Staff file photo / R. Michael Semple Lakeview's Drew McKowan prepares to hand the ball off to running back Thomas Easton during the team's game against Girard in September.

CORTLAND – Drew McKowan entered the 2023 football season as the starting quarterback for Warren G. Harding. Eventually, Chaz Coleman took over as the Raiders’ signal caller.

With one more year of high school, McKowan decided to return home.

He transferred to Lakeview, where he took over as one of the team leaders for a program in the midst of a rebuild.

“I came in and been really trying to get everybody together, trying to get everybody on the same page. We got a good culture,” McKowan said. “Doing things right like running on the field, and doing things right off the field to give ourselves the best culture and best chance of success.”

The 2023 and 2024 seasons had some similarities in terms of results on the field. Both versions of Lakeview finished the regular season 5-5, and both went 1-5 in Northeast 8 play. But McKowan said he saw progress from his new teammates over the course of the offseason and into camp.

McKowan has turned into a potential game changer in the passing game, especially over his last couple games. In his last two starts, the senior has accounted for 508 yards and five touchdowns.

“Everyone’s out here practicing with a purpose,” McKowan said. “I think that was really instilled in the offseason, especially from when I first came to the start of the year. We were doing all the little things right. Everyone knew when we stepped on the field in Week 1 that we could do great things.”

Tonight, McKowan will look to help lead the Bulldogs to their first playoff win since beating St. Clairsville 42-21 in the opening round in 2010.

Standing in the Bulldogs’ way will be an 8-2 Garaway squad, who will have the home-field advantage. But his year’s squad has some playoff experience, something it lacked in previous seasons. They played Sandy Valley in the opening round last year, but fell 42-21 at home.

“Last year, I know it was a good game with Sandy Valley, but ultimately, we came up short,” McKowan said. “This year, we’re trying to make sure we get that win and put ourselves up there in the talks to be able to compete for it all.”

It won’t just be a signature win for the 2024 Bulldogs, but a nice gift for the hometown crowd on behalf of McKowan.

“I wanted to come home,” McKowan said. “There were some ups and downs, I learned a lot of lessons. A lot of things happened, but here, it feels like home.

“I grew up here, so I was able to become acclimated. It’s been a great transition.”