Howard High School Starts 2-0 After Going 1-29 Last Three Seasons

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – When Barney Hester left Tattnall Square Academy after last season, some people called him crazy. 

Why would he leave a place where he’d had plenty of success the last 31 years to coach a team that had won just five games in its five year history?

Fast forward to Week 3 of the 2013 season, and his new team—Howard—is 2-0.  Hester isn’t taking any credit for it, though.

“I just happened to be in the right place at the right time,” Hester says.  “It’s about the guys on this football team that have been here in this program and paid the price to be successful.  Now, it’s just paying off for them.”

Glenn Houston, a senior linebacker for the Huskies, says it feels good to finally have something to show the team’s hard work.

“We’ve been working hard these four years, and a lot of us have been with the program for four years,” Houston says.

When your football team wins just one football game in three seasons (2010-2012), you might get a little bit of heckling from some of your friends at school.  Now that the Huskies have started 2-0, senior defensive tackle Jarniaren Lowe says things have changed a bit.

“Going back to school, not hearing people all in your ear saying, ‘Y’all didn’t win; y’all suck.’ It feels real good to hear encouragement from your peers,” Lowe says.

With two wins in the books, the Huskies will go for No. 3 Friday night against Walnut Grove.

“They beat us last year, 14-7,” Hester says.  “So we’ve got our work cut out for us.  But, if we play well, we’ve got a chance.”

Howard hosts Walnut Grove Friday at 7:30 at the Ed DeFore Sports Complex in Macon.