Hawks score football win at Sitka

SITKA — Tanner Barclay has been a steady presence for the Houston Hawks offense this season, churning up yardage as he works his way between the tackles.

Wednesday, Barclay led his team in rushing. But his biggest carry of the game may have come on special teams. The senior fullback converted a first down on a fake punt to help preserve Houston’s 7-6 win over Sitka in Sitka.

With the Hawks facing a long 4th-and-15 late in the fourth quarter, the Houston coaching staff called upon Barclay, unbeknownst to the remainder of the squad.

“We only told (Barclay),” Hawks head coach Glenn Nelson said by cellphone from Sitka Wednesday evening. “We said, take it and go man. The game was on his shoulders. He got everything we needed and about six more inches.”

Nelson said the Hawks were able to run out the clock after Barclay gave Houston the first down. The fake punt helped the Hawks hold onto the victory, and improve to 2-2 this season.

Barclay led the Houston offense with 86 yards on 14 carries. He burst through the middle of the line early in the game, scoring on a 12-yard run to give Houston the early 7-0 lead.

“Nothing phases the kid,” Nelson said of Barclay.

Nelson also credited the work of veterans Arrin Paul and Kyle Quincy, leaders on the right side of the Houston offensive line. Nelson said, with the running game and the work of the players up front, the Hawks were able to come out ahead in the low-scoring battle.

Sitka posted its lone score in the third quarter.

Nelson praised the work of defensive end Wyatt Mulhanney.

“He was making tackles all over the field for us, tackles for loss,” Nelson said.

Nelson said Houston entered the game with little knowledge about Sitka. The Hawks were also getting used to making the long trip to Sitka, and playing on a Wednesday.

“It’s the one team we didn’t have any film on,” Nelson said. “We were trying to get used to the travel, and playing the game without film. It was an adjustment.”

The win is also part of a rare two-game road trip for Houston. The Hawks flew to Juneau Thursday morning and will remain in the Capital City until Sunday. The Hawks face Thunder Mountain Saturday at 7 p.m.

Two games on one trip may be unusual, but the Houston football program has made a number of trips to Southeast Alaska. Wednesday marked the fourth time Houston played at Sitka. The Hawks have also visited Ketchikan three times. With the win Wednesday, Houston improved to 7-0 in school history in Southeast Alaska.

Houston’s game against Thunder Mountain will be the first game in school history in Juneau.

Complete statistics from the Sitka game were not available.

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