Veteran Wolves score win over Hawks

HOUSTON — With a team small in both size and numbers, Houston head coach Glenn Nelson entered the season knowing growing pains were ahead. And the adversity came early as the Hawks opened their season against a senior-laden squad from a higher class.

Division II Eagle River scored a 42-12 win over the Division III Hawks Friday at Houston High School.

“It was like (junior varsity) against a former large-school varsity,” Nelson said after the loss. “They’re real senior heavy.”

Eagle River had the experience, Nelson said. And Nelson was armed with a squad that featured only one returning starter, senior offensive lineman Shawn Graham.

“We’re behind. We’re probably the youngest, and with 22 kids, we’re probably the smallest team in the state,” Nelson said.

Nelson said he did see improvement in the second half.

“In the second half we did a better job playing with them after not being so shocked and surprised by their size and how many kids they had,” Nelson said.

Houston scored both of its touchdowns in the second half, and gained 150 of its 207 total yards during the final two quarters. Owen Mulhaney returned the opening kickoff of the second half 85 yards for a score to put the Hawks on the scoreboard. Late in the fourth quarter, Mulhaney hauled in a 14-yard scoring pass from his twin brother Gavin.

“The Mulhaneys definitely bailed us out of a couple of jams we were in,” Nelson said.

Owen and Gavin Mulhaney also combined for 67 yards on 18 total carries. Apete Sasiu led Houston with 86 yards rushing.

“Apete was definitely the player of the game for us,” Nelson said.

Eagle River quarterback Ryan Adkins accounted for five of his team’s six touchdowns in the win. Adkins plunged in for three touchdowns on the quarterback sneak in the second quarter to give the Wolves a 28-0 halftime lead. Adkins connected with Mason Piper and Levi Rollman on touchdown passes in the second half. Ethan Baker also ran for a short touchdown early in the game. Adkins threw for 167 yards passing in the win. Seven different ball carriers combined to rush for 195 yards on the ground.

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

Eagle River 42, Houston 12

Friday, Houston High School

First quarter:

Eagle River — Baker 4 run (Hamilton kick) 6:15.

Second quarter:

Eagle River — Adkins 1 run (Hamilton kick) 7:26.

Eagle River — Adkins 4 run (Hamilton kick) 1:55.

Eagle River — Adkins 1 run (Hamilton kick) 0:48.

Third quarter:

Houston — O. Mulhaney 85 kickoff return (kick failed) 11:46.

Eagle River — Rollman 32 pass from Adkins (Hamilton kick) 6:03.

Fourth quarter:

Eagle River — Piper 17 pass from Adkins (Hamilton kick) 8:59.

Houston — O. Mulhaney 14 pass from G. Mulhaney (run failed) 1:12.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Eagle River: Hamilton 8-33, Adkins 7-7, Williams 5-34, Cox 4-34, Baker 4-32, Sherman 2-36, Townsend 2-29; Houston: Sasiu 13-86, O. Mulhaney 10-25, G. Mulhaney 8-42, Fono 7-24, Croghan 2-4.

PASSING — Eagle River: Adkins 8-12-0—167; G. Mulhaney 2-3-0—28.

RECEIVING — Eagle River: Piper 3-43, Cox 3-42, Rollman 1-32, Pennington 1-5; Houston: O. Mulhaney 1-14, Sasiu 1-14.