Air Howell: Highlanders throw for 2 touchdowns in opening win over Hudsonville

HOWELL — Who were those guys?

That certainly didn’t look like the Howell football team, at least not the recent renditions of the Highlanders.

Howell passed the ball either as a last resort or to catch opponents off guard last season, running the ball 92% of the time.

In the season opener Thursday against Hudsonville, the passing game was not only a regular part of Howell’s offense, it produced the winning touchdown in a 20-17 victory.

Senior running back Justin Jones hauled in a 21-yard pass in the back of the end zone from junior Preston Barb on third-and-three with 4:48 left in the game.

Think it was far-fetched to see a running back going deep to catch the first touchdown pass of his three-year career?

How about that same running back, who has played quarterback at times for Howell, throwing his first career touchdown pass to open the scoring?

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It was the most balanced Howell attack in a few years, as the Highlanders ran the ball 28 times and threw it 16 times. Last season, with a freshman and sophomore starting at quarterback, the Highlanders threw 42 passes in nine games and didn't throw their second touchdown pass until Week 9.

Barb won a battle for the starting quarterback job against sophomore Palmer VanDeven during the preseason. The maturation of both quarterbacks is why Howell’s offense will be more much more diversified this season.

“Not having a freshman and sophomore,” was Howell coach Brian Lewis’ explanation for opening up the offense. “Was that exciting? How about that offense? We had excitement. We did our deal. You have to grow and develop kids. You can’t put them in a position where it hurts them early in their career. That’s what it boils down to. For us, we have to know our stuff really well, then you can expand upon it.”

Two years ago, Jones threw 29 passes as the team’s quarterback. He moved to running back after a hand injury in the opener at Hudsonville last season prevented him from taking snaps, running for eight touchdowns.

“Anything it takes,” Jones said. “Win the moment. That’s what we did tonight; we won more moments than they did.”

His first career touchdown pass was a 29-yard strike to fullback Aiden Horvath on the left side of the end zone on third-and-13 just 2 minutes and 13 seconds into the game.

“I just saw the ball in the air and just knew I had to go get it, so that’s what I did,” Horvath said.

Despite his quarterback background, Jones hasn’t thrown much in practice.

“I probably threw about three passes,” he said. “We were trying to keep it on the down low. Aiden, I love that guy. He made so many plays for us. That line dominated; there’s no doubt about it.”

The winning touchdown was the result of more work on the practice field than the first.

“Me and Preston have been practicing that all summer, so we had the timing down,” Jones said. “He saw I had the guy beat and got me the ball. I trust Preston. He threw me a perfect ball.”

Once the Highlanders had the lead, it was up to the defense to lock down the victory.

Tyler Mira intercepted a pass with 2:40 left in the game, the second pick by the Highlanders. Drew Lynn had one on a pass from the Howell 4-yard line in the second quarter.

“I saw trips on the left,” Mira said. “I knew I had to get the middle third. I just watched the quarterback. He was just staring down his guy. The ball went up, I had to get it.”

Hudsonville got the ball back at its own 28-yard line with 1:25 remaining and eventually moved to the Howell 30 with 31 seconds to go. Junior lineman Brayden Smith had two sacks on that drive.

“This is a guy who played J.V. football last year,” Lewis said. “He came into the offseason and just went to work. Just a competitive dude, a dude who wants to win at everything he does. He doesn’t back down.”

Howell’s other touchdown came on a 1-yard run on fourth-and-goal by Horvath with 7:28 left in the third quarter, giving the Highlanders a 14-10 lead.

Contact Bill Khan at wkhan@gannett.com. Follow him on X @BillKhan

This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Air Howell: Highlanders throw for 2 touchdowns in opening win over Hudsonville