Fourth-down scores lead Homer

HOUSTON -- Two plays on fourth down was the difference between the Homer Mariners and the Houston Hawks in a 13-7 Mariner win over Houston at Houston High School on Saturday.

Homer quarterback Canyon McKinstry completed just two passes in the contest, but both on crucial fourth-down situations and both for touchdowns.

"Those two scores, we gave them to them," Houston head coach Norm Bouchard said.

Late in the second quarter, Homer drove down within the Houston 10-yard line, and on fourth down appeared to attempt the field goal, but the tricky Mariners opted to go for six. McKinstry, also the team's holder, took the long snap, slid around to the left side of the line and floated a pass to Noah McWilliams. The 15-yard touchdown pass gave Homer a 6-0 lead.

Late in the third quarter, facing 4th-and-11, McKinstry again lofted a pass and found Aaron Gilbert standing near the goal line. Gilbert made the catch and waltzed into the end zone.

"(Homer) saw we gave them a little more room than we needed to," Bouchard said. "They attacked us where we were a little weak."

Daniel Harvey's 4-yard touchdown run in the third quarter cut the Homer lead to 13-7. Harvey gained 28 yards on 10 carries, primarily in the fourth quarter. Harvey carried the ball six times on the drive to set up his own

touchdown run.

Though the Hawks gave up more than 150 yards on the ground, a tough, attacking Houston defense created chances for the Hawk offense. Houston junior defensive tackle Chris Minsch recovered a pair of fumbles. Minsch's second fumble recovery set up the Harvey score. Linebacker Andrew Kappler also recovered a fourth-quarter fumble that set up a drive in the final minutes for Houston.

"We had some opportunities to do some things," Bouchard said. "We didn't always come through, but we put ourselves in

position."