If only the hometown Bulldogs could have mustered one more score.

Maur Hill-Mount Academy had a 27-19 lead at the half, but McLouth cut the lead to two in the third on a Kevin Stewart run.

The Bulldogs couldn’t muster another score.

McLouth held Maur Hill scoreless in the second half, so a two-point conversion after that third-quarter score would have forced overtime, but a pass failed on the two-point conversion attempt.

The Bulldogs had a chance at the lead with a field goal, but it was wide right by a couple feet.

With a few minutes remaining, MHS had a fourth-and-nine situation from the Maur Hill 30, but the Bulldogs couldn’t punch it in.

“It was very exciting and very close,” MHS coach Harry Hester said. “We thought we had a great chance of getting a victory.”

McLouth had 370 total offensive yards to Maur Hill’s 314. Maur Hill had a slight edge in rushing yards, 296-271, but McLouth had 108 passing yards, while Maur Hill had 18.

Maur Hill scored first on the opening kickoff. Maur Hill’s Sterling Jackson scored on a 90-yard run and Maur Hill was up 6-0. McLouth answered with a 52-yard touchdown and the score was tied.

Maur Hill took an 18-6 lead before McLouth answered with a 50-yard Stewart run. Stewart also scored McLouth’s last two touchdowns, helping him finish the year with 10 touchdowns. The junior finished the season with 1,167 yards on 221 carries.

After breaking long losing skids at home and overall early in the season, the Bulldogs at one time had a 4-1 record. A loss to Troy and then an 0-3 mark in districts dropped McLouth to 4-5 on the year.

However, the Bulldogs did finish fourth in the Delaware Valley League after three years of finishing in last place.

“They were disappointed in the loss,” Hester said. “They knew that was a winning season, which is always one of our goals.

“We’re happy with the season, just not satisfied. We want more. We were extremely happy. It was a great step forward.”

MHS will lose just three seniors when the Bulldogs come back for the 2005 campaign.

Ripp Harrison, Joel Dickerson and Dylan Roberts all played their final games at McLouth High on Thursday.