Local High School Football Teams Off to 2-0 Starts Ahead of Week 3

Howland Rebuild Yields Best Start Since 2014

“It’s so important because that’s kind of something we’ve been preaching to our kids for three years now… [that] you’ll see the fruit of your labor,” Jones told TribToday.com. “I couldn’t be more proud of the kids so far, and I’m happy for them.”

To secure the 2-0 record, Howland defeated rival Niles for the third year in a row and notched a 34-26 victory over Hubbard last Friday—marking the program’s first win against Hubbard since 2017, as reported by TribToday.com. The Tigers are scheduled to play their third straight home game locally before traveling to face West Branch in Beloit the following week.

Columbiana Breaks Longstanding Trend Under Coach Spaite

Columbiana is also navigating an unfamiliar position with a 2-0 start, marking the program’s first such opening since 2011, according to TribToday.com. Head coach Bob Spaite, in his 18th season leading the Clippers, reflected cautiously on the team’s opening victories after enduring years where the squad slipped in one or both of its first two contests.

“I’m not sure how great it is,” Spaite told TribToday.com, contrasting the current start with a team he led fifteen years ago that opened with six consecutive wins during an 8-3 campaign.

Community Impact of Early Wins

According to TribToday.com, Howland’s junior high team has also opened 2-0, while the junior varsity squad holds one win and one tie.

“When you win football games, everything’s a little bit better around the community, around the school,” Jones told TribToday.com. “That puts a pep in everybody’s step. The community’s been behind us, and we have in the years that we didn’t win a lot of games.”