Reflecting on team's journey

Coach's Comments by Mat Bredberg

In only our fifth year of the program, football is still new to Houston High School.

But each year we take a step forward. The first year, we formed a team and kicked it all off with a "midnight madness" celebration. The second year we won our first game; it may have been against a J.V. team, but we won.

The third year we beat our first 4A school and really started to compete with the schools that we played. Last year we qualified for the first small schools playoffs and narrowly lost against a Soldotna team who beat us by 20-plus points a few weeks earlier. This year we have a chance to make it to the playoffs again.

With a win this Saturday, we will take second in the Greatland conference. This will advance us to the first round of the playoffs, which will take place the following Saturday against the winner of the Soldotna/Kenai game.

Houston is fortunate to have a strong group of seniors this year who have been instrumental in helping us reach our goals.

Seniors like lineman Russell Shurtleff and Mike Barrett have been solid for us on both sides of the ball. Guard Roland Treshem, who has been fighting injuries all season, is still giving us everything he's got.

Travis Webb, the "small schools defensive player of the year" is back with us. Receiver and defensive corner Shaun Haragan has come up big for us many times.

We also have had some younger players step up for us this year in quarterback and free safety Peter Clemens, receiver Taylor Richey, and center Andy Kappler, to name a few.

Houston football has gotten off to a good start. We can attribute much of our success to a supportive community and student body.

We look ahead with strong hopes to an energetic younger crew coming up and the continuing support of our community.

With these in place. the future of Houston Hawks football looks bright.

Mat Bredberg is the head football coach at Houston High School.