Two divisional playoff positions, a Denali Conference title for Division III football and a Northern Lights Conference championships in Division II football, all up for the taking in week eight of the high school football regular season.
Nikiski vs Seward @ Nikiski 5 p.m. Friday, September 30 ESPN 1140AM, 96.9FM and radiokenai.com
The Nikiski Bulldogs and Seward Seahawks, both with victories over Eielson in the regular season, will battle for the Denali Conference title and the lone berth to the Division III football state playoffs on Friday, September 30th at 5 p.m. at Nikiski High School.
In week two of the regular season, Nikiski traveled to Seward and defeated the Seahawks 32-22 in a non-conference pairing. Since that game, Nikiski has played only two Division III opponents with a win over Eielson and a week seven loss to Homer. Seward recorded a win over Eielson and a loss to DII Palmer.
The winner of the Nikiski vs Seward game will advance to the Division III playoffs as the Denali Conference champion and will host a first-round playoff game next week.
SoHi vs Eagle River @ SoHi 1 p.m. Saturday, October 1 ESPN 1140AM, 96.9FM and radiokenai.com
The Soldotna Stars host Eagle River for the Northern Lights Conference championship in Division II football on Saturday, October 1st at 1 p.m. at SoHi’s Justin Maile Field.
The Stars, undefeated in seven, regular season games stand at 3-0 in the NLC with conference victories over Chugiak, Palmer and Wasilla. Eagle River owns a 2-1 record with wins over Wasilla and Palmer and a week seven 16-14 loss to Chugiak.
A victory for the Stars and SoHi will host a first-round playoff game against the #2 seed from the Railbelt Conference. Lathrop stands at 2-0 in the Railbelt with North Pole and West Valley at 1-1.
The Stars own 15-straight Northern Lights Conference football championships under coach Galen Brantley.
Kenai vs Barrow @ KCHS 4 p.m. Saturday, October 1 ESPN 1140AM, 96.9FM and radiokenai.com
The Kenai Kardinals will attempt to qualify to the Division III football playoffs drawing from a home crowd on Senior Night at KCHS on Saturday at 4 p.m.
Kenai stands at 1-2 in the Mid-Alaska Conference with losses to Homer and Houston; the Barrow Whalers own a matching conference record. Kenai qualified to the DIII playoffs in 2021 as the 3rd seed and with a victory will again earn the #3 seed to the playoffs. Barrow was forced to cancel football due to covid protocols last season; however, the Whalers are perennial, late season powers with a DIII state championship in 2017 against the Homer Mariners and a pair of runner-up finishes in 2018 and 2019.
The winner of the Kenai vs Barrow game will play the #1 Mid-Alaska Houston Hawks in the opening-round of the DIII playoffs.
ESPN Football Broadcast Schedule
Friday, September 30
Football: Nikiski vs Seward @ Nikiski 5 p.m. ESPN 1140AM, 96.9FM and streaming at radiokenai.com
Saturday, October 1
Football: SoHi vs Eagle River @ SoHi 1 p.m. ESPN 1140AM, 96.9FM and streaming at radiokenai.com
Football: Kenai vs Barrow @ KCHS 4 p.m. ESPN 1140AM, 96.9FM and streaming at radiokenai.com
