Hawks give Valdez the gridiron initiation

HOUSTON -- Valdez's first football game at the varsity level was more like a hazing, than a welcome.

While Houston did not duct tape the Buccaneer players to a flag pole and shave their eyebrows, Houston did send the Bucs home to Valdez with a 47-6 loss.

A host of newcomers in the Houston backfield powered the Hawks to victory in the Greatland Conference opener at Houston High School Friday.

Matt Bertling, Victor Waag and Taylor Richey each posted early touchdowns as Houston leapt to a 35-0 first half lead.

Bertling, back for his senior year after a two-year absence from the Hawk squad, rushed for a game-high 131 yards on nine carries. Bertling scored on runs of 30 and 2 yards.

The inexperienced backfield consistently chewed up yardage as it rumbled behind a veteran corps of offensive lineman that included J.D. Welch, Clinton Banzoff, Jeremy Grube, Chris Minsch and Gary Seltenreich.

"We were running up the middle," Bertling said. "Our line is quicker than theirs. It is great to have the experience on the line."

"The veteran line did well," Richey, the Hawks' starting quarterback said. "I didn't have much pressure. At least I didn't feel it."

Bertling was not the only back to get wide-open holes to trample through. Waag, Houston's second string tailback entered the game to spell Bertling and found immediate success.

After Bertling left the field fatigued and dizzy, Waag entered the game, took the handoff, followed a block off the left side and scurried 33 yards for a touchdown.

"There were a lot of good blocks," Waag said.

The score was not only Waag's first carry of the season, but his first varsity carry. Like Bertling, Waag is returning after a hiatus from the team.

Waag added a second score

nearly five minutes later and totaled 74 yards on the ground.

"Vic stepped up, definitely," Richey said.

Richey, who was a threat for the Hawks all over the field during his junior campaign, started out his senior year behind center. The small school All-State player occasional took time off from his wide receiver position to sub for then starter Peter Clemens.

With Clemens now a Houston graduate, Richey inherited the quarterback duties.

Though Richey was just 2 for 7 passing in an offense that likes to throw the ball, Richey dazzled fans and frustrated the Valdez defense with his feet rushing for 37 yards, including a 14-yard touchdown run off the right side in the first quarter.

"I like running the ball," Richey said. "But we are not going to give up on our passing.

"Pete had a strong left arm and he scrambled well, but coach tells me I am a little quicker."

Richey also showed his quickness on the defensive side of the ball, returning an interception 47 yards for a score.

Also seeing time in the Hawks' new look backfield were Andrew Kappler, Mallory Smith, Steven Sorenson and Ron Sieben.

Kappler, a standout on the Hawk offenisve line last season, made his first appearance at fullback and paved the way for the Hawks committee of tailbacks.

Sieben, a freshman, scored his first career touchdown late in the game.

The Hawks ground game ate up 311 yards of turf.

"Our kids played good," Houston head coach Mat Bredburg said. "There were a lot of little mistakes, but it is the first game. It is nice to get out of the blocks with a win."