Mclouth ? McLouth High’s football players celebrated Friday night, then they shoveled.

After claiming their first home victory in five years with a 13-12 win over Wathena, the Bulldogs officially lost the monkey on their backs when they buried a stuffed monkey on the McLouth practice field.

“Now everyone, make sure you throw dirt on that monkey,” shouted McLouth coach Harry Hester, who led the surreal scene of symbolism that celebrated McLouth’s first home win since a a 30-26 triumph over Valley Falls on Oct. 8, 1999.

“It’s long overdue,” said Bulldog junior quarterback Jimmy Steffey, who won the first game of his prep career Sept. 3 when McLouth (2-0) broke its 20-game losing streak with a 20-8 victory at Horton.

Steffey and MHS running back Kevin Stewart each were involved in the Bulldogs’ two scores. But a handful of defensive stands by the Bulldogs and, more importantly, two big special-teams plays doomed Wathena. Bulldog Trevor Keling blocked Wathena’s extra-point attempt to tie the game, and teammate Ripp Harrison unleashed a 60-yard punt to pin the Wildcats deep in their own territory late in the game.

Stewart said rituals such as burying a toy monkey — or Hester creating a logo labeled the “power dog” by locals (think Powercat) in the offseason — had added confidence to a program that almost seemed to accept getting creamed every Friday night.

“It might seem even a little silly, but I swear making up the mottos like ‘No excuses’ and ‘Purple Pride’ adds to confidence we have on the field,” said Stewart, who rushed for 115 yards on 22 carries.

McLouth high defender Joel Dickerson, right, wraps up Wathena quarterback Colin McQuillan during the first half. The Bulldogs won, 13-12, Friday in McLouth.

Hester said his team must quickly move on from a week’s worth of high-fiving, but he added there was no way to describe how great Friday felt.

“This is huge for this town,” Hester said. “This is a football town, and to be down for so long … they’re going to get behind us and those stands will be full again.”