Bears use big second-quarter burst to bounce Hawks

KODIAK — Late in the first half with the visiting Houston Hawks threatening, Kodiak stood clinging to a 7-6 lead.

But with just minutes left in the first half, Kodiak recovered a Houston fumble and scored twice IN the final 90 seconds of the half. Sparked by that 20-6 halftime lead, Kodiak posted a 32-12 Northern Lights Conference win over the Hawks in Kodiak Saturday afternoon.

“That was definitely a turning point,” Houston head coach Todd Whitehurst said by cellphone from Kodiak after the loss. “In my eyes it should have been at least a 13-7 (Houston lead).”

Kodiak’s Melvin Javier, who finished with a game-high 164 yards rushing and three touchdowns, ran for both of those scores during the final 1:28 of the first half. Javier rumbled for an 80-yard touchdown with 1:28 left in the second, and added a 19-yard score with 23 seconds to go. Whitehurst, Houston’s first-year head coach, said his young team is still learning how to deal with adversity on the field. Whitehurst said he’s stressed the need to continue to battle, regardless of circumstance.

“We’re trying to teach these guys to fight for what they believe in, what they want to accomplish,” Whitehurst said. “We’re trying to teach these guys to not let guys punch us in the mouth and take it. We’ve got to deliver the punches right back. I’m trying to let them know it’s OK to do this. The game is designed to (be physical), but it’s supposed to be fun.”

Whitehurst said he liked what he saw before Kodiak’s late second-quarter burst. The Hawks were running the ball well with Waylon Soptick and Hunter Smith. The duo combined for nearly 150 yards in the loss. Quarterback Nai Saechao, who finished with 87 yards passing in the game, connected with River Ross on a 14-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter.

The scoring strike, Saechao’s third to Ross during the first two weeks of the season, cut Kodiak’s lead to 7-6. The Bears took a 7-0 lead with a 10-yard Javier touchdown run early in the second quarter.

Whitehurst said he’s seeing good things from Saechao, his first-year varsity starting quarterback.

“I think he’s doing great,” Whitehurst said of Saechao. “He made great decisions. He’s running well.”

Houston (0-1, 1-1) will host Nikiski of the Greatland Conference next week.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

Kodiak 32, Houston 12

Saturday, Kodiak High School

First quarter:

No scoring.

Second quarter:

Kodiak — Javier 10 run (Gregory kick), 11:55.

Houston — Ross 14 pass from Saechao (kick blocked), 7:59.

Kodiak — Javier 80 run (kick failed), 1:28.

Kodiak — Javier 19 run (Gregory kick), :23.

Third quarter:

Kodiak — Sorto 47 pass from Yavorsky (kick failed), 10:54.

Kodiak — Powers 8 run (kick failed), 5:18.

Fourth quarter:

Houston — Smith 9 run (run failed), :47.

Individual stats:

Rushing: Houston — Smith 15-69, Soptick 20-77, Saechao 6-(-5). Kodiak — Medina 8-33, Javier 11-164, Yavorsky 6-30, Powers 8-51, Llorente 3-9, Atonio 2-(-2), Lennon 1-(-20), Wilson 3-(-5).

Passing: Houston — Saechao 5-11-2-87. Kodiak — Yavorsky 3-6-1-71.

Receiving: Houston — Ross 2-25, Kleewein 2-63, Soptick 1-(-1). Kodiak — Sorto 1-47, Medina 1-2, Llorente 1-22.