MOKANE, Mo. - Almost 10 months have passed, and the sudden and shocking finish still grates.
Zack Hess is counting on that painful, premature conclusion as a persistent reminder, driving his South Callaway Bulldogs to not repeat it.
South Callaway launches the 2016 football season at home tonight against Father Tolton (kickoff at 7 p.m.). The Bulldogs - Class 2 runners-up in 2014 - are coming off a 7-3 finish last season that ended earlier than expected in a jolting 47-27 home loss to sixth-seeded Cole Camp in the first round of district play.
"For our kids, our younger guys - the juniors last year that are seniors this year - they talk all the time about they don't want something like that to happen this year," said Hess, who is entering his second year as head coach at South Callaway. "I think that really motivated them throughout the offseason and this summer, especially that senior class.
"They want to carry on the tradition that we have, and winning games and going deep in the playoffs. I think that (loss), in the long run - for this year - that was actually a good thing."
The South Callaway offense, which brings back seven starters, will be directed by junior quarterback Landon Horstman in his first year as a full-time starter. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound Horstman platooned at the position in 2015 with Ethan Livengood, who graduated.
Horstman was just 7-of-14 for 119 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions as the Bulldogs threw the ball sparingly last season. He was effective when he ran, gaining 316 yards (8.3 average) and scoring four times.
"Landon looks like a quarterback, he's just got that quarterback frame - he's tall and he's got a muscular build," Hess said. "Then when you watch him run the offense and he runs the option like we do and he keeps the ball and runs it, he looks good.
"He's very athletic. He's a really good leader, he's really smart. I would say right now he's got a pretty good grasp of what (offensive coordinator Tucker) Bartley is wanting to do with the offense."
Peyton Leeper - a promising 5-10, 175-pound sophomore - will serve as Horstman's backup. Hess said Leeper will also be moved around as part of the rotation in South Callaway's backfield.
"Peyton is a really good athlete," Hess said. "He's got a very good arm, but the thing we talk about as a coaching staff is that Peyton's a sophomore, so he's still really trying to grasp and learn all of the nuances of everything we want to happen.
" I think the plan is making sure that Peyton does get some reps there at quarterback, because you always want to be prepared."
There's no surprise about the Bulldogs' offensive intent as they averaged a robust 290.4 yards rushing per game last season. The conversation begins with junior running back Kaden Helsel (6-0, 180), who produced 475 yards (6.9 average) and seven touchdowns in 2015.
"We're excited about Kaden, he's a dynamic playmaker," Hess said. "He's not one of those guys that's real shifty and he's going to make you miss, and all that, but he's got pretty good speed.
"He likes to be physical, so he'll hit you. That's a good combo."
Leeper will be in the mix and senior Bennett Hager (6-1, 180) returns after missing last season with a knee injury.
"Bennett's real hungry, he's excited to play," Hess said. " Bennett and Kaden remind me a lot of each other in just their styles. They're both big kids, Ben's a little bigger than Kaden, but they're both real athletic and they like to just lower their shoulder and hit."
Meanwhile, senior Harley Kight (5-9, 155) has been moved to fullback after rushing for 200 yards (5.7 average) and scoring twice last season. Junior Dalton Stone (5-7, 155) and sophomore Bradyn Belcher (5-10, 200) are expected to share playing time with Kight.
With South Callaway relying almost exclusively on the run, the Bulldogs will lean on a quartet of receivers who put up minimal numbers in 2015. Junior Jarrett Livengood (6-0, 160) finished with four receptions for 100 yards and senior Brandon Ashley (5-11, 170) had only two catches for 9 yards.
Junior Austin Meyer (6-3, 175) has moved to the position after being a running back last year, while senior Andrew Buckner (5-11, 145) will also be part of the group. Meyer and Buckner didn't have any catches at the varsity level in 2015.
"We're excited about those big receivers," Hess said. "Now I wouldn't say we have killer speed out there - they're not going to run past a lot of people, but they'll go up and fight for the ball, and they'll block.
"That's good for what we do."
South Callaway's offensive line will be led by senior Braeden Sconce (5-11, 205) at center. Sconce manned the position most of last season after Johnny Wyman - who graduated - broke a bone in his leg. Junior Hunter Schroer (6-5, 240) and senior Darrell Risch (5-11, 185) also return at right tackle and left guard, respectively.
Newcomer Ben Shumate (6-2, 240), a senior, will line up at right guard, while seniors Brandon Aggus (6-1, 180) and Dakota Kraft (5-11, 170) will split time at left tackle. Junior Clayton Knipfel (5-11, 180) will also be part of the rotation at tackle.
"With the guys we have this year, they're more versatile and they'll get out and pull (on blocks)," Hess said. "I think it just gives us an element that we didn't have last year as far as our perimeter run game, and just being able to pull and trap, and be real quick with our path."
Shumate will hold down the nose guard position in the Bulldogs' 3-5 defensive scheme. Schroer should start at one end spot, while Risch, Aggus and Kraft will share time on the other side.
"Ben, just his body type, his physicality, I think he'll do a good job there at nose," Hess said. " You just have a crop of those guys (at the end position) that may not be very big, but they're stout and they've got a quick first step."
As for South Callaway's linebackers, Helsel will line up in the middle, Hager will be on the strong side and Stone on the weak side, with Horstman and Meyer setting up at the outside positions.
"The biggest thing that stands out is just their speed, just getting to the ball," Hess said. "That may be what we have to rely on, early on, because none of those guys really got a ton of reps last year (at linebacker).
"So they're still learning the technique and their reads and their keys."
Leeper will roam the Bulldogs' secondary at free safety, while Livengood, Ashley, Buckner and junior Harry Glover (5-9, 145) will get their turns at cornerback.
South Callaway will clash tonight with a Father Tolton squad that went 10-2 last year and played for a district championship, falling 59-29 to Lafayette County.
"Coach (Chad) Masters is a good coach and he's done a great job in getting those guys to where they are," Hess said of the Trailblazers. "Just their style of play - they're physical, but yet they throw the ball around, and they fly around on defense.
"It's going to be a heck of a challenge for us. I think, in a lot of ways, it's really going to tell us where we're at - how far have we come, how far do we still have to go."
It will also say a lot about how the Bulldogs have bounced back from a bitter October loss.
South Callaway hosts Father Tolton Catholic
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