STRAFFORD – A season that started so strongly faded just as quickly.

Just three weeks removed from a 5-2 start, the Houston football team lost its final three games of the season. The finale was a 20-0 defeat Friday night at Strafford in the opening round of Class 2 District 9.

The Tigers’ five wins were the program’s most in a decade. But the three-game slide to conclude the season – the final two by a combined score of 61-13 – soured what the team was able to accomplish.

“It definitely leaves a sour taste in your mouth with the way it ended,” HHS coach Eric Sloan said.

Strafford (9-1) advanced to face No. 2 Fair Grove, which defeated Willow Springs 46-6, in this Friday’s semifinals.

Top-seeded Ava, which blanked Forsyth 72-0, will host No. 4 Liberty in the other semifinal. The Eagles shut out Mountain Grove 35-0.

Houston (5-5) finished with the program’s most victories since the 2008 team went 6-5. But the Tigers are still searching for their first postseason win since the new district format began in 2012.

“We’re continuing to take baby steps. We’re going in the right direction,” Sloan said. “But it’s taking a whole lot longer than I wanted it to.”

Houston sophomore Daniel Hutcheson had 29 carries for 80 yards. He played a more prominent role without second-leading rusher Paydon Dixon, who was sidelined with a knee injury.

Strafford quarterback Wyatt Maples ran for 117 yards and threw for another 203 on 15-of-21 passing. He had three total touchdowns.

The Indians out-gained Houston 355-140 and held the Tigers scoreless for the third time this season.

Sloan said the offensive and defensive lines were the difference in the game.

{{tncms-inline alignment=”right” content=”<p><em>Opening round</em></p> <p><strong>Oct. 26 scores</strong></p> <p>Ava 72, Forsyth 0</p> <p>Liberty 35, Mountain Grove 0</p> <p>Fair Grove 45, Willow Springs 6</p> <p>Strafford 20, Houston 0</p> <p>Semifinals</p> <p><strong>Friday’s games</strong></p> <p>(4) Liberty at (1) Ava</p> <p>(3) Strafford at (2) Fair Grove</p>” id=”928fea14-0ed1-41f1-b4b1-d36dfac198b5″ style-type=”bio” title=”CLASS 2 DISTRICT 9″ type=”relcontent” width=”half”}}

“They continued to punch us in the mouth and looking at some body language, I don’t think we wanted any of it,” Sloan said. “We just got whipped up front and had kids making excuses that hadn’t been making excuses.”

Maples powered in from one yard out on Strafford’s opening drive to make it 6-0. Later in the quarter, he hit Mason Foley for a seven-yard score.

After the HHS defense forced a fumble, the Tigers moved as close as the Strafford 2-yard line before time expired in first half.

Ahead 12-0, the Indians covered 74 yards on their first drive of the third quarter to go ahead 20-0 and put the game away.

BOX SCORE

STRAFFORD 20, HOUSTON 0

Houston 0 0 0 0 – 0

Strafford 12 0 8 0 – 20

First Quarter

STR – Maples 1 run (kick failed), 6:12.

STR – Foley 5 pass from Maples (pass failed), 2:11.

Third Quarter

STR – Foley 15 pass from Maples (Foley pass from Maples), 7:01

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HOU STR

First downs 11 19

Total yards 140 355

Rushes-yards 47-126 31-152

Passing 14 203

Punt returns 5 0

Kickoff returns 8 20

Comp-att-int 3-7-1 15-21-0

Sacked-yards lost 0-0 1-6

Punts 4-34.0 2-28.5

Fumbles-lost 0-0 2-1

Penalties-yards 1-1 7-60

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INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING – Houston, Hutcheson 29-80, Sawyer 14-33, Burchett 2-13, Harrison 2-0. Strafford, Maples 20-117, Foley 3-20, Kinder 7-15.

PASSING – Houston, Burchett 3-6-1 14, Sawyer 0-1-0 0. Strafford, Maples 15-21-0 203.

RECEIVING – Houston, Lee 1-7, Wilson 1-6, Sawyer 1-1. Strafford, Hester 10-151, Foley 4-56, Lawson 1-(minus 4).

Opening round

Oct. 26 scores

Ava 72, Forsyth 0

Liberty 35, Mountain Grove 0

Fair Grove 45, Willow Springs 6

Strafford 20, Houston 0

Semifinals

Friday’s games

(4) Liberty at (1) Ava

(3) Strafford at (2) Fair Grove