A lot is at stake for the Caledonia High football team on Thursday night against Houston, from a winning record to playoff seeding to potentially the right to host a postseason game.
It will be a tall task for the Cavaliers (4-4) — the Hilltoppers (7-1) trail only undefeated Louisville in the district standings and are rolling offensively of late, having scored a combined 97 points in their last two games.
Caledonia has been able to run the ball effectively out of the triple option for much of the year. Sophomore quarterback Cohen Clark rushed for two scores in a win over rival New Hope on Sept. 15, including a 95-yard touchdown in the second quarter, and Cavaliers head coach Michael Kelly said his offensive line has steadily improved over the course of the season.
“We’ve got a plethora of playmakers,” Kelly said. “(The offensive line) was a major question mark coming into the season. It’s hard to put a finger on one guy. In our triple-option offense, it takes a team to make that thing work.”
Defensively, the Cavaliers have been up and down but took a step forward last week in a 39-16 win over Greenwood. Kelly highlighted lineman Ethan Ramirez, inside linebacker Shep Donald and outside linebacker Avery Hodge, all seniors who have started since they were freshmen, as leaders in that group.
“They’ve played a lot of high school football,” Kelly said. “A lot of experience, a lot of reps, a lot of good, a lot of bad. They’re three kids who bring it to work every day. They’re a good representation of our program, and they lay it on the line, win or lose, every week. Those three have to play well for us to have a chance.”
That defense will be tested against a Houston offense led by running back Jalen Washington, a three-star recruit who committed to Southern Miss in June. Washington has rushed for 1,140 yards and 12 touchdowns on 155 carries, good for an average of 7.4 yards per rush through eight games. Quarterback Steele Brooks is also a running threat, with 453 yards on the ground and five touchdowns.
The Hilltoppers have also been stout defensively outside of their loss to Louisville, holding six of their eight opponents to under 20 points.
“We’re trying to get to a winning record this year, and our young men pride themselves on that,” Kelly said. “They’ve got a lot to play for as well. We expect a great environment, and I hope it’s a really good high school football game.”
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