Prep football preview: Hawks could be a wild card in 2006

HOUSTON - Norm Bouchard calls his Houston High School football squad a group of &#8220lunch pail kids.”

&#8220They're not super flashing. They're not in your face. They're going to pack they're lunch and go to work. They're not going to complain,” the HHS head coach said.

But with all of that said, Bouchard is not exactly sure how his team will fare. But depending on how they respond, Bouchard said, the Hawks have some potential to be the wild card of the Great Land Conference.

The Hawks are in a transition period right now, Bouchard said. Gone is most of an all-state caliber offensive line, led by graduated senior and four-time all-state honoree Chris Minsch. Also gone are eight starters from a hungry defense, also led by Minsch.

But coming back is most of the depth from Houston's skill positions.

Leading the cast is quarterback Ryan Thamm, who threw for 754 yards and 12 touchdowns during a break-out junior campaign. While he prospered greatly statistically last year, Bouchard said he has seen Thamm's greatest maturation since the end of last season.

&#8220Ryan has grown as a person. He's like a different kid,” Bouchard said. &#8220He's enthusiastic, a leader. He's really taking charge on the field.”

Joining Thamm in the backfield will be senior running back Karl Thistle. As a junior, Thistle established himself as one of the top runners at the 3A level, rushing for 1,089 yards and nine touchdowns.

An athlete prime to make an impact, Bouchard said, is junior Israel Morales.

&#8220Israel will be more of an H-back,” Bouchard said. &#8220He'll be a lead blocker and tight end once in a while. One of those kids who'll play all over the place.”

Once the outside is versatile receiver Donovan Parker. As a junior Parker had a pair of touchdown grabs.

Bouchard said Blake Elder and Jeremy Bowers will also be featured in the Houston offense.

Houston's big task on offense, Bouchard said, will be finding an identity.

&#8220It'll take a couple of games to see what kind of team we'll be,” Bouchard said.

Judging by the Hawks play during a football camp on the Kenai Peninsula last week, he believes his team should be able to run the ball consistently. A big reason for that is the size of Thistle and Morales. Both top the 6-foot and 200-pound marks.

&#8220We were able to move the ball pretty well down there at camp last week, against teams like Soldotna and Homer,” Bouchard said. &#8220These are not junior varsity teams. These are tough teams.”

Lining up in front of the likes of Thamm and Thistle will be a young offensive line, led by sophomore Justin Bowman.

Bouchard calls Bowman, who may stand at 5-foot-7, &#8220a little spark plug.”

&#8220He's where kids are going to look at (for leadership),” Bouchard said.

Tyler Strickland, one of the few lineman from last year's squad who didn't graduate, will move from guard to center to fill the void left by all-stater Clinton Banzhaf. Ben Crawley, Garrett Mooney and Zach Fait are also expected to start on the line.

Defensively the Hawks have some holes to fill. Bouchard said he is going to look to Morales and Seth Grove to become leaders on defense.

Thistle also will be playing more on the defensive side of the ball.

Bouchard also listed newcomer Aaron Burelson as a potential impact player. Burelson is new to football, but brings championship experience from the state-title winning Hawks hockey squad.

&#8220He's a good athlete who can go out and hit somebody,” Bouchard said. &#8220Championship experience is always a nice addition. He knows what it's like to go out and win something.”

Houston, 5-4 last year, starts the 2006 season at Delta Junction on Aug. 12. Houston's first three games are on the road with stops at Delta, Valdez and Nikiski.

Three of Houston's toughest games are at home. The Hawks host defending state champion Kenai on Sept. 2, Seward on Sept. 8 and defending conference champion Eielson on Sept. 30.

On Saturday, the Hawks will have a taste of live action, facing Palmer in a scrimmage at noon at PHS.

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