ELDON, Mo. - The Warsaw Wildcats did not win a single game the previous two seasons.
But to Eldon head coach Shannon Jolley that means very little now, as he has great respect for the Wildcats and feels they are the most improved team in the Tri-County Conference.
Jolley and the Mustangs get an up close and personal look at Warsaw tonight when they host the Wildcats for Eldon's Homecoming game (7 p.m. kickoff).
Eldon comes in with a 4-1 overall record, a 2-1 Tri-County mark and is No. 10 in this week's Class 3 Missouri Media Rankings. Midway through the season Warsaw has a winning record at 3-2 - a far cry from 0-10 records in both 2016 and 2015. The Wildcats are 1-2 in league play.
Warsaw is coming off a big win, holding off another improved league team - Versailles - 28-21. Eldon is coming off a 55-14 blowout of California.
Jolley says first-year Warsaw head coach Ryan Boyer has done a great job of turning the Wildcats around.
"They play with effort across the board," Jolley said of Warsaw. "They play hard. Coach Boyer has breathed new life there. He was a heck of a player when he was there and has done a heck of a job this year. They're one of the most improved teams in the area this year."
Last week the Wildcats ran for 348 yards on 50 carries in the win against Versailles.
After struggling to score points last fall Warsaw is now averaging a respectable 15.6 points per game while allowing 21.0.
Warsaw junior quarterback Matt Luebbert has connected on 25-of-57 passes for 296 yards and two touchdowns and has rushed for 247 yards on 57 carries and four TDs.
He is one of several Wildcats with impressive rushing numbers.
Senior running back Keegan Glenn has rushed for 436 yards on 78 yards and two TDs while junior running back Kieon Davis has 206 rushing yards on 39 carries and two TDs and junior running back Eli Hawkins has 123 yards on 35 attempts and three TDs.
Luebbert's top passing target is senior wideout Jayden Schepker, who has 11 receptions for 129 yards.
On defense, junior linebacker Colby Schwartz leads the Wildcats with 32 tackles while strong safety Schepker has 28 tackles and two interceptions, senior end Nathaniel Fauquier 26 tackles and sophomore linebacker Lane Bates has 21. Junior end Jacob Luebbert has three sacks.
"Their strength, from what we've seen on film, is that their running backs run tremendously hard," said Jolley, whose team whipped Warsaw last year 49-17. "They play at the point of impact. And the back end of their defense flies to the ball."
When Jolley watched his squad's performance last week against California, he didn't see much to complain about.
"The first half everything kind of went our way," Jolley said of last week. "But this week we made sure to look at stuff we need to clean up. It's real hard to complain when you have execution in the first half like that."
Senior halfback Isaiah Merida continues to lead the Mustangs in rushing with 755 yards on 93 attempts (8.1 yards per carry) with 11 touchdowns.
Also for Eldon junior fullback Isaiah Parsons has 426 yards on 104 carries and 11 touchdowns, senior wingback Trenton Dillon has 233 yards on 20 carries (11.7) and junior quarterback Dawson Brandt has 189 yards on 30 carries.
Brandt has had success with the play-action pass, with 225 yards and three touchdowns on just seven completions. Dillon has caught two passes for 95 yards and two TDs and Merida two catches for 78 yards.
Jolley has never been too thrilled with the distractions that comes with Homecoming games. But he said he is looking forward to this one and hopes the community comes out in big numbers.
"Our administration does a tremendous job getting people back to the community," Jolley said. "We want people to come back and get a look at our facilities and our school. And Homecoming is a good way for the community to come back, and I'm all for that."