A glance at the Week 5 matchup between Houston (3-1) and Thayer (3-1):
ABOUT THIS WEEK’S OPPONENT: Thayer scored 29 unanswered points last week against Salem en route to a 29-14 victory to improve to 3-1. …The Bobcats’ lone loss was a 19-3 defeat to Liberty. They have beaten Hayti (26-6), Strafford (44-14) and Salem. …Thayer is among the teams receiving votes in the Class 1 state poll. …Since Houston’s 2005 state semifinal team beat Thayer 30-24 in 2005, the Bobcats have won nine straight meetings between the programs by a combined score of 402-117. …HHS coach Eric Sloan wasted no words when asked about traveling to Thayer. “I think that’s the worst place to play in the conference. It’s just a different atmosphere down there,” he said. “They play a violent game. It’s nothing fancy. They just line up and want to hit you in the mouth. It’s not going to be finesse.”
TIGER TIDBITS: Matt Wheeler returned to the HHS lineup with seven tackles –– including two for losses –– after missing one game with a shoulder injury. …With Lucas Kelley sidelined with a lower body muscle strain, freshman CJ Lee handled the kicking duties and Ethan Kelley punted. Lee converted his lone PAT attempt in the third quarter and Kelley averaged 34.7 yards on three punts. …Junior Brad Wilber, who started on both the offensive and defensive lines against Salem, also missed the game with an injury. “It’s that point of the season where we’re getting bumps and bruises and getting banged up,” Sloan said.
HHS DEFENSE: Connor Clifton filled the defensive box score in the Cabool game with seven tackles, one sack, one tackle for loss, one interception and one deflection.
Houston at Thayer
Salem at Ava
Cabool at Mountain Grove
Willow Springs at Liberty
All games 7 p.m.