Special to the Homer Independent Press

The Mariner defense gets ready to stop the ball. (Photo courtesy of Aidan Cooney)

The Homer Mariner football team finally got its first victory of the season Friday, a huge 65-8 win over the Houston Hawks. Homer now has a 1-3 record while Houston is 0-3.

The Mariners scored on every drive of the first half, racking up 58 points by halftime. Forty-three points were scored in the second quarter. 

Homer’s Justus Grimes scored four touchdowns — including one interception for a touchdown in the second quarter. 

“I think it was a pretty good game,” Grimes said. ”I had a sweet pick-six, and hopefully this week we will do the same.” 

The Mariners will play their second conference game at home against the Redington Huskies this Friday.

The game started with the Mariners’ ball at the 38-yard line. Quarterback Eli Weisser handed the ball off to running back Joanquin Jackson for an immediate first down. They kept this pace going until the 22 where Grimes ran the ball into the end zone.

Carter Kincaid’s extra point kick for the Mariners was blocked, but a flag was thrown against the Hawks. Homer retried for a successful two-point conversion, putting them up 8-0 at the start of the first quarter.

The Hawks received the ball at the 30. They ran the ball forward for nine plays but were forced to punt at the 49. Grimes received and ran the ball to the Mariners’ 49.

The Mariners ran the ball down to the 3-yard line before Weisser faked a handoff to Jackson, securing the second touchdown of the night. Kincaid kicked a point-after down the middle, putting the Mariners up 15-0 with three minutes left in the quarter.

Houston received the ball at their own 31. The Mariner defense knocked them back to their 13, forcing a punt.

Homer’s Vincent Black blocked that punt with help from Asher Rozeboom, giving the Mariners the ball at 13 at the end of the first.

Homer brought out the heat in the second quarter. Jackson ran the ball up the middle before Kincaid split the uprights, putting the Mariners up 22-0.

The Hawks tried a pass from deep in their own territory but were intercepted by Grimes who ran it in for a touchdown. Kincaid kicked the extra point for a 29-0 lead.

The Mariners kept up this pace until halftime, at which point they led 58-0.

Houston scored their one touchdown late in the third quarter, as the mercy-rule clock sped up.

The Mariner offense gets ready for a two-point conversion. (Photo courtesy of Sidney Cooney)

The Mariners rushed for a total of 282 yards with 34 passing yards. Houston managed to rush for 127 yards, but were unsuccessful in any passing yards.

“I was pleased with both sides of the ball elevating their play this week. We’ve gotten better week-to-week,” said Head Coach Justin Zank. “We’re much better than we were week one. We executed at a higher level on Friday against Houston. I was pleased with our performance. We still have a lot that we can get better at, and we’ll try to do better this week against Redington.”