Howard takes aim at first playoff berth

Head coach Barney Hester has a shot to lead the Howard Huskies to a place they have never been: the playoffs.

With a win Friday night against Baldwin (3-6, 0-5 GHSA Region 2-AAAAA) and a win by Upson-Lee over Veterans, the young Howard program will cap this historic season with a playoff berth.

"It would be a big deal for us. Being 7-3 would be a big deal," Hester said.

Since the team's first season in 2008, the Huskies (6-3, 2-3) never have won more than three games. This season, that changed. Hester said the uptick in the win column doesn't surprise him.

"Last year we were competitive in every game," Hester said. "We just didn't know how to win. This year our challenge to our guys was expect to win when we go out, and we have."

Last week's 36-27 win over Veterans (4-5, 3-2) was crucial in keeping the Huskies in the hunt. Quarterback Courvoisier King passed for more than 300 yards, and receiver Alphonso Stephens had a big game.

Hester said it was the first time his team played a full four-quarter game this season.

"We had to beat Veterans," Hester said. "We had won against Perry a couple of times, but since I've been here we hadn't won another region game. That was a big deal for us."

But the Huskies can't look forward. Hester and his staff have stressed to the team to not overlook the Braves, despite the fact that Baldwin hasn't won a region game.

"They were a playoff team last year," Hester said. "So the guys know how to play and know how to win."

Hester said the key matchup in Friday night's game will be the Braves' talented receiving corps against the Huskies' secondary.

"They have some skill players that can stretch the field pretty good. We have been impressed by what we've seen," he said.

Hester said the playoff berth would be nice, but he doesn't want to worry about things beyond his control.

"We just to want to go 7-3, and whatever happens, happens," he said.

This story was originally published November 5, 2015 at 9:06 PM with the headline "Howard takes aim at first playoff berth ."