GADSDEN — How fitting that the coach with the most wins in school history (33), architect of the Panthers’ first-ever playoff victory (against Ragland in 2008) and owner of the school’s best-ever season record (9-3, also in 2008) would direct yet another Spring Garden milestone.

With his team’s 35-0 win over Coosa Christian Friday night, Jason Howard became the first coach in the Panthers’ on-and-off, 44-year history to guide his team to a 4-0 start.

Howard’s 2012 edition of the Panthers won in the same style his teams have become known for since he began his career as a head coach in 2003: smash mouth, in-your-face, between-the-tackles offense and pounding, persistent defense. It was a style of play that opened a door of opportunity for Howard after a second consecutive playoff run in 2009.

But after two seasons at Ohatchee--his alma mater, by the way--he made the decision to return to his second home.

“My family is here, and Spring Garden is such a special place,” Howard told the Cherokee County Herald when he was rehired in April.

And now, thanks to Howard, it’s special for yet another reason.

“Four-and-oh feels pretty good, doesn’t it,” Howard asked his players as they huddled at midfield after the final whistle. “Don’t listen to all that things that are going to be going on around us. We have to stay focused.”

There are still a half-dozen games to play in the regular season. As Howard acknowledged after the game, as head coach of a 4-0 team part of his job now becomes making sure his players don’t start looking towards the playoffs, or at anything other than the next opponent.

“It’s like I told them at halftime, you never stay the same, you either go backward or you go forward,” Howard said. “Everything we do from now on has got to be a step forward.”

Senior Forrest Livingston took a whole bunch of steps forward on Friday.

The senior--who’s been starting since he was a freshman on Howard’s 2009 team--ran for 244 yards and two touchdowns, including a 92-yarder on the final play of the first quarter that effectively opened the flood gates on the Spring Garden side of the scoreboard. Livingston had already racked up 181 yards at halftime.

The Panthers took the opening kickoff across midfield and set up shop at the Conquerors’ 44-yard line to begin the game. Six plays later, quarterback Will Ivey’s keeper from 11 yards out ended up in the end zone.

After swapping possessions, Coosa Christian drove down to the Spring Garden 8-yard line as the first quarter clock wound down. After an incomplete pass on fourth down, the Panthers had time for one more play before the quarter ended. Livingston took the ball off left tackle, shook off a handful of tacklers and headed down the sideline. Will Pinton’s PAT made the score 14-0.

After the defense held the Conquerors again, Spring Garden’s Tyler Morgan scooted into the end zone from 9 yards out with 3:28 remaining in the half to up the score to 21-0.

Coosa Christian threatened again on its next drive, but Hunter Bondie’s bone-rattling sack on the final play of the first half snuffed out a long Conqueror drive. Bondie later left the game with an injured wrist.

Livingston got his second score of the night with 5:18 left in the third quarter on an impressive, tackle-breaking 18-yard run.

Morgan, a small, quick back who contrasted starkly to the pounding running style of Livingston, got his second rushing score on the final play of the third quarter. He finished the game with 92 yards on the ground.

Next week, Spring Garden faces Region 7 foe Jacksonville Christian, which lost 54-6 to Cedar Bluff on Friday.