2014 schedule

Jack Courtney returns as McLouth's starting quarterback after last year's 7-3 campaign.

Sept. 5 — vs. JC North

Sept. 12 — at Immaculata

Sept. 19 — vs. Jackson Hts.

Sept. 26 — at Royal Valley

Oct. 3 — vs. Oskaloosa

Oct. 10 — at Washington Co.

Oct. 17 — vs. Pleasant Ridge

Oct. 24 — at ACCHS

Oct. 30 — at Maur Hill

McLouth ? After winning back-to-back district titles as a Class 2-1A program, the McLouth High football team is ready to prove it can replicate that success at the next level.

Following a 7-3 campaign in 2013, the Bulldogs have returned to Class 3A for the 2014-15 district cycle. Led by nine seniors, including a second-year starter at quarterback, they’ll look to make the playoffs for the third consecutive year.

“It’s one of those times of year that you can’t wait to come up, and it’s here,” coach Chris Stewart said. “We’re all excited and ready to go for the first game.”

Senior Jack Courtney will be back under center after earning an All-Northeast Kansas League honorable mention last season. Stewart said he expects big things from Courtney, who eased into the starting role last year after the departure of four-year starter Marc Walbridge.

“I’m just more calm. I don’t have to worry about as much,” Courtney said. “I can focus on making the right throws and the right reads. We still go out every day and work hard. Even though we have the mentality that we need to go win every game, I don’t think we have any added pressure.”

The Bulldogs must replace their top two offensive threats in 2014 grads Drew Cerny and Nick McAferty, who combined for 35 total touchdowns a year ago. Players like Jace Carlton and Kevin Gann will look to step into larger offensive roles after seeing time as reserves last fall.

Meanwhile, senior defensive linemen Dylan Stauch and Jake Copeland will headline an MHS defense that allowed 14.1 points per game last season and just 9.8 points per game in its final six outings. Stauch was a All-NEK first-team selection, while Copeland earned a second-team pick.

MHS enters the upcoming the season after the best three-year stretch in recent memory. The team is a combined 23-7 since 2011 after going just 10-35 from 2006 to 2010.

“We kind of have higher expectations for the whole team and coaches try to push us a little bit harder,” Stauch said. “It’s pretty much just go out and play smash-mouth football. We’ll just keep working hard and I think we’ll get there.”

The Bulldogs are in 3A district 3 with Atchison-Maur Hill Mount Academy, Pleasant Ridge and Effingham-Atchison County Community High School.

“We’ll keep doing what we always do,” Stewart said. “We know bumping up to 3A is going to be a lot tougher to not only get into the state playoffs, but also to win football games.”

Stewart’s squad might have caught a break with its district assignment, as the last time it was a 3A team, it was paired with perennial powers Rossville and Silver Lake. McLouth started 7-0 in 2011, but saw its playoff hopes dashed with back-to-back losses to those schools.

MHS will open its season at 7 p.m. Friday against NEK rival Jefferson County North at Stan Braksick Sports Complex. The Bulldogs defeated the Chargers last season, 50-7.