The Kenai Kardinals, with their first win of the season, took a giant step towards qualifying for the Division III football playoffs with a 27-22 victory over the Homer Mariners on Friday at KCHS.
Kenai improved to 1-2 in the Mid-Alaska Conference and with the victory remained eligible for the third seed to the state playoffs for Division III football.
Nikiski traveled to Redington High School, falling 62-12 to the Huskies.
Kenai 27 – Homer 22
The Kardinals scored 27 first-half point and held-off a second half rally by the Mariners for 27-22 victory.
Kenai opened the scoring with a 9-yard touchdown pass from Bridger Beck to James Sparks in the first quarter. Kenai scored mid-way through the second quarter on a 1-yard Beck run for a 14-0 lead. The Mariners fumbled the kick-off return and Kenai scored on the ensuing play with a 25-yard touchdown pass from Beck to David Martin. Homer, on the next kick-off, again fumbled to Kenai and the Kardinals scored a 1-yard touchdown run by Reagan Graves for a 27-0 Kenai advantage.
Homer mounted a second-half charge with three-straight touchdowns, all through the air, including a 20-yard pass to Jack Hrenchir, a 15-yard pass to Chris Martishev, and a 14-yard pass to Hrenchir. The Mariners closed to 27-22 with 8:29 remaining in the fourth quarter.
On Homer’s final two possessions, Kenai held the Mariners on fourth down at the Kardinals 40-yard line, intercepted the Mariner’s on Homer’s final drive, and ran-out the clock for the 27-22 victory.
Nikiski 12 Redington 62
The Redington Huskies improved to 5-0 with a 62-12 victory over the Nikiski Bulldogs.
Nikiski opened the scoring with a touchdown run by Brady Bostic and added a Simon Grenier touchdown in the second half. Redington scored on every drive except for the final possession which ended with the clock expiring.
