Through four weeks of the season, 18 of the state’s 27 longest losing streaks have been cracked. Additionally, five of the state’s six longest winning streaks have fallen.
For teams like the Belleville-Republic County Buffaloes, who had lost 29 consecutive games before Friday’s 22-7 win against Sacred Heart, it’s a chance to start over.
“We can put the last three years behind us now,” Republic County head coach Brad Couture said. “Around town, people are starting to talk football again.”
Republic County’s previous win was Aug. 31, 2007, a 38-8 stomping of Southeast of Saline. It was the first game of the season, and Couture’s first game as the Buffaloes’ head coach. From then on, it was a downward spiral.
When talking about winning streaks, coaches often say that success breeds success. For losing streaks, often the opposite is true. Republic County’s seniors were freshmen the last time they had won, and none of them played in that game.
Sometimes, it’s just knowing how to win.
“I would say the majority of it is mental,” Couture said. “When their peers tell them they are going to lose and make fun of them, they have nothing to believe in. In some games, the players would look at each other at halftime and wonder if they could actually do it.”
To make the situation worse, fewer players started going out for the team. Couture said the junior high ranks especially took a hit.
Republic County’s seniors decided to take matters into their own hands.
Beginning in the spring, senior football players began organizing voluntary weightlifting sessions before school. Soon, the team had 80 percent attendance.
“It started out as being part of being a captain on the team,” Couture said. “The next thing you know, everyone’s in there. They would get home late from track meets, and they would be in there the next morning.”
The commitment made a noticeable difference early in the season. After opening the year with a 36-6 loss to Washington County, the Buffaloes were edged in 12-7 and 20-7 games by Valley Heights and Southeast of Saline, respectively. Adding meaning to those close losses, Valley Heights and Southeast of Saline both boast 3-1 records.
The Buffaloes were getting closer, but a victory is what they coveted. Republic County was able to capture that elusive win Friday against the Sacred Heart Knights. Now, they will try to continues the success this week against Ellsworth, and hopefully keep things moving in the right direction.
“This senior class, they’ve wanted to win more than any team we’ve had,” Couture said. “They know they can win now. We just have to make it happen. “We’re dealing with young kids. And when kids get confidence, they can accomplish a lot.”
Republic County’s 29 consecutive losses was the longest active streak in the state. Just days earlier, Maur Hill was able to end a 30-game slide with a 23-10 win against Jackson Heights. It was the Jr. Ravens’ first victory since they beat Horton 29-12 on Oct. 20, 2006. The win could serve as a big confidence booster to Maur Hill in Brandon Wilkes’ first season as head coach.
Wins for Republic County and Maur Hill leave Santa Fe Trail’s 28 consecutive losses as the longest active losing streak in the state. The Chargers will try to stop the bleeding this week against Hiawatha.
They have plenty of examples to try to emulate. Five teams Maur Hill, Republic County, Kingman, Parsons and Weskan have snapped skids of 20 games or more this season. Eighteen of the state’s longest active losing streaks entering the season have fallen.
Besides, Maur Hill and Republic County, the other 16 are:
- The Kingman Eagles ended a 23-game losing streak Sept. 3 with a 32-0 win against Haven. It was Kingman’s first win since beating Towanda Circle 12-7 on Sept. 21, 2007.
- The Parsons Vikings stopped a 21-game losing skid with a 63-20 win against Iola on Sept. 10. It was Parsons’ first victory since defeating Coffeyville 14-7 on Oct. 12, 2007.
- The Weskan Coyotes halted a 20-game slide on Sept. 3 when they outgunned Northern Valley 46-34. Weskan’s previous win came Oct. 5, 2007 in a 42-20 decision against Northern Valley.
- The Peabody-Burns Warriors beat Wakefield 45-14 Sept. 10 to snap a 19-game losing streak. It was the Warriors’ first victory since they beat Yates Center 30-0 on Oct. 19, 2007.
- The Haven Wildcats ended a 17-game losing streak by beating Belle Plaine 27-18 on Sept. 13. The win was Haven’s first since defeating Sterling 8-2 on Sept. 12, 2008.
- The Yates Center Wildcats had lost 16 consecutive games before beating West Elk 52-28 this past Friday. Yates Center’s previous win had been a 28-6 victory against Neodesha on Oct. 3, 2008.
- The Rolla Pirates halted a 15-game skid with a 44-20 win against Boise City, Okla., on Friday. It was the Pirates’ first win since beating Ingalls 62-32 on Oct. 10, 2008.
- The Attica Bulldogs ended a 13-game losing streak by beating Burrton 54-20 Friday. The Bulldogs’ previous win was a 42-28 game Oct. 24, 2008 against Chase.
- The Pleasanton Blu-jays had lost 13 straight games before beating Miami, Mo., 20-14 Friday. It was Pleasanton’s first victory since routing West Elk 45-14 in the first round of the 2008 playoffs.
- The Topeka Highland Park Scots were able to halt a 13-game slide on Sept. 17 with a 42-20 win against KC Harmon. Highland Park hadn’t won since Oct. 17, 2008 when it beat Bonner Springs 20-8.
- The Pike Valley Panthers stopped a 12-game losing streak with a 36-8 victory Friday against Northern Valley. Pike Valley hadn’t won since Oct. 30, 2008, when it beat Southern Cloud 54-8.
- The Chetopa Green Hornets ended a 12-game slide with a 48-12 win against Altoona-Midway on Sept. 3. It was Chetopa’s first win since beating Altoona-Midway 28-18 on Oct. 10, 2008.
- The West Franklin Falcons had lost 12 straight before edging Herington 14-13 on Sept. 10. The Falcons hadn’t won since Oct. 17, 2008, when they beat Osage City 39-20.
- The Solomon Gorillas stopped an 11-game slide with a 28-8 victory against White City on Sept. 10. It was Solomon’s first win since the first round of the 2008 playoffs when it beat Onaga 40-0.
- The Wakeeney-Trego Golden Eagles were able to end their streak at 10 losses. The Golden Eagles’ previous win came 50-0 against Plainville on Oct. 30, 2008.
- KC Wyandotte ended an eight-game skid with a 24-13 win against KC Washington on Sept. 17. Wyandotte’s pervious win was 16-12 against Washington on Sept. 18, 2009.
The state’s current longest losing streaks:
28 - Santa Fe Trail
19 - Leavenworth
18 - Leon-Bluestem
17 - Bucklin
17- Elk Valley
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