HOUSTON — Football is a game of numbers, both on the field and off.

The Houston Hawks finished with three wins in Greatland Conference play during the season, and placed three players on the All-Greatland Conference’s first team.

Head coach Norm Bouchard wishes both numbers would have been higher.

Houston senior Israel Morales runs for a touchdown earlier this season against Barrow. Morales was recently named first-team All-Greatland Conference as a running back and linebacker. Also named to the team were Houston offensive tackle Garrett Mooney and defensive tackle James Steed.

“It’s about what we probably earned, but for sure not what we deserved,” Bouchard said, noting a team’s finish in the standings is factored heavily into the all-conference voting. “I think we had better football players.”

Senior Israel Morales leads the Houston trio named to the first team. Morales earned the all-conference nod at both fullback and linebacker.

“He’s been a big part of our team for four years,” Bouchard said of the player who cracked the Houston varsity lineup as a freshman.

Obviously Bouchard is going to have good things to say about the player who led the Hawks on both sides of the ball. But Bouchard said, what is most impressive is what opposing coaches have to say about Morales.

“People had glowing things to say about him,” Bouchard said. “He’s a good kid who works hard.”

Bouchard said work ethic was also rewarded when senior Garrett Mooney received one of the two first-team offensive tackle spots.

“It’s really been fun to see him become the player he is,” Bouchard said. “He’s had to work at it.”

Bouchard said Mooney is one reason why the Hawks were able to run the ball so successfully in the second half of the season.

“He had a great year. He’s really done well at that right tackle spot,” Bouchard said. “We averaged about eight yards a carry on that right side.”

Bouchard was also thrilled that senior defensive tackle James Steed was named to the first team.

“It’s awesome. He’s probably the most deserving kid we’ve had,” Bouchard said. “He works his tail off all week long.”

Noticeably absent from the first team are junior wide receiver Bryan Mason and junior quarterback Jordan Webb.

Mason finished the season as one of the top four receivers statistically in the state — among both large and small schools receivers. Mason finished tied for third in the state with 32 catches. He also had 485 yards and seven touchdowns.

Webb was eighth in the state in passing with 898 yards.

Valdez senior Adam Failing was named to the first-team at quarterback . Bouchard said the difference in the voting could have been the Buccaneers’ win over the Hawks during the final week of the season.

Mason and Webb were among six Houston players named to the second team.

Mason earned second-team honors at both wide receiver and defensive back.

Junior Brandon Parks also earned second-team honors on both sides of the ball, garnering recognition at running back and linebacker.

Also named second-team were Ben Crowley (offensive guard), Randy Shaffer (offensive center), Justin Crowley (linebacker) and Anthoney Origer (defensive line).

Shafer (long snapper), Webb (punter) and Kyle Sumner (utility player) earned an honorable mention.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

Greatland All-Conference Team

Offensive player of the year — Chance Renfro, Eielson.

Defensive player of the year — Nate Rogers, Valdez.

Lineman of the year — Mike Brown, Eielson.

Coach of the year — Lea Cockerham, Valdez.

First-team offense

Quarterback — Adam Failing, Valdez; Halfback — Beau Calderwood, Nikiski; Chance Renfro, Eielson; Return specialist — Cody Hedberg, Valdez; Fullback — Israel Morales, Houston; Wide receiver — Evan Holloway, Nikiski; Long snapper — Elliott Tuttle, Nikiski; Tight end — Kevin Barnicle, Eielson; Tackle — Garrett Mooney, Houston; Mike Brown, Eielson; Guard — Elliott Tuttle, Nikiski; Josh Saylors, Valdez; Center — Hunter Gallien, Nikiski; Kicker — Dylan Beck, Seward.

 

First-team defense

Outside linebacker — Chance Renfro, Eielson; Parker Hutchison, Valdez; Inside linebacker — Israel Morales, Houston; Dwayne Fearson, Eielson; Defensive backfield — Beau Calderwood, Nikiski; Dylan Beck, Seward; James Rogers, Valdez; Interior lineman — Mike Brown, Eielson; James Steed, Houston; Hunter Gallien, Nikiski; Nate Rogers, Valdez; Punter — Dylan Beck, Seward; Utility player — Cody Hedberg, Valdez.

Second-team offense

Quarterback — Jordan Webb, Houston; Halfback — Brandon Parks, Houston; Austin Starbuck, Valdez. Fullback — Andrew Sprankle, Eielson; Wide receiver — Bryan Mason, Houston; James Rogers, Valdez; Long snapper — Caleb Cinereski, Seward; Tight end — Parker Hutchison, Valdez; Tackle — Dustin Couch, Nikiski; Josh Zimmerman, Seward; Guard — Dwayne Fearon, Eielson; Logan Alan, Seward; Ben Crowley, Houston; Center — Randy Shaffer, Houston; Kicker — JD Hall, Nikiski.

 

Second-team defense

Outside linebacker — Walker Boyle, Nikiski; Brandon Parks, Houston; Inside linebacker — Justin Crowley, Houston; Alan Logan, Seward; Defensive backfield — Bryan Mason, Houston; Colten Growden, Eielson; Shane Crowley, Valdez; Jayce Wells, Valdez; Josh Langfeild, Eielson; Interior linemen — Ian Filbert, Seward; Anthoney Origer, Houston; Josh Zimmerman, Seward; Paul Dunham, Valdez; Punter — Cody Hedberg, Valdez.

 

Honorable mention offense

Fullback — Nate Rogers, Valdez; Long snapper — Randy Shaffer, Houston; Tight end — Jon Stinson, Houston; Robert Perea, Seward; Tackle — Ben Hogue, Seward; Guard — Ian Filbert, Seward; Luke Parson, Eielson; Center — Kevin McKinley, Valdez; Kicker — Nate Rogers, Valdez.

 

Honorable mention defense

Outside linebacker — Nick Spurr, Seward; Kevin Barnicle, Eielson; Inside linebacker — Loyd Kompkoff, Valdez; Punter — Jordan Webb, Houston; Utility player — Kyle Sumner, Houston; Nick Spurr, Seward.