Hawks cap 2015 season with win over Valdez

HOUSTON — Before the 2015 season, the Houston Hawks prep football team set five team goals.

Friday, the Hawks were able to accomplish two of them.

Houston scored 33 second-half points to notch a 33-8 victory over Valdez at Houston High School. With the victory, Houston captured a win on its senior night and finished the season undefeated at home.

“We had goals as a team. Win the home opener, win on homecoming and the last home game of the year, finish undefeated at home, and make the playoffs,” Nelson said.

Houston achieved four of those goals.

“We need to get better on the road to check off that fifth one,” Nelson said.

Houston finished 4-0 at Terry Shurtleff Field, but the Hawks were 0-4 on the road. Houston finished 2-2 in Aurora Conference play, but road losses to playoff bound Barrow and Eielson knocked the Hawks out of the playoffs.

Senior Ben Pelesasa, one of 16 seniors on the Houston roster, scored three touchdowns to lead the Hawks. Senior Noah Griffeth added a rushing touchdown, and senior Dakota Watson caught a touchdown pass.

Complete statistics were not available as of press time.

Overall, Nelson said he’s proud of the way his team rallied against a scrappy Valdez bunch.

“It was a pride game. I loved home how are kids responded, being down at half,” Nelson said. “They came out (in the second half) ready to go.

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