McLouth hasn’t had a winning football season since 1998, hasn’t reached the state playoffs since 1996 and hasn’t won a league title since 1994.

Despite years of futility, the Bulldogs have big plans for 2005.

“We only lose three seniors, and we have a big senior class coming back,” junior running back Kevin Stewart said. “Hopefully, we can get some wins early and have a shot at the DVL championship. There’s a good chance we’ll make the playoffs.”

The Bulldogs are dreaming big after two years with coach Harry Hester, who was selected the Journal-World’s All-Area Coach of the Year after leading McLouth to a 4-5 season. Four victories was the Bulldogs’ highest total in six years.

When Hester took over after the 2002 season, McLouth had 19 players in its program. The Bulldogs were 0-9 that year when they were outscored by a combined total of 489-22.

“We had to get kids and our community excited and believe that we could win again,” said Hester, who was the team’s fourth coach in five years. “We started in the weight room. Our program needed direction and a well-thought-out plan.”

Hester, a 32-year-old Pittsburg State graduate, had been an assistant at Cherryvale for four years before taking his first head-coaching job.

“He’s a good coach,” said Stewart, an all-area selection who rushed for 1,167 yards and finished with 1,671 total yards. “He’s a real good motivator. He gets you to believe in yourself and your teammates.

“It’s a lot more positive atmosphere. Coach Hester doesn’t put up with a lot of the stuff coaches did in the past.”

2004 All-Area Football team. Front row from left: Chris Durkin, Eudora; David Woods, Mill Valley. Second row from left: Sean Blosser, Perry-Lecompton; Kevin Stewart, Mclouth; Ross Starcher, Tonganoxie; Leif Goleman, DeSoto. Back row from left: Austin Inzer, Baldwin: Joe Faulk, Eudora: Ricky Baker, Baldwin: Alex Mercer, DeSoto: Kaleb Lawrence, Tonganoxie and coach Harry Hester, McLouth.

Players’ attitudes changed in Hester’s first season, but the results didn’t. The Bulldogs were shut out four times and finished 0-9 in 2003. A 46-7 home loss to Jefferson County North in the season finale stretched McLouth’s losing streak to 20 games.

That streak, three years in the making, came to an end in the 2004 season opener when McLouth won, 20-18, at Horton.

“That was one of the best feelings,” said Stewart, who led McLouth with 84 tackles. “It was the best win of the year. Nobody wanted to leave the field. Nobody knew what to do.”

Excuse the Bulldogs if they didn’t know how to celebrate. They’re catching on.

McLouth pulled out another close game, 13-12, a week later against Wathena and ran its winning streak to three with a 24-7 victory at Doniphan West.

After a loss to Jefferson County North, McLouth won again in week five with a 29-18 victory against Valley Falls.

“We thought there were two or three more games we could have won,” said Stewart, whose team lost to Atchison Maur Hill Prep, 27-25, in the season finale. “We weren’t satisfied, but 4-5 is obviously a lot better than 0-9.”

Hester had 41 players on his roster this season, a huge jump from 2002 when the Bulldogs couldn’t even have a full scrimmage. He has complete control of the program, and the junior high teams are running the same offensive and defensive schemes and using the same terminology as the varsity.

“We have three great classes of freshmen, sophomores and juniors back-to-back-to-back,” Hester said. “They’re lifting, and they’re excited. We feel we have the potential to keep going in that direction. Our goal is to make the playoffs.”

All-Area player capsules

Ricky Baker, Baldwin, Sr., DB

Baker led the Frontier League with five interceptions and returned one for a touchdown. The all-league safety also made 92 tackles for the Wildcats (9-2).

Austin Inzer, Baldwin, Sr., S/WR/RB

Inzer was a first-team All-Frontier League pick on both offense and defense. The versatile senior rushed for 718 yards and five touchdowns, caught 13 passes for 246 yards and four TDs and also threw a touchdown pass. He also made 82 tackles and had three interceptions.

Leif Goleman, De Soto, Sr., RB/DB

Goleman was a first-team All-Frontier League selection as a running back and defensive back for De Soto (7-3). He rushed for 1,118 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also recorded 90 tackles, forced two fumbles and recovered two. The senior picked off four passes and returned two of the interceptions for touchdowns.

Alex Mercer, De Soto, Sr., TE/LB

The first-team All-Frontier League linebacker had 114 tackles, including nine for loss. He forced two fumbles, recovered two fumbles and also had two sacks.

Chris Durkin, Eudora, Sr., LB

Durkin was one of the top linebackers in the state. The first-team All-Frontier League pick led Eudora (8-3) with 133 tackles.

Joe Faulk, Eudora, Sr., OL/DL

Eudora coach Gregg Web called Faulk his “most consistent player.” Faulk was a first-team All-Frontier League pick on offense and defense.

Kevin Stewart, McLouth, Jr., RB/FS

Stewart rushed for 1,167 yards and finished with 1,671 total yards, helping turn around McLouth’s program and lead the Bulldogs to a 4-5 finish.

David Woods, Mill Valley, Sr., RB/DB

The four-time All-Kaw Valley pick rushed for 1,267 yards, caught 13 passes for 212 yards and scored 22 touchdowns. The all-league safety also had 99 tackles, seven forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and four interceptions for the Jaguars (6-4).

Sean Blosser, P-L, Jr., FB/LB

Blosser led Perry-Lecompton (3-6) with 77 tackles. The first-team All-Kaw Valley League linebacker also had two interceptions, five tackles for loss, forced one fumble, recovered a fumble and blocked a kick. A second-team all-league running back, he rushed for 568 yards and six touchdowns.

Ross Starcher, Tonganoxie, Sr., QB/DB

The first-team All-Kaw Valley League quarterback rushed for 1,200 yards and 18 TDs and passed for 300 yards and a TD for the Chieftains (9-2). Starcher also was a second-team all-league defensive back with four interceptions and 67 tackles.

Kaleb Lawrence, Tonganoxie, Sr., RB/LB

The first-team All-KVL linebacker had 130 tackles, including 10 for loss, and forced two fumbles.