But in Lampasas, those three wins have helped fill the stands at Badger Field and have brought excitement to a town that hasn't had much to cheer for since the turn of the century.

Back-to-back 0-10 seasons had left the stands virtually empty and left the players thinking about anything else they could be doing on a Friday night.

But a new coach, a new offense, a new sense of pride and three simple wins have brought a new sense of enthusiasm for Badger football.

"It's unbelievable - the whole school has changed," middle linebacker Rush Seaver said. "By this time last year, everyone was thinking baseball. Nobody would go to the game."

Seaver's team-leading 97 tackles are a big reason that the Badgers (2-2 in District 25-4A) will enter their final two games - today's 7 p.m. game at Killeen (6-2, 3-1) and next week's home finale against Hutto (5-4, 2-3) - with a shot to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2000.

When asked what's made the difference, Seaver didn't hesitate.

"Coach (Joey) McQueen," he said. "He's changed everything and everyone."

McQueen's most noticeable change on the field is the offense, switching the Badgers from a pass-based spread to a run-heavy Slot-T. Of the Badgers' 2,413 yards, 2,301 have come on the ground.

But the players are quick to say the biggest change is discipline and work ethic.

"You get a personal foul penalty in a game and he will pull you," center Tate Stoneham said. "And you won't get back in the game. Last year guys would get two or three a game and no one did anything. All it did was hurt the team."

McQueen makes no bones about the fact that he is an old-school coach, demanding discipline from his players on and off the field.

mhood@temple-telegram.com