ST. CHARLES — Jordan Rowe regularly kept his head down as he sauntered through the halls of St. Charles High last fall.
The starting quarterback made sure his headphones were in place as well.
Rowe had grown tired of hearing comments from his fellow classmates about the Pirates lack of football success over the past few seasons.
“I would just keep walking and not talk to anybody,†said Rowe, who is now entering his fourth season.
Explained senior kicker Braden Reed, “When you’re losing, it can be tough — you get made fun of all the time.â€
Even Pirates coach Dan McMullen had to endure some backlash.
“There would be kids talking to each other about how we (weren’t successful), knowing I was right there and could hear them,†McMullen said.
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Student apathy can happen especially when a program compiles a 4-26 mark in a three-season stretch from 2021-2023 including a 1-9 campaign last year.
“It wasn’t much fun when all people talk about is how you keep losing,†Rowe said.
Rowe can now ditch the headphones. The dual-threat runner and passer walks through the Kingshighway Street campus these days with his head held high.
Instead of taunts, everyone wants to talk about the Pirates amazing turnaround.
St. Charles is off to a 2-0 start for the first time since 2016, thanks to Rowe and his determined teammates. The quick getaway puts this group in position to record the school’s first winning campaign since the 2014 team went 6-4.
All of a sudden, it is cool to raise the Jolly Roger.
“Losing so much has made us enjoy this so much more,†Rowe said. “When you have success, win a game, it makes you believe you can keep doing it.â€
Actually, the entire program is changing for better. Attendance is up, and the quick start brings back memories of the 1982 state championship team.
Rowe has developed into a top-notch leader, through effort and example. He was banged up a little over the first two weeks and McMullen told him to sit out Tuesday’s practice session in an effort to heal up. Rowe declined.
“You can’t get better if you don’t work at it,†Rowe said.
That sums up the Pirates metamorphosis perfectly.
The entire team threw itself into summer workouts and came back a sharper, more cohesive unit.
It showed with come-from-behind wins each of the first two weeks of the season.
St. Charles trailed Francis Howell North 27-12 early in the third period on Friday before rallying for a 34-30 win.
It also trailed Westminster in the season opener but charged back to post a 28-25 triumph.
Rowe triggers an offense that has amassed 62 points. The Pirates didn’t reach that total until the sixth week last season.
“The guys have actually bought in to what we’re trying to teach them, no questions asked,†McMullen said. “They are seeing the fruits of trusting each other and trusting us. They are putting each other first instead of this being an individual thing.â€
Rowe echoed those same sentiments.
“Last year, if we were losing at halftime, we’d just fall apart and not want to finish the second half,†he said. “This time, the second half has probably been our best two quarters.
Rowe, who stands 6-foot-1, leads the high-octane attack. He has rushed for 358 yards and six scores and has thrown for 411 yards and one TD.
The Pirates also sport a new-found pride. McMullen wanted all of his players to wear the same shirt to school on Friday game days last season to show unity and togetherness
Not everyone complied.
“About 50-50,†McMullen said.
Now, the entire 47-player roster has proudly donned the shirts that proclaim the team moto of, “accountability.â€
“We’re together and everyone is getting better every single day,†Reed said. “Feels like more of a family than it ever has.
“And I absolutely love it.â€
Juniors Ryan Hayes (7 catches, 158 yards) and Sam Adams (7-56) are Rowe’s favorite targets. Ezequiel Lopez has totaled 139 all-purpose yards.
Linebacker Kameron Davis anchors the defense with 22 tackles.
“This might be the first year that our best players are leading the ship,†McMullen said. “They’re leading the right way with all the little things. They’re showing up to class, they’re picking each other up. That leadership has made everybody else rise to their level.â€
The Pirates will be looking to go 3-0 for the first time since 2004 when they travel to Fort Zumwalt South (2-0) at 7 p.m. Friday.
Rowe is thoroughly enjoying the quick start and he said there is no reason this squad can’t keep winning.
“This feels like a real brotherhood,†Rowe said. “It’s really a team this year.â€