H.S. football preview: Houghton

It has been a long time since the Houghton Gremlins football team has had any kind of success. The Gremlins haven’t won more than three games in a season since 2001, which also happens to be the last time they made the playoffs.

After starting last season with seven straight losses, Houghton rallied to win their final two games of the season. Speaking of the number two, Karl Borree enters season number two as the head coach of the Gremlins.

Houghton will be counting on junior quarterback Ben Collear to lead the Gremlins option-style attack on offense this season. Houghton played in a scrimmage Thursday morning against both Ishpeming and Kingsford.

Coach Borree may have one of the younger football teams in the U.P., but he expects a lot from his players once the real games begin next week.

“They’re giving good effort and I think in the long run, that’s got to be foundation. We’re young, so that’s what we have to do,” said Borree. “I think the coaches have really done a good job getting the culture of the program more where we are trying to play team football. That’s a hard thing to do and they are doing a real good job.”

“We are an option team (on offense), so we really have to take what the other team gives us. We’ll try and put it (the ball) in the hands in whoever can help us out that day. If we get better to the last game from our first game and we get progressively better, that’s a good year,” Borree went on to say.

“We are starting to get a better feel for the offense,” said Gremlins offensive lineman Zach Verran. “It’s all starting to come together. We’re just trying to work hard and get better everyday. That is one of coach’s main deals and that’s what we work towards,” added Verran.

“The culture is just getting better the whole way through,” said Gremlins quarterback Ben Collaer. “You can see it as we are going through camp. We’re just working together trying to make our team the best that we can be.”

“We have a lot of good opponents (on our schedule). We’re going to have to go out there and give it our best and try and make the best out of each situation,” added Collaer.

Houghton opens up the regular season on Friday, Aug. 30, against L’Anse.