The Houston Tigers are winners once again.
Haunted by a 22-game losing skid that carried over into a third season, the Tigers put the brakes on the dismal stretch with a gutsy performance Friday night. They pushed across an early score in a steady downpour and never buckled defensively. The result was a hard-earned 6-0 victory that was much more than just a regular-season win.
“There were some close to tears after getting their first victory,” HHS coach Billy O’Neil said.
After the game’s lone pass attempt –– thanks to severe weather and heavy rains that delayed the game 33 minutes –– was batted down, the celebration began. Players leapt into each other’s arms and shared long embraces. As they left the field, the team was greeted by a welcoming line of cheerleaders, classmates and family members.
“The monkey is off their backs. Now they don’t have to think about this losing streak continuing,” O’Neil said. “It’s over, and I’m happy about that. We can focus on something else besides worrying about breaking the streak.”
Cuba (0-3) and inclement weather proved to be a positive combination for Houston. The Tigers’ last victory was a 28-6 win against Cuba in the 2009 finale. The game was less rainy but more muddy than the 2012 matchup.
Although Cuba is winless, O’Neil said his team wasn’t handed a victory. He pointed out that the Wildcats had lost by one point the previous week to Hermann, which turned around and defeated previously unbeaten St. James on Friday.
“This game was not an easy game,” said O’Neil, who earned his first victory as HHS head coach in his third game. “I believe it came from a team that isn’t a pushover team and will win a few games this season. The players flat out earned their win.”
Senior Drake Bell helped his class earn its first-every varsity victory with 145 rushing yards on 16 attempts. Houston attempted one pass, and it resulted in a sack.
The Tigers’ defense ended an even longer drought than the program’s winless streak. Houston held an opponent scoreless for the first time in 42 games dating back to the second game of the 2008 season.
O’Neil was the defensive coordinator for that win –– a 40-victory at Southern Boone. Houston also shut out Cabool the previous week to end the program’s 21-game losing streak.
“The kids rose to the challenge,” O’Neil said.
The game’s lone scoring drive began on the HHS 38-yard line midway through the first quarter. After consecutive five-yard runs by Nathaniel Alkire and Bell for a first down, O’Neil called for a double-handoff from Alkire to Bell.
Led by pulling lineman Curtis Woosley and tight end Trevor Merckling, Bell bounced outside and raced down the left sideline for a 47-yard gain. He was eventually tackled at the Cuba 6.
O’Neil said the play –– called 27 X –– is designed to get the linebackers flowing one direction and counter the opposite way.
“Drake finally exploded off the line,” O’Neil said. “I’ve been expecting him to do that the past couple weeks, and he did.”
Two plays later, Walker plunged forward on a quarterback keeper and spun around the left end for a touchdown. The ensuing two-point conversion run failed, leaving the Tigers with a 6-0 lead with 3 minutes, 37 seconds left in the first quarter.
Cuba, which gained 160 rushing yards on 50 attempts, moved inside the red zone just one time. That drive ended with a fumble by quarterback Kaleb Cason –– one of three fumbles the HHS defense recovered.
The Tigers had a pair of takeaways in the fourth quarter, including a fumble recovery by Ty Wilkins with 1:18 remaining that all but sealed the victory.
Cuba regained possession with 4.9 seconds left on its own 30 and attempted its only pass of the game. Cason’s throw down the middle of the field was batted down as HHS players rushed the field to celebrate the end of their losing drought.
O’Neil said his team won’t be satisfied with just one victory. He said the Tigers are focused on win No. 2 as part of Friday’s homecoming against Texas County rival Cabool.
“The kids are hungry for more,” he said. “I think there’s a sense that we’re turning this program around.”
A severe storm hit the area Friday evening, forcing administrators to close Tiger Stadium as players and spectators took cover.
Athletic director Brent Kell said the Houston football team was on the field shortly before 6 p.m. when lightning struck nearby. A few minutes later, he was alerted to a tornado that had been spotted in the Success area.
Kell said the decision was made to close the stadium and open the Big Red Building. Parents and fans –– he estimated 75-100 –– crowded inside.
The players were allowed to return to the field 30 minutes after the lightning strike per state rules. The game kicked off at 7:33 p.m. with strong rains remaining but no lightning.