Retiring teacher, coach urges Colony grads to ‘find their 68’
By Jeremiah Bartz Frontiersman.com A football coach using a hockey reference as the centerpiece for his keynote address may
2 min read
WASILLA — As the Houston Hawks prepared to close a historic regular season, head coach Glenn Nelson had a simple message for his squad.
“Keep the momentum going,” Nelson said earlier this week.
And the Hawks didn’t slow down.
Houston scored a 28-7 victory over Redington Sept. 28 at Redington.
“It’s been fun,” Nelson said of his team’s success in 2018. “It’s fun to beat the crosstown rival.”
The win over Redington was Houston’s seventh straight, a school record. The seventh win this season ties a school record. Last week, Houston clinched the Peninsula Conference title, winning and outright championship for the first time in program history. The Hawks will also host a playoff game for the first time since 2002.
Barrow visits Houston Saturday at 2 p.m.
Owen Mulhaney, Kennedy Fono, Tucker Croghan and Dylan Bay each finished with a rushing touchdown for the Hawks against Redington.
Houston now looks forward to the Division III semifinals and a match against a Barrow squad the Hawks beat 30-6 in Week 3. Nelson said the Hawks have film on the Whalers, the Division III division state champions. But the tough part has been scouting the Barrow defense. The Hawks have film of Barrow’s 8-6 loss to Ketchikan in Barrow. But Ketchikan runs a far different offense than Houston’s wishbone attack.
“We’re kind of the antithesis of them,” Nelson said.
Nelson said he knows Barrow’s defensive game plan they saw against Ketchikan will be far different than the plan they will see Saturday.
Barrow will see a Hawks offense that is averaging 34 points per game during Houston’s seven-game winning streak. Houston has had a number of weapons emerge on the offensive backfield, but Nelson the success starts up front.
“Where are (offensive) line goes, we go,” Nelson said. “It’s really what has powered us.”
Nelson said underclassman Talalelei Sasiu has stepped up and has played a big role at tackle. Seniors Shawn Graham and Wakefield Kremer have helped solidify the line.
The Hawks have also been stellar on defense. In five of Houston’s eight games, the Hawks have allowed a touchdown or less. Houston has also pitched two shutouts.
Contact Frontiersman managing editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.
Read next
Going home sore and soggy
By Kyle Wilkinson Kyle in the outside Our spring bear hunt was bittersweet this year. We’re heading home without
Valley athletes earn region track and field titles
Frontiersman.com Valley athletes earned titles during the Region III Championships track and field meet last week at Colony High
Athletes of the week
Leila Petersen Palmer Moose Leila Petersen, a member of the Palmer track and field team, has been named a Frontiersman
The end of an era
By Jeremiah Bartz J’s World August would have been the start of my 25th year as an editor at