Houston football team one step closer to playoffs

Sept. 10, 2006

By Jeremiah Bartz/ Frontiersman

HOUSTON - The Houston Hawks football squad is one step away from doing something it has not done in five seasons - secure a spot in the small-school state playoffs.

With a 34-6 win over Seward at Houston High School on Friday, the Hawks put themselves not only an arms length away from a postseason berth, but the Great Land Conference title. Houston improved to 4-0 in conference play, and set itself up for a Great Land showdown with 3-1 Eielson on Sept. 30.

As Houston head coach Norm Bouchard went through the already building list of playoff scenarios, he said his team is position to control its own destiny. Up until a week ago it looked as if a Houston win over Seward would cement the Hawks into its first playoff berth since 2001. But Nikiski's win over Eielson messed all of those plans up.

Now nothing will be decided until the final week of the season. On the same afternoon Eielson travels to Houston, Seward visits Nikiski. A Bulldog win over the Seahawks would give Nikiski a 4-1 conference mark. If Eielson were to beat Houston - Eielson, Houston and Nikiski would be locked in a three-way 4-1 tie.

The only way to avoid a tie, and ensuing coin flip, would be a Houston win or Nikiski loss in the final week. Houston grabs the conference title and a playoff spot automatically with a win over the Ravens. A Seward win over Nikiski would send Eielson and Houston to the playoffs no matter what.

Regardless, a 28-point

win over a team that has traditionally given the Hawks fits sent Houston's hopes skyrocketing.

&#8220It boosts our confidence,” said Houston senior Dan Kurber, who sparked the Hawks with a touchdown catch, safety and fumble recovery in the win. &#8220We're excited. We didn't know how this year would turn out, but it's been awesome.”

Kurber sacked Seward quarterback Mitch Harris in the end zone midway through the second quarter to give Houston the 14-0 advantage. The senior defensive end spent most of his time Friday evening chasing Harris around the Seward backfield. With the Seahawks trailing the entire game, Seward went to the air, often sporting packages with three and four wide receiver sets.

&#8220They like to throw and (Harris) likes to run around back there,” Bouchard said. &#8220(Harris) had to hurry up and throw the ball up in the air more than he wanted to.”

The Seahawks routinely flooded four receivers to the right side, called the ole' double pass play and even pulled out the ‘swinging gate,' a formation that sends all but three players to one side, in the final minutes of the game.

The goofy offensive schemes kept the Hawks alert.

&#8220It's tough, you're wondering in your head, what's going on?,” Kurber said. &#8220What could they possibly be doing?”

Bouchard said his defense did a solid job of adjusting on the fly.

&#8220They try to run all different things, give different looks,” Bouchard said.

The Houston defense held Seward to just 38 yards on the ground and 80 yards in the air. Seward's lone score, Harris' 14-yard touchdown pass to Billy Beck, did not come until the fourth quarter.

Offensively, Bouchard said Houston was able to stick to its game plan, mainly power the ball through the Seward defense with running backs Karl Thistle and Israel Morales. Thistle rushed for a game-high 172 yards and two touchdowns, while Morales added 62 yards and a score.

Quarterback Ryan Thamm completed only two passes, but both went for touchdowns.

In the second quarter Thamm connected with Blake Elder on a 45-yard scoring pass, and in the fourth he hit Kurber on a 50-yarder.

&#8220I saw the safety coming in, and nobody was in back,” Kurber said. &#8220I knew it was money.”

Houston only threw the ball five times in the game, and as the contest grew into the fourth quarter, Seward began stacking as many as 10 players in the box. Rather than sending his running back into a wall of yellow and green, Bouchard said the Hawks wanted to spread things out a bit.

&#8220We had a nice look, and Ryan put the ball where it needed to be,” Bouchard said.

Extra points … If there is a school record for the longest kick on an extra point, Houston kicker Matt Gardner has to now own it. After Houston was charged with a penalty following its fourth touchdown, Gardner converted the extra point attempt from 35 yards out … Gardner also had a 65-yard punt in the game … Winning in the category for most bizarre play see this year is Seward punter Dylan Beck. After the Seahawk long snapper shot the ball over Beck's head, he ran back to retrieve it. Instead of picking up the live ball, Beck decided to kick the ball off the bounce. The ball was booted into a group of Houston players, and the Hawks gained possession …. In addition to his touchdown reception, Elder intercepted two Seward passes … Senior Quintin Veit also picked off a pass.

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