By Kevin Eckleberry

Sports Editor

Todd Mooney never stopped believing.

Even as the losses mounted, the LaGrange College football coach remained steadfast in his belief that things were on the right track.

When the Panthers completed a second straight winless season in 2007, making then 0-for-20 in two years, he talked about the progress the team made, and how one day the hard work and dedication would pay dividends.

That time came a year ago.

Beginning with a dramatic, come-from-behind win over Birmingham Southern in the season opener, the Panthers were off and running.

The Panthers lost in Week 2 to Shorter, but they didn’t lose again until the opening round of the NCAA Division III playoffs.

From 0-20, the Panthers went 9-2 in 2008 while capturing a conference championship and earning a playoff bid.

It was nothing less than the greatest single-season turnaround in Division III history.

“To go from losing 20 in a row to winning the way we did, it was incredible,” senior wide receiver Nick Langley said.

Added Mooney, who put the plan in place that resulted in last year’s turnaround: “No one will ever forget that season.”

Linebacker Richard Okpani, the St. Louis Intercollegiate Conference defensive player of the year in 2008, is one of the players who has the good times and the bad.

Okpani has started every game the Panthers have ever played.

“We’re walking with our heads up high now,” Okpani said. “It’s a very rewarding process. Coming in with a losing record and turning it around was awesome, incredible. It makes you know hard work doesn’t go to waste.”

Langley believes the turnaround is a testament to the character of the men, like Okpani, who hung in there and kept the faith.

“The guys that are still here, it says a tremendous amount about their character,” Langley said. “The guys that are here are committed to winning, not just for us, but for the future.”

As memorable as 2008 was, that season is over, and it’s time to turn the page.

It’s a new year, and the coaches and players are ready to create some new scrapbook moments.

The pieces are certainly in place to make 2009 another special season.

Nearly every starter is back, and the Panthers have tremendous depth at every position.

From quarterback Drew Carter, to dynamic running back Mario Wallace, to All-American offensive lineman Jon Milner, to Okpani who anchors the defense, to steady kicker Josh Stripling, the Panthers have all the pieces.

Now, it’s just a matter of going out on the field and making it happen.

LaGrange College opens the season Saturday afternoon against Birmingham Southern at Callaway Stadium.­

“Our ultimate goal,” said Carter, “is to win a national championship.”

While not shying away from the potential this team has, Mooney is stressing the importance of the old “one game at a time” mentality.

He said that has never been a problem for the players, who have always been able to keep their focus on the task at hand.

“The thing that was great last year was, our players never lost focus on the next game,” Mooney said. “All the sudden, things went from going bac to going unbelievably well. It would have been easy to start looking ahead, but they showed unbelievably maturity to make sure we didn’t get the cart before the horse.

“Right now, there’s nothing on their mind but Birmingham Southern.”

Birmingham Southern will face a team that is loaded.

On defense, 10 starters return, including Okpani, who tied for the team lead with 53 tackles a year ago.

Fellow senior linebacker Josh Britt also had 53 tackles a year ago.

Junior Drew McAdams, who led the defensive lineman with 38 tackles, helps anchor things up front.

Jeremy Pickens, a senior, headlines the secondary. Pickens had 48 tackles in 2008,and he led the team with nine pass breakups.

The Panthers not only stopped the opposition a year ago, but they also scored a lot of touchdowns on defense.

That’s not an accident, according to Mooney.

“They are out to play an extremely aggressive type of defense,” Mooney said. “They are out to make big plays.”

Mooney expects the defense to be a strength all season.

“They are stronger this year, and they are playing with the confidence of a 9-2 schedule,” Mooney said. “They’ve all busted their rear ends in the offseason. They call came in in great shape. They’re all playing extremely physical.”

The Panthers should have no problem scoring points, with play-makers at every skill position to go along with a veteran offensive line anchored by Milner, a tackle who made the D3football.com All-American team as a second-teamer.

Carter, who threw for more than 2,000 yard with 26 touchdowns in 2008, will direct the offense.

When he hands the ball off, it will often be to senior running back Mario Wallace, who was the conference offensive player of the year in 2008.

Wallace ran for more than 1,000 yards with 13 touchdowns, and he also caught 21 passes.

Add in Wallace’s return yards, and his 1,839 all-purpose yards ranked him 16th in Division III in that category.

“He’s running the ball very well, and he’s done a good job physically preparing,” Mooney said. “He’s ready to play big, and that’s really important.”

The Panthers are blessed with plenty of firepower at the receiver position, including junior Stephen Tuck, who led the team with 31 catches a year ago.

Langley, who has played in all but one game since 2006, led the team with seven touchdowns, and he had a streak of five straight games with a touchdown catch a year ago.

Colt Shope, a do-it-all player who rotates between running back and receiver, was second on the team in all-purpose yards in 2008, and tight end Tripp Duke gives Carter a big target.

“We’re so talented in the receiver and tight end position that (defenses have to) pick their spots,” Mooney said. “If you try to double-team one guy, well, we’ll find another one. We spread it around a lot.”

Everything begins with an offensive line that kept Carter on his feet a year ago, and opened plenty of holes for Wallace and the other backs.

“They have developed very well,” Mooney said of the offensive linemen.

Linemen Justin Joyner and Matt Hyde joined Milner on the all-conference team last year.

The Panthers are set in the kicking game as well, with Stripling back to handle the place-kicking and punting duties.

Stripling was the conference’s special-teams player of the year a year ago.

“He has worked his tail off this summer. He is so ready,” Mooney said. “He wants to show everybody he deserves the credit he’s getting.”