THAYER – The latter part of the schedule has been the most difficult in recent years for the Houston football team.

2017 appears to be no different.

The Tigers began back-to-back games against state-ranked opponents Friday with a 34-0 loss at Thayer.

Now awaits homecoming this week against Ava.

Consecutive matchups with the No. 9 team in Class 1 and fourth-ranked team in Class 2 for a rebuilding program are a challenge.

“We’ve got to continue to grow up fast,” Houston coach Eric Sloan said.

Thayer exploited many of the struggles the Tigers (1-4, 1-2 South Central Association) have faced all season. They struggled to manufacture offensive yards –– under 100 for the third time in five games –– while giving up 402 on the defensive side.

“It’s not effort. The kids are giving effort,” Sloan said. “It’s the same things we talk about every week –– it’s the little things that hurt us.”

Thayer (4-1, 3-0 SCA) out-gained HHS 402-96. Senior Garrett Young led the way with 13 carries for 124 yards and three touchdowns. Quarterback Ayden Stone was 12-of-19 passing for 167 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.

{{tncms-inline alignment=”right” content=”<p>conf pf pa w-l pf pa</p> <p>Ava 3-0 102 33 5-0 184 52</p> <p>Thayer 3-0 80 35 4-1 148 115</p> <p>Mtn. Grove 2-1 104 36 4-1 206 69</p> <p>Salem 1-2 34 60 2-3 78 109</p> <p>Houston 1-2 38 83 1-4 52 161</p> <p>Liberty 1-2 105 101 1-4 153 170</p> <p>Willow 1-2 74 126 1-4 119 213</p> <p>Cabool 0-3 50 113 0-5 64 198</p> <p>–––––</p> <p><strong>Week 5 scores</strong></p> <p>Thayer 34, Houston 0</p> <p>Ava 45, Salem 0</p> <p>Mountain Grove 42, Cabool 8</p> <p>Liberty 56, Willow Springs 28</p> <p><strong>Week 6 games</strong></p> <p>Ava at Houston</p> <p>Willow Springs at Salem</p> <p>Thayer at Cabool</p> <p>Liberty at Mountain Grove</p>” id=”023f2907-0ee3-4dec-938c-30d2febe66a1″ style-type=”bio” title=”SCA SCOREBOARD” type=”relcontent” width=”half”}}

Sophomore quarterback Dakota Burchett completed 9 of 12 passes for 36 yards. Evan Richardson led the team with seven rushes for 19 yards. Michael Clayton had a career-high five receptions.

Houston started its fourth different center –– this time junior Brecken Adey –– in five games. Two new offensive guards also started.

“We’re pretty beat up right now,” Sloan said. “We look so young. We make a lot of young mistakes.”

The Tigers managed just three first downs while committing a season-high 11 penalties for 89 yards. They punted on eight of their possessions.

“I thnk we’re trying to do a little too much and not relying on the guy beside us to do their job,” Sloan said.

Young had a two-yard touchdown run early in the first quarter and scored from one yard away at the end of the quarter.

The Tigers were behind 14-0 when Young powered his way into the end zone just 11 seconds before the half.

Thayer’s advantage grew to 28-0 when Stone hit Jett Haven for a 12-yard score midway through the third.

The Bobcats, a run-oriented program the past decade, surprisingly threw the ball on 19 of their 55 plays.

“You just never know what coach (Billy) Webber is going to do,” Sloan said. “We diagramed everything. On the season, they were 100 percent run on first down. He obviously broke that tonight.”

One positive for Houston was forcing four Thayer turnovers. Richardson and Paydon Dixon both had interceptions and HHS recovered two fumbles.

“The secondary has been picked on a little bit this year,” Sloan said. “It’s encouraging to see us take some positive steps back there.”

BOX SCORE

THAYER 34, HOUSTON 0

Houston 0 0 0 0 –– 0

Thayer 14 7 7 6 –– 34

First Quarter

THA –– Young 2 run (Poulette kick), 8:48.

THA ––Young 1 run (Poulette kick), 0:05.

Second Quarter

THA –– Young 1 run (Poulette kick), 0:11.

Third Quarter

THA –– Haven 12 pass from Stone (Poulette kick), 4:55.

Fourth Quarter

THA –– Bentz 47 fumble return (kick failed), 1:52.

––––––

HOU THA

First downs 3 15

Total yards 96 402

Rushes-yards 33-60 36-235

Passing 36 167

Punt returns 0 25

Kickoff returns 13 0

Comp-att-int 9-16-0 12-19-2

Sacked-yards lost 0-0 0-0

Punts 8-31.1 2-29.5

Fumbles-lost 2-1 2-2

Penalties-yards 11-89 9-60

––––––

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING –– Houston, Richardson 7-19, Dixon 13-15, Sawyer 2-9, Hutcheson 4-7, Burchett 4-6, Alston 1-3, Franklin 2-1. Thayer, Young 13-124, Stone 7-69, Madden 1-13, Doss 2-10, Poulette 5-6, Tate 1-5, Spencer 1-4, Bowers 3-3, Meizler 1-2, Haven 2-(minus 1).

PASSING –– Houston, Burchett 9-12-0 36, Dixon 0-3-0 0, Franklin 0-1-0. Thayer, Stone 12-19-2 167.

RECEIVING –– Houston, Clayton 5-28, Lane 1-6, Dixon 2-4, Alston 1-(minus 2). Thayer, Young 2-50, Haven 5-41, Hufstedler 2-38, Todd 1-23, Spencer 1-13, Bowers 1-2.

conf pf pa w-l pf pa

Ava 3-0 102 33 5-0 184 52

Thayer 3-0 80 35 4-1 148 115

Mtn. Grove 2-1 104 36 4-1 206 69

Salem 1-2 34 60 2-3 78 109

Houston 1-2 38 83 1-4 52 161

Liberty 1-2 105 101 1-4 153 170

Willow 1-2 74 126 1-4 119 213

Cabool 0-3 50 113 0-5 64 198

–––––

Week 5 scores

Thayer 34, Houston 0

Ava 45, Salem 0

Mountain Grove 42, Cabool 8

Liberty 56, Willow Springs 28

Week 6 games

Ava at Houston

Willow Springs at Salem

Thayer at Cabool

Liberty at Mountain Grove