The Soldotna Stars football program has hosted a playoff opener each season since the format was developed and will again on Friday; the Nikiski Bulldogs return to the playoffs in 2022 and host a playoff game on Saturday as conference champions.
The Alaska football playoffs open semi-finals and quarter-finals with contests scheduled for Friday and Saturday, October 7-8 with all conference champions hosting first round games.
Division II Football Playoffs
SoHi vs North Pole @ SoHi 4 p.m. Friday ESPN 1140AM, 96.9FM and streaming at radiokenai.com
The Soldotna Stars, winners of 16-straight Northern Lights Conference championships including the 2022 championship with a 49-13 victory over Eagle River, advance to the Division II playoffs to host Railbelt Conference runner-up North Pole on Friday, October 7th at SoHi’s Justin Maile Field.
The SoHi victory also advanced Chugiak into the DII football playoffs; the Mustangs will travel to Lathrop to face the undefeated Malemutes.
The Stars completed an unbeaten 8-0 regular season and SoHi’s offense has averaged over 50 points per game behind a defense which allowed only four, first-half touchdowns. SoHi has outscored opponents 282-26 including a 60-6 victory over the Patriots in week one of the regular season.
The winner of the SoHi vs North Pole game advances to the ASAA Division II Football Championship Game scheduled for Saturday, October 15th at Service High School.
The Stars own 12 state championship titles (including four Small School championships). SoHi won eight-straight Division II football championships from 2012-2019, finished undefeated in 2020 and finished as runner-up in 2021.
Division III Football Playoffs
Nikiski vs Homer @ Nikiski 2 p.m. Saturday ESPN 1140AM, 96.9FM and streaming at radiokenai.com
The Nikiski Bulldogs return to the Division III playoffs as the 2022 Denali Conference football champions, defeating Seward 48-22 in week eight for the championship and the only berth to state for the conference.
Nikiski recorded a pair of victories over Seward and a win over Eielson in DIII regular season games, battling through mid-season scheduling issue which cost the Bulldogs three varsity games.
The Bulldogs, under first-year coach Matt Trammell, look to avenge a 46-36 loss to the Homer Mariners in week seven of the regular season in Homer. The Mariners, #2 seed from the Mid-Alaska Conference, advance to the DIII playoffs with a 6-2 record and only one division loss to unbeaten Houston, the Mid-Alaska #1 seed. Houston hosts Barrow on Friday at Houston High School.
Nikiski football owns three small school football state championships with titles in 2000, 2001 and 2013.
2022 ASAA State Football Schedule: October 7 & 8
Division III
Houston vs Barrow @ Houston Friday 7 p.m.
Nikiski vs Homer @ Nikiski Saturday 2 p.m.
Division II
SoHi vs North Pole @ SoHi Friday 4 p.m.
Lathrop vs Chugiak @ Lathrop Saturday Noon
Division I
Dimond vs Bartlett @ Bartlett Friday 3 p.m.
Colony vs Service @ Colony Friday 7 p.m.
West vs East @ West Friday 7:30 p.m.
Juneau vs South @ Juneau Saturday 3 p.m.
