By Chris Parker
Houston football had its best season in many years in 2022 finishing 8-3 overall. The senior class was at the center of the turnaround.
“We had a senior class that led us the right way,” Houston head coach Eric Sloan said. “They set expectations high and expected everyone to meet those expectations. Most of them started for three years and some of them for four years, they were very seasoned guys. We took our share of lumps, so it was fun to see them have the success that they had worked so hard for.”
That senior class included seven all-conference players who set the tone for the program.
“I believe it was very obvious that those that put in the work, reaped the rewards,” Sloan said. “They didn’t make a lot of unnecessary noise to cause distractions for the team. Everyone bought in, players and parents. There was no negative noise distracting groups of players.”
Houston will look to replicate last season’s success with six offensive and five defensive starters returning.
Wyatt Hughes returns to lead the offense at quarterback. He threw for 787 yards and eight touchdowns while rushing for 421 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior.
“Wyatt is a natural leader, he’s everything you want in the quarterback. He is calm, cool, collected and doesn’t get rattled. He’s a big-time arm on the mound during baseball season and an all-state baseball player,” Sloan said. “This will be his third year as a full-time starter at quarterback. He’s going to need to do a little more. Last year we let him run the ball more than he was used to. He’s not afraid of contact. We plan to put the ball in the air more this year and utilize his arm as well.”
Grayson Mitchell, Layne Seago, Maleki Morgan and Bryson Alexander are all in the mix for time at running back. None of the quartet had more than 33 yards rushing last season. DJ Riley could also see some reps at running back but has been transitioned to a receiver role.
Riley and Jordan Arthur have seen most of the reps at wide receiver in the summer. Arthur caught nine passes for 132 yards last season. Jakeb Moore and Jacob Lee also could see times at wide receiver.
Kayden Crawford is a natural tight end who also has the potential to line up out wide. Crawford was second on the team in receiving yards with 19 catches for 236 yards in his first season playing high school football in 2022. He earned second-team all-conference honors last season.
“We really didn’t know a year ago what Kayden would bring to our team, as he hadn’t played football in high school. He is a true tight end and puts his hand in the dirt 90% of the time. Kayden runs really good routes and has great hands,” Sloan said. “We look for him to have another solid year. He has gained a year of strength and experience which will only help him blocking.”
Brady Brookshire and Ethan Chase both return to the offensive line after earning all-conference honors last season. Brookshire is at guard and Chase is a tackle. Keaton Goetz is a third returning starter on the line. Logan Dixon, Chris Swallow, Mason Dodson, Trenton Shelton and Gage Walker all are in the mix for time on the offensive line as well.
Defensively, Hughes returns to the secondary as a third-year starter. Arthur also has starting experience. Riley and Alexander are in the mix for time in the secondary as well.
Brookshire and Goetz will anchor the second level at linebacker with Crawford, Mitchell, Morgan, Alexander and Dodson looking for reps at linebacker as well.
The defensive line will feature Layne Seago returning at nose with Swallow, Dalton Enis, Chase, Garrett Bieller and Trenton Shelton also vying for time.
Houston will have to replace a large amount of production, but Sloan is looking for a reload not a rebuild.
“I want to be competitive every week,” Sloan said. “We have to replace a lot of talent, I just don’t want a rebuild.”
Houston will travel to Mountain Grove for a jamboree with the host Panthers, Willow Springs and Thayer. The Tigers open the regular season on Aug. 25 at home against Orchard Park.
