Hawks drill Eagle River, earn 1st win of season

HOUSTON — In the days leading up to their home-opener against Eagle River, the Houston Hawks spent a ton of time watching film of the Wolves Week 1 loss to Wasilla.

They saw the medium-schools squad put together a pair of first-half scoring drives against the large-schools Warriors, and Eagle River earn the lead twice during the first two quarters.

“We watched a lot of film,” Houston junior captain Reed Graham said. “I was nervous watching them on film. But when we started hitting (tonight) it was a different story.”

Hitting?

More like drilling.

The Houston defense forced five turnovers and held Eagle River to only 136 total yards, and the Hawks shut out the Wolves 34-0 Friday night at Terry Shurtliff Field at Houston High School.

“(Defensive coordinator Jared Barrett) watched the game film again, and again, and again, and put a game plan together,” Houston head coach Glenn Nelson said after the win. “What a game plan.”

Paul Sanderlin, Kendell Ruta and Silas Ross each intercepted Eagle River passes to help Houston improve to 1-1 overall.

“That’s the best defensive back play we’ve had in about three years,” Nelson said.

Terry Hershman and Ben Pelesasa also recovered fumbles for Houston to help the Hawks bounce back from a 14-0 loss at Kodiak last week.

The Hershman and Pelesasa fumble recoveries came on Eagle River’s first two offensive possessions of the game. The play on defense also helped pick up the Houston offense, which fumbled on its first possession of the game.

“We preach next play,” Nelson said. “Whether you score or fumble, don’t get down on each other, go to the next play.”

The Hawks practiced what they preached, adding nearly 300 yards of total offense to its play on the defensive side of the ball. Houston rushed for 216 yards in the win.

“When we block and sustain our blocks, it’s working a lot better,” said Graham, a standout at guard on the Houston offensive front.

Houston also showed its depth in the backfield. Pelesasa rumbled for a game-high 121 yards on 19 carries. He also scored twice. Vanu Mose added 52 yards on 14 carries. Fullback Will Coghan chipped in 21 yards on only five carries.

“Three-headed monster,” Nelson said.

Quarterback Robert Ritter chipped in a pair of rushing touchdowns.

“Robert Ritter probably played the best game of his high school career,” Nelson said of his signal caller, who managed Houston’s new wishbone attack, and even tossed in an 18-yard completion to Pelesasa.

Sanderlin, also Houston’s backup quarterback, made the most of his limited action under center, connecting with Ross on a late 59-yard touchdown pass.

It’s the second straight week in which Houston played an opponent from the medium-schools Northern Lights Conference. Nelson said it’s good for the Hawks, a small-schools team from the Aurora Conference, to face these types of tests.

“It helps us clean up mistakes,” Nelson said. “It gives us a lot of confidence.”

Houston continues nonconference play next week with a road game against Voznesenka, a small community north of Homer, before playing four straight Aurora Conference games.

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

Houston 34, Eagle River 0

Friday, Houston High School

First quarter:

Houston —Pelesasa 4 run (kick failed) 1:54.

Second quarter:

Houston — Ritter 1 run (Coghan run) 7:42.

Third quarter:

No scoring.

Fourth quarter:

Houston — Ritter 1 run (Ruth kick) 7:58.

Houston — Pelesasa 15 run (Ruth kick) 5:03.

Houston — Silas 59 pass from Sanderlin (run failed) 2:19.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS:

RUSHING — Eagle River: Heagy 13-34, Osborne 8-21, George 6-21, Burningham 4-17, Porter 4-2; Houston: Pelesasa 19-121, Mose 14-52, Ritter 12-13, Coghan 5-21, Sanderlin 3-9, Barrett 1-0;

PASSING — Eagle River: Heagy 7-12-3—41; Houston: Ritter 1-2-1—18, Sanderlin 1-1-0—59.

RECEIVING — Eagle River: Smith 3-13, Adams 2-16, Burningham 106, Rollman 1-6; Houston: Silas 1-59, Pelesasa 1-18.