Howie Houston, captain of last fall's football team, suffered abrasions and a possible skull injury yesterday afternoon, when his car skidded into a tree in North Andover.

Houston was admitted to the Lawrence hospital at 6:50 p.m., and after preliminary examination his condition was reported as good. The accident left him unconscious for 15 minutes and hospital authorities reported Houston was "dazed."

The accident occurred on Route 125 at approximately 5:25 p.m., as Houston was returning home. A witness reported that Houston's car skidded across the road and sideswiped a line of trees. Houston was alone in the car at the time of the accident. The impact completely demolished his vehicle.

Wet readings of X-rays last night indicated that Houston was not suffering from fractures of the skull and shoulder as first believed, but final word on these injuries will not be available until today.

Houston was scheduled to wrestle against Brown today but will, of course, be out of action.