Van Horn was to Wellsville. Need proof? Check the linescore of the Eagles’ 31-13 victory over Central Heights Oct. 30. You’ll see Van Horn’s name in it nine times. He accounted for every Eagle point: Four touchdowns, four extra points and a 35-yard field goal.

Justin Walker, Tonganoxie

In an age of versatile run-and-pass quarterbacks, Walker fits the mold better than anybody in the area. As a double threat, Walker had several games where he rushed for 100-plus yards and passed for 100-plus yards. It’s no coincidence that Tonganoxie went 8-2 this season. What were opposing defenses to expect from a guy who constantly could keep them guessing?

The Chieftains were never a team with a big need to throw the ball, but when Walker did, it was usually for big gains. He completed 33 of 69 passes this year, garnering 660 yards and seven touchdowns. He was intercepted just twice all season.

But tucking and running is when Walker became a true weapon — one worthy of an All-Area selection. Walker kept the ball 121 times, rushing for 698 yards and nine more touchdowns.

“He put an extreme amount of pressure on the defense,” Tonganoxie coach Mark Elston said. “We wouldn’t keep him in the pocket much simply because he could run the ball so well. If you attack him, he’d throw it, and if you stay back, he’d run it.”

David Woods, Mill Valley

One of two juniors on the All-Area first team, Woods turned in a remarkable season on both sides of the ball, making his selection an easy one. As one of the most dangerous running backs in the state of Kansas, Woods had a knack at breaking big plays. He rushed for 1,405 yards on just 184 carries, had 287 yards receiving and totaled 21 touchdowns on the season.

Only the elite can rush for 100 yards and call it an off-night. Woods was one of those guys.

Defensively, Woods switched from cornerback to safety midway through the season to get more involved in every play. It worked. Not only was Woods effective at pass coverage, but often made key stops when the opposition used its ground game.

“Offensively, he accounted for 1,700 yards of offense, and that’s a huge percentage of what the team produced,” Radell said. “He was our leading receiver as well as our leading rusher.”