Senior leads Houston Hawks to homecoming win

HOUSTON — If the Houston High School football program hands out an award for its most inspirational player, senior Tanner Barclay is likely the leading candidate.

Prior to game time Friday night, Houston head coach Glenn Nelson said Barclay delivered an inspiring pregame speech. Later that evening, Barclay sparked the Hawks on the field.

The senior linebacker returned an early interception 31 yards for a touchdown to help the Hawks post a 22-0 win over the Kenai Central junior varsity at Houston High.

“That changes the game entirely,” Nelson said of Barclay’s touchdown on defense. “It’s a huge momentum swing.”

Barclay, Vanu Mose and Kellii VanTyler each found the end zone to help Houston improve to 3-3 overall in its independent schedule.

Houston, a former member of the Northern Lights Conference, opted out of the NLC prior to the 2014 season, favoring a season as an independent. Facing a steady decline in participation and the reality of being outmatched against medium-schools state powers such as Soldotna and Kenai every year, Houston High worked toward a schedule that features opponents more comparable to the Hawks. Houston has played teams from schools of similar size, such as Seward, Sitka and Valdez, and does not face Soldotna this year. Kenai’s varsity had a bye this week, and KCHS sent its junior varsity squad to Houston Friday.

“It was pretty evenly matched,” Nelson said of the contest against the Kenai J.V.

Nelson said he’s seeing a newfound enthusiasm within the program and from its supporters this season. The Hawks are 3-3, and have suffered only one lopsided defeat this season.

“These kids, they’re enjoying football, having fun. The parents are getting into it,” Nelson said.

Winning big games also helps, he said. Friday marked the second straight year the Hawks have won their homecoming game. The win was followed by a fireworks display courtesy of Gorilla Fireworks. Nelson said a win and the type of atmosphere he saw Friday night, with the fans and the fireworks, will certainly help the program grow.

Nelson said the Hawks have already seen the impact of the Hawks’ success at home last year. The 2014 football freshman class is the biggest the program has seen in years.

Nelson praised the work of the defense and defensive coordinator Jared Barrett.

“Barrett got them pretty tuned in,” Nelson said of his defensive players.

Barclay’s defensive touchdown gave the Hawks the 7-0 lead early in the first quarter. In the second quarter, freshman quarterback Robert Ritter connected with VanTyler on a touchdown pass. Ritter hit tight end Kyle Quincy for the two-point conversion, and the Hawks held a 15-0 halftime lead.

Mose rushed for his touchdown in the third quarter.

Houston will play its final home game of the 2014 season Friday, hosting Kodiak at 7 p.m. The Hawks travel to Homer in Week 8. As an independent, Houston is not eligible for postseason play.

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