For the first time in the 2016 football season all three central peninsula football programs played conference games, including Homecoming contests for Soldotna and Kenai and a road trip to newest Peninsula Conference member Joe Redington High School for the Nikiski Bulldogs.
SoHi 42 – Palmer 21 Homecoming Friday Night
The Soldotna Stars extended the program’s current win streak to 44 games (best in Alaska history and #3 in the nation for current win streaks), beginning play in the Northern Lights Conference with the Stars first conference victory, a 42-21 decision over the Palmer Moose on Friday night at Soldotna High School.
Game Recap:
SoHi opened the scoring with an Austin Schrader, 9-yard touchdown run; the only points of the first quarter. Palmer tied the game at 7-7 midway through the second quarter, which spurred the Stars to a pair of touchdowns to close the first half. Schrader added a 9-yard touchdown run and Jace Urban caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from Brandon Crowder for a 21-7 SoHi lead at the half. The second half opened with a Crowder 9-yard run for a touchdown. SoHi lead 28-14 after three quarters and opened the fourth with an Andy West touchdown reception from Crowder of six yards. A final rushing touchdown for Urban of 23 yards and the Stars down the Moose 42-21. SoHi improves to 5-0 on the season and 1-0 in the NLC.
Nikiski 47 – Joe Redington High School 6
The Bulldogs, 3-2 on the season and 2-0 in the Peninsula Conference, traveled for a Friday night contest at first-year, varsity program Joe Redington High School.
The Bulldog defeated the Huskies 47-6 scoring 40 points in the first half and scoring the game’s first two touchdowns on only two plays from scrimmage.
Game Recap:
Nikiski’s Patrick Perry scored on a 75-yard run on the first play from scrimmage and added a 17-yard touchdown run on the Bulldog’s second offensive play for a 14-0 lead just 2:37 into the game. Nikiski added a 22-yard reception for touchdown by Baker Hensley from quarterback Ian Johnson; two rushing touchdowns by Matt Minium and a 47-yard touchdown pass for Hensley: Nikiski lead 40-0 at the half. The Bulldogs add a 7-yard touchdown pass to Minium and closed the game for a 47-6 victory over the Huskies.
Kenai 30 – Kodiak 6 2:00 p.m. Homecoming Saturday
The Kenai Kardinals recorded a third-straight victory over a Medium School opponent when Kenai defeat Kodiak 30-6 on Saturday for the Kardinals’ Homecoming game.
The Kardinals lead 14-0 over the Kodiak Bears at the half and added a pair of touchdowns and a field goal in the second half; while allowing only an interception return for a Bear touchdown.
Game Recap:
The Kardinal defense forced two fumbles, one interception and forced seven Kodiak punts in a 30-6 Kardinal victory.
Kenai scored two, first quarter touchdowns on Zack Tuttle runs of four and six yards. Rykker Riddall opened the third quarter with a 1-yard touchdown run, Tuttle added a 25-yard field goal and Nick Beeson ran in an interception for the final score.
Kenai improves to 2-0 in the Northern Lights Conference and 3-2 on the season.