Terry Howell was a terrific noseman when he played high school football at Niles and in college at Indiana (Pa.).

That alone should tell you all you need to know about the second-year coach of the Champion Flashes.

Successful nosemen are notoriously tenacious players and Howell was certainly that in his playing days.

Howell has brought that tenacity and a “ground it out — 5 yards and a cloud of dust” philosophy to a program that has struggled for wins most of this decade.

Last year, after Howell took over for John Gibson, the Flashes went 1-9.

“Coming in here the first year, I didn’t really know a lot about Champion and what to expect other than they hadn’t had a lot of success in the past,” Howell said. “It was a learning experience in getting to know the kids and learning about my staff and myself.

“We met last winter again as a staff and put together our plan and now we are watching it unfold.”

The Flashes took the year of learning and grew as a football team.

With several outstanding backs returning and the arrival of Southington transfer Jimmy Rasey, who recently became Trumbull County’s all-time career rushing leader, the Flashes got off to a 3-1 start.

Last week, the Flashes got a wake up call with a lopsided loss to Girard.

Because of that, Champion and Howell’s second-year program is facing a game that could prove vital to a winning season, a possible All-American Conference Blue Tier title and a berth in the postseason.

Q. Your team is coming off a loss last week after an impressive 3-1 start. How disappointed were you after that game?

A. Its hard because you are coming off a 1-9 season and we started the season at 3-1 and had a chance to go 2-0 in the conference before we ran into a tough Girard team coached by Nick Cochran. I think they were real excited and we came out flat and got behind early and we couldn’t seem to come back. We got behind the eight-ball and had to do things we normally don’t do. We are ‘5-yard and a cloud of dust’ team and we were forced to throw the ball and that didn’t work out all that well.

Q. How do you put that loss behind you and approach this week’s game against Liberty?

A. It’s important for us now to rebound this week. I know they are 1-4 and we were in that position last year. We need to rebound strong because we are trying to put something together here where winning breeds winning. We need to play well against Liberty.

Q. Is this is a pivotal game for you?

A. I think every game is pivotal for us. I think any coach will tell you that. Being 3-2 now, I think losing a game this early in the second half will hurt our chances of reaching our goals for this season.

Q. You took over a team that had struggled to win many games of late. How have you turned things around so quickly?

A. I think the kids have bought into what we are doing here. With that being said, if we can continue to build on that plan and the kids continue to trust and believe in us then I think we will be fine. I think we are on the right path.

Q. What characteristics does this team possess besides a strong belief in the running game and defense?

A. I think we have a great group of senior leaders. We’ve asked alot of these guys coming off a 1-9 season the seniors have kind of taken things over and taken ownership of this team. I couldn’t be more proud of our seniors.

Q. You were an assistant for 19 years. Why did you want to become a head coach and why Champion?

A. When you are involved in this game long enough there comes a time when you want a shot to run your own team. I live in Champion. I’m a Champion guy. My kids go to Champion schools so I thought it was time to give something to the community. That was really the main drive for me to go after this job.

Q. What was your first Friday night like as a head coach?

A. I was nervous. I had butterflies. That never changes. Even when I was with Bill Bohren as an assistant, I was nervous for a game. There’s just a little bit more pressure being the head guy. People look at you for the leadership. That first game last year was exciting. I don’t think I’ll ever forget that game. (Champion lost that game to Ashtabula Edgewood 27-15).

Q. You coached for a lot of years with Bohren at Niles and LaBrae. What did you learn from him that has helped you now as a head coach?

A. Bill’s a great guy and great coach. Having watched him work over the years, I think I’ve tried to do everything the way he would have done it to be honest with you. He was great at talking to kids and getting the kids to believe in themselves. He knew what it took to build a program — to have a plan and to keep pushing yourself and the players. He’s a master at that and his success speaks for itself.

Q. What was the best advice Bohren gave you when you were named head coach?

A. He just told me to be patient. He said things won’t happen overnight and don’t expect to go 10-0 or even expect to have a winning season. Take the program and make it yours. Take it one step and a time and one year at a time and success will happen. It will happen if you do it the right way.

Q. How important is it to you to want to return Champion football to its glory days of the past?

A. Very important. The first thing we did when we got here was write “RESPECT” on the board. I didn’t think Champion football got any respect in the conference or in the area. We certainly think we are starting to get that now. Now we want to win games in the conference and eventually become a league champion and a playoff team. They all fall in order. We are still working and hoping to accomplish all those goals.

Interview by Chuck Housteau.