Houston, Redington eliminated from postseason

WASILLA — The top of the world turned out to be the end of the road for the Houston Hawks in the Aurora Conference playoff race. Barrow used 14 unanswered points to score a 30-22 over the Hawks, and eliminate Houston from the Division III postseason.

“It is a tough place to play, but we went up there thinking we could win that game,” Houston head coach Glenn Nelson said by cellphone earlier this week.

With the win over the Hawks, Barrow clinched the Aurora title. Houston dropped to 2-2 in conference play. The Houston loss also clinched the No. 2 seed for Eielson.

Nelson said field position was critical in the game, and Barrow was able to cash in with a short field during its comeback. Houston was able to post the early lead, a 6-0, advantage. After Barrow jumped ahead, Houston worked its way back, and held a 22-14 lead in the fourth.

Nelson said Barrow standout Travis Adams was certainly a difference-maker for the Whalers at quarterback. Last season, Adams lined up as a wing on offense when the Hawks hosted Barrow.

“When he’s a wing, you can kind of keep track of him. There are only so many places he can go,” Nelson said of Adams.

Seniors Noah Plumb and Will Croghan managed the bulk of the work on offense for Houston. Croghan led Houston with 62 yards and a touchdown.

“Croghan had a lot of carries, some pretty tough yards,” Nelson said.

Plumb added 43 yards and two scores.

Houston will cap its season against a team also eliminated from the playoffs during Week 7. Homer beat Redington 55-0 last Friday to clinch the Peninsula Conference title and bounce the Huskies from the postseason.

Redington hosts Houston Friday at 7 p.m. at Redington.

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