Hawks win on final drive

HOUSTON — Houston was off to a rough 1-2 start, but after a big win Friday night, the Hawks are flying in a new direction.

Quarterback Nai Saechao plunged into the end zone from 2 yards out with 30 seconds left in regulation to notch the go-ahead score and give the Hawks a 32-26 Northern Lights Conference win over the Skyview Panthers at Houston High School.

“It’s a big win. Everyone’s spirits are up,” Houston head coach Todd Whitehurst said by cellphone Friday night. “We’re ready to make a run for the playoffs.”

Houston and Skyview entered the game with identical 0-1 records in the NLC. With the win over the Panthers, the Hawks are now one of four teams with at least one victory in the NLC. Three teams from the conference will advance to the medium schools playoffs.

“This was a big win against a conference opponent,” Whitehurst said.

Houston trailed 13-12 at halftime, but enjoyed a big second half in the win. Houston and Skyview were locked in a 26-26 tie late in the third quarter when the Hawks used a big play on defense to set up the game-winning drive.

Skyview threatened late in the game, driving the ball deep into Houston territory. The Panthers held the ball inside the Hawks 10-yard line, but Houston’s Waylon Soptick forced a fumble and the Hawks recovered at their own 7-yard line.

The Hawks then took the ball and drove 93 yards in the final minutes for the winning score. Soptick accounted for two big plays on the drive, taking a swing pass from Saechao and a toss for gains of more than 30 yards each.

Whitehurst said the Hawks had to change up their offensive game plan, but his players adapted.

“Skyview adjusted really well to our veer, but we started running a veer trap and we did really well with that,” Whitehurst said. “They made really good adjustments. We had to change things up and call different plays.”

Hunter Smith and Kruz Kleewein also had big touchdowns for Houston. Saechao and Kleewein hooked up on an 85-yard pass and catch for a touchdown.

Smith ran in a touchdown and notched the ensuing two-point conversion in the second half to tie the game at 20.