The Grand Meadow football team has done a lot of positive things this season, but they still have at least one more thing on their checklist – beating Houston.

The No. 2 seeded Hurricanes (8-2 overall) will play at top-seeded Grand Meadow (9-1 overall) for the nine-man Section 1 title with a trip to the state tournament on the line this Friday at 7 p.m.

“We’re going to be ready and we’re excited to play,” GM head coach Gary Sloan said.

Houston handed the Superlarks their only loss of the season by a score of 23-14 Sept. 25 in GM. The Hurricanes have also won the last five meetings with GM, including two in the playoffs.

But things have changed since the last contest between these two. GM was missing fullback/linebacker Killian Smith with an injury in that contest and their offensive line has gotten better each week since that loss.

“We hurt ourselves real badly in that game with eight penalties, when we’ve only had 30 all season,” Sloan said. “Houston’s a great team, but we don’t focus so much on our opponents. We just focus on ourselves doing the right thing.”

The Hurricanes beat Spring Grove 24-21 on a late field goal last week, while GM trounced Alden/Conger 49-28 to advance to the section title game.

The Superlarks have scored at least 40 points in their last three games and allowed less than 20 points in two of those contests.

“I don’t think nerves will be an issue for us,” Sloan said. “We’ll be where we need to be mentally.”

GM relies on the one-two rushing punch of junior quarterback Caleb Leichtnam and senior running back Michael Gehling – both have over 1,000 yards rushing this season.

Those two have gotten great blocking from junior guard Scott Wilson and the GM offensive line the past few weeks.

“Michael and Caleb are big playmakers, but our line has improved and they’re giving those two good holes to run through,” Sloan said.

The Larks were in the section title game in 2005 and 2006 and lost both times. Their last state tournament appearance was in 1997, when they lost in the semifinals.

The winner of GM and Houston will play in the state quarterfinals at RCTC Stadium in Rochester at noon next Saturday.