Whalers get past Hawks, return to DIII title game

HOUSTON — Barrow’s versatile running game and stifling defense helped the Whalors beat a wounded Houston Hawks team 18-7 in the first round the of Division III high school football playoffs Saturday.

While Barrow had suffered a huge loss to Houston during the third week of the regulars season, the Whalers forced four turnovers on defense and held Houston to 55 yards of total offense to upset the Hawks and advance to the DIII state championship against Eielson next weekend.

“I’ll give them props, they beat us the first time, but we wanted it bad this week. It just depended on who wanted it more,” said senior running back Ben Heather.

Tai Chan started the game off hot and carried the Whalers running attack through much of the afternoon. Chan took a 3rd-and-16 around the left end, slipping one would-be tackler and dancing in between blockers to the sideline and dusted the rest of the defense. Chan finished with 114 rush yards on 11 rushes.

“I told them all week that I needed dogs to eat. I needed all my kids to play with all their heart, give it all they got right now, and they came out and did that today,” Barrow head coach Christopher Battle said.

Defenses forced turnovers five times in the first half. Houston fumbled on its second play from scrimmage, only to force a Barrow fumble three plays later. Houston took advantage of a great defensive play from Owen Mulhaney. Mulhaney charged Anthony Fruean’s punt attempt and blocked it, securing the ball at the Barrow 15-yard line. Tolupo Falaniko hauled in a pass from Tucker Croghan at the 1-yard line and Croghan punched it in on the quarterback sneak on the next play. Barrow would hold the lead for all of two minutes and 20 seconds.

While Houston suffered the loss of Apete Sasiu, a standout running back and the Peninsula Conference Defensive Player of the Year two weeks ago, the Hawks also lost their leading rusher, Mulhaney, to injury in the second half. Houston struggled to find rhythm offensively against a much larger Barrow defense. Mulhaney led all Hawk rushers with 23 yards.

“When you have a wishbone you lose all three of your backfield you get pretty limited,” Houston head coach Glen Nelson said.

Houston will lose six seniors to graduation next year, but finished the season 7-2.

“They set history with that seven-game win streak. They set history with winning a conference championship outright and they’re going to hang a banner in the gym. They’ll be a part of that for the rest of their lives, so they can hang their hat on the success of that,” Nelson said.

Barrow wasted little time in retaking the lead, marching down the field before the end of the first half. On third down and seven, Ben Heather slipped through the right side of line and cut back toward the left side of the defensive backfield, going unscathed into the end zone from 35 yards out. Heather would add another touchdown from four yards out in the fourth quarter to ice the game for Barrow. Battle and the Whalers will head back to Barrow to prepare for the DIII State Championship game.

“That’s all we do is put in work, you know. These kids have got the mindset that they’ve got to put in work. We use an acronym called MAP, Mindset, attitude, perspective,” said Battle. “They’ve got to do that to get their mindset right to get ready for this next game. It’s going to be a challenge so we’ve got to take the trophy down and give it back but we want to bring it back again.”

Barrow 18, Houston 7

Division III semifinals

Saturday, Houston High.

First Quarter:

Barrow — Chan 58 run (kick failed) 2:00.

Second Quarter

Houston — Tucker Croghan 1 run (Whitted kick) 6:00

Barrow — Heather 35 run (kick failed) 3:40.

Third Quarter

No scoring

Fourth Quarter

Barrow — Heather 4 run (kick failed) 8:59.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing: Houston - Mulhaney 6-26, Barrett 1-1, Fono 5-1, Croghan 4- -1, Bay 1-2; Barrow - Leavitt 8-1, Heather 8-45, Fruean 3- -18, Rukle 1- -4, Chan 11-114, Feleti 1-2, Goodwin 1- -1, Dias 11-49.

Passing: Houston - Croghan 3-7-22-1 INT; Barrow - Fruean 2-7-53-1 INT.

Receiving: Houston - Falaniko 2-21, Mulhaney 1-1; Barrow - Tuai 1-16, Slatton 1-37.