Houston beat Salem in Billy O’Neil’s freshman, sophomore and junior seasons. The HHS Tigers haven’t been victorious since.
Salem has defeated HHS the last 32 consecutive times the teams have played. Houston will look to snap the skid when the teams meet in Friday’s 2013 season opener in Houston.
“Sooner or later, that streak is going to end,” said O’Neil, the Tigers’ second-year head coach. “It’s whether or not these boys want to end it. That’s what I stress –– which class that’s coming up is going to end it?
Salem will hardly resemble the squad that has topped HHS for three decades when it comes to town.
Coach Bill Schuchardt, who started the streak over HHS, is gone. He has been replaced by a longtime assistant, Brian McNamee, who has overhauled the offense. Instead of the wishbone that has defined Salem, the past 32 years, the team will instead line up with one running back and four wide receivers.
O’Neil believes Salem will run a no-huddle offense and take plays from the sidelines similar to the way the University of Missouri signals to the offense.
“It will be different,” O’Neil said. “There is a reason Schu is in the hall of fame. I’m glad not to see him on that sideline.”
Salem returns just six starters from last year’s team that beat HHS 35-6 and finished with a 6-4 mark. Both offensive returnees –– lineman Cordell Tatom (6-foot, 250 pounds) and fullback Zayne Kyser (6-0, 234) –– were all-conference selections. Three other linemen who received all-conference recognition return on the defensive side.
Houston, which went 2-8 last season and snapped a 22-game losing skid, has 16 seniors on this year’s team. O’Neil said that’s the highest number since he joined the staff 10 years ago.
The focal point of the offense will be senior Devin Coulter, who moves from tight end to quarterback to run the Tigers’ double wing.
Returning in the backfield is senior Nathaniel Alkire, who ranked third on the team last season with 307 rushing yards and led the Tigers with 225 receiving yards. He’ll be joined by fellow seniors Tanner Smith and Trevor Merckling in the three-back set.
O’Neil said his team will run multiple formations this season, but he did not specify. The Tigers only ran their base offense in Friday’s jamboree at Strafford.
“I just think we’re going to be able to play with teams better than we did last year,” O’Neil said. “I think we’ll match up well and be able to come after them.”
The HHS defense is moving from a 5-2 look to a 4-4. O’Neil said the change will allow the team to better adapt to offenses and be more balanced. The Tigers figure to test the theory against Salem, who O’Neil expects will still run some option and maybe wishbone plays.
Regardless what happens, O’Neil said he wants his team to establish in the opener that they are going to compete with teams in 2013.
“I just want them to come out and play hard, aggressive football,” he said. “The streak will end. I’m not saying it will end this year, but I hope it does. We’ll just have to wait and see.”
Sooner or later, that streak is going to end. It’s whether or not these boys want to end it. That’s what I stress –– which class that’s coming up is going to end it?”