HOUSTON — Late in the third quarter, the Houston Hawks held a two-score lead and were pitching a shutout.
And then Kenai Central made things interesting.
The Kardinals scored twice during a 37-second span to cut the deficit to just a point, but never touched the ball again. Houston burned the final 10 minutes and 22 seconds off the clock on its final offensive drive and held on for a key 14-13 win over the Kards in Division III and Mid Alaska Conference action Friday night at Houston High School.
Houston improves to 1-1 in the league and 4-1 overall, while Kenai is 1-1 and 3-2.
“That’s what we like to do, line up and get control of the ball,” Houston head coach Charles Whittington said after the win.
The Hawks ran 17 plays, all of them on the ground, as rain poured on the turf in the fourth, grinding from their own 23-yard line to the Kenai 14 when time expired.
“Ground and pound,” Whittington said. “We are a running team. Those rainy conditions suit us very well and we made plays.”
Big special teams plays and a little bit of chaos pulled Kenai from a 14-point deficit to a one-point ball game.
After Houston took the 14-0 lead late in the third, the Hawks elected to go for the onside kick. The Kards recovered, and used a seven-play, 50-yard drive to get on the scoreboard. Bobby Hayes capped the drive with a 6-yard touchdown run.
On the ensuing kickoff, the Kards recovered a live ball at the Houston 9-yard line. Two plays later, Hayes scored from 2 yards out.
But Houston answered with its special teams play of the day. The Hawks blocked the extra point attempt and they held onto a one-point lead.
Houston followed with the final offensive drive that sealed the win.
“They’re mentally strong. We preach that every day in practice. Mental toughness,” Whittington said. “If we can handle the pressure, good things are going to happen.”
Houston junior Noah Whitted led the Hawks with 141 yards rushing on 19 carries. Senior fullback Robert Mitchell enjoyed a breakout game on offense, with 88 yards on 17 carries. All of that work came in the second half.
Whittington said Mitchell has been a contributor at linebacker and special teams, but the senior also helped fill a void on offense against the Kards.
“He stepped up,” Whittington said.
Mitchell rushed for 49 yards on Houston’s final drive, and had runs of 13 and 12 yards that both converted first downs.
Houston senior quarterback Carter Seime connected with Keldin Nicoll on a 27-yard touchdown pass to give the Hawks the 6-0 lead. Seime also snuck in from a yard out for another touchdown.
On defense, Nicoll had three sacks.
“The kid’s an animal,” Houston defensive coordinator Jared Barrett said.
Whitted and Ryan Preboski had interceptions for the Hawks, who held Kenai to 144 total yards. William Wilson ran 21 times for 104 yards for the Kards.
Houston came into the game two weeks after suffering a key Division III loss to Barrow 14-8. Last week, Kenai beat Division III state champion Homer 29-8.
“Our conference is tight. We needed this,” Whittington said.
Contact Frontiersman managing editor Jeremiah Bartz at editor@frontiersman.com
Houston 14, Kenai Central 13
Friday, Houston High School
First quarter
No scoring
Second quarter
Houston — Nicoll 27 pass from Seime (kick failed), 4:37.
Third quarter
Houston — Seime 1 run (McClurg pass from Whitted), 1:49.
Fourth quarter
Kenai — Hayes 6 run (Vann kick), 10:59.
Kenai — Hayes 2 run (kick blocked), 10:22.
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing — Kenai: Wilson 21-104, Hayes 11-40, Yragui 3-(-34), No. 81 1-(-6); Houston: Whitted 19-141, Mitchell 17-88, Seime 6-(-27), McClurg 2-(-3), No. 42 1-6, Bethel 1-5.
Passing — Kenai: Yragui 7-16-2–40; Houston: Seime 1-7-1–27.
Receiving — Kenai: Hayes 5-25, Vann 1-17, Wilson 1-(-2); Kenai: Nicoll 1-27.
Kenai Centralճ Bobby Hayes leads a tackle of Houston quarterback Carter Seime during a 14-13 loss to Houston on Friday Sept. 8, 2023, in Houston. (Photo by Jeremiah Bartz/Frontiersman)
