It wasn't supposed to be this way for Garland.

After finishing last season with a loss to eventual champion Cedar Hill in the Class 5A Division II state semifinals, Garland began 2007 ranked ninth in the Associated Press state poll.

Yet, three games into its supposed-to-be-dream season, coach Jeff Jordan's squad is winless, becoming the most surprising of the area's 0-3 teams.

"It's not a whole lot of fun," Jordan said. "We're all disappointed. It's one of those deals that you don't like it and it's not any fun, but it is what it is."

Garland, however, had one of the area's toughest nondistrict schedules, playing three teams currently in the top 10 of the SportsDay area 5A rankings.

First, it was a 21-15 loss to No. 2 Allen; then, a 47-14 defeat at No. 6 DeSoto, and finally, a 40-7 drubbing at the hands of No. 4 Plano East.

But to Garland, the schedule is no excuse.

"We really should have won some of the games," defensive tackle Casey Walker said. "We got beat pretty bad by two teams, so we need to go forward from there."

The first three games were rough for a team picked to go deep in the playoffs and challenge for a state championship. The offense is averaging just 12 points per game; the defense is allowing 36.

Junior quarterback Josh Mouse, in his first season as a starter, said his coach's words after the Sept. 15 loss to Plano East ring true.

"He said that our mistakes kind of brought us down in that game, and whenever we fell behind, we kind of put our heads down," Mouse said. "We're really working on that, trying to keep a positive attitude throughout the game."

That attitude is clear at Garland's practices during its bye week, where positive thinking reigned. There were high-fives all around for even the simplest successes, and congratulations to those who made plays against the scout team.

MIKE STONE/Special Contributor

End Casey Walker (left) listens with his teammates as defensive coordinator Danny Russell instructs during practice.

The cheering was led by Jordan, yelling encouragement from underneath his floppy bucket hat. He knows the importance of keeping a positive outlook from the 1991 season, when Jordan, then an assistant coach at Garland, watched his team go 1-9.

"I learned how easy it was for the kids and coaches to get beaten down, and I've always tried to get the attitude," Jordan said.

"You've got to keep everybody up because it can spiral out of control. It's football, and it should be fun."

The best news for Garland is that all is not lost. Garland opens its District 10-5A schedule Friday at Rockwall, in a game that may determine the district title. It begins what Mouse called "a new season."

Jordan also is excited about a new start.

"Not one of our goals can't be achieved," Jordan said. "Get in the playoffs, play on Thanksgiving. It doesn't matter if you're 3-0 or 0-3.

"Those games were a learning experience. Now it's for real."

After plummeting from the polls, unranked Garland is trying to salvage its season with positive thinking and hard work. And even though he has played against three of the area's top six teams, Walker said none of them is No. 1.

"We are, really," Walker said. "I'm always choosing the Garland Owls."

DECLINING FORTUNE

Key numbers from Garland's nondistrict games this season and last:

Garland (0-3, 0-0 10-5A) at No. 10 Rockwall (1-2, 0-0), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Rockwall's Wilkerson-Sanders Stadium (KXEZ-FM 92.1)