Hawks run wild in win over Kings

HOUSTON — As the Houston staff watched Ketchikan game film prior to their matchup with the Kings, the Hawks coaches thought there was something about the Ketchikan defense the Hawks could exploit.

The Hawks would need only three offensive plays to prove their coaches’ theory right.

Houston (2-0) rushed for more than 250 yards, primarily off tackle, and scored on its third offensive play during a 37-0 nonconference win over the Kings (1-1) at Houston High School on Saturday.

“They run a five-man front. That really lends itself to off-tackle,” Houston head coach Norm Bouchard said. “I felt like we had a real good blocking scheme for their five.”

Junior fullback Tyler Barron and senior running back Brandon Duke were the primary benefactors of that scheme, combining for more than 200 yards and four touchdowns in the win. Barron finished with 68 yards, despite playing only two quarters, and scored Houston’s first three touchdowns of the game. Dukes rushed for a game-high 140 and topped the 100-yard mark for the second consecutive week.

Barron followed the lead of Houston right tackle Phillip Pease and run untouched into the end zone for a 10-yard score on the Hawks’ third offensive play of the game to give his sqaud the early lead. On Houston’s next series, Barron recorded another 10-yard score on virtually an identical play.

“The line blocked real well. My tailback had some good blocks for me today,” Barron said. “The team made me look good.”

The Hawks scored on three consecutive drives and four of their first six possesions in the first half. While Barron basically ran free during his first two touchdown runs, the junior had to work for his third. Early in the second, following a roughing the passer penalty on Ketchikan that pushed the Hawks inside the red zone, Barron rumbled outside and broke muliple tackles before getting into the end zone.

“The third touchdown was the one I was really excited about,” Barron said.

Midway through the second quarter, the Hawks cashed in on one of Ketchikan’s three turnovers of the first half. Two plays after a Kings’ fumble, Dukes rushed off tackle for a 5-yard score.

Junior quarteback Beau Frank added a 19-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, and sophomore Kaleb Hendricks booted a 30-yard field goal.

While the Houston offense was productive, 263 yards rushing and 33 yards passing, Ketchikan had little success against the Hawks defense. Houston held the Kings to only 29 total yards, 14 on the ground and 15 through the air. The Kings also turned the ball over three times.

“I was real happy with the defense,” Bouchard said. “They were able to really corrall things off tackle. We were able to not let them get outside. I was real happy with (defensive coordinator Jared) Barrett’s scheme today.”

After scoring just a single win last season — a 14-12 victory over Ketchikan midway through the 2009 campaign — the Hawks are off to a 2-0 start this year.

“The confidence is great,” Barron said. “We come to practice wating to play, ready to hit, ready to get better.”

After a pair of nonconference games — Houston beat Valdez 48-24 last week — the Hawks enter Northern Lights Confernece play Saturday when they host Kenai Central at 3 p.m. The Kardinals are the defending small schools state champions.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

Houston 37, Ketchikan 0

Saturday, Houston High School

First quarter

Houston — Barron 10 run (Hendricks kick)

Houston — Barron 10 run (Hendricks kick)

Second quarter

Houston — Barron 12 run (Hendricks kick)

Hosuton — Dukes 5 run (Hendricks kick)

Houston — Hendricks 30 field goal

Third quarter

no scoring

Fourth quarter

Houston — Frank 19 run (kick failed)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Ketchikan: Purschwitz 15-33, Mackey 8-(-22), Jackson 3-6, Straight 3-(-3); Houston: Dukes 15-140, Barron 8-68, Saechao 6-19, Hendricks 6-14, Frank 5-22.

PASSING — Ketchikan: Mackey 1-5-2—15, Houston: Frank 3-7-1—33.

RECEIVING — Ketchikan: Guthrie 1-15; Houston: Lapham 2-24, Richardson 1-9.