Following a forgettable (and winless) opening week of high school football, area schools look to record their first wins in week two of the regular season.
The Kenai Kardinals are back on the road Friday for a non-divisional game in Homer against the 2017 Division III state runner-up Homer Mariners. The Soldotna Stars take to their home turf for a Division II pairing against North Pole. The Nikiski Bulldogs home-opener on Saturday features a Division III contest between the Bulldogs and Valdez.
Friday Football Preview
Kenai vs Homer @ Homer High School 6 p.m. KSRM 920AM and www.radiokenai.com
The Kardinals look to build on their first half against Lathrop in week one and record a non-divisional victory over the Homer Mariners. Titus Riddall rushed for two touchdowns and 80 yards against the Malemutes.
The Homer Mariners fell to Kodiak 56-15 in the Mariners opener and look to Noah Fisk to lead Homer in Friday night’s home contest.
SoHi vs North Pole @ Soldotna High School 6:30 p.m. ESPN 1140AM and www.radiokenai.com
The Soldotna Stars face a familiar opponent in Friday night’s home game at Justin Maile Field when the North Pole Patriots face the Stars on the turf at SoHi. The Stars have faced North Pole in the Medium School playoffs in 2017, defeating the Patriots 35-12; SoHi also defeated North Pole in the 2016 playoffs 25-21 in the semi-final round.
SoHi dropped its home opener 18-12 to West Anchorage ending SoHi’s state record win streak at 59 games. The Patriots surrendered an early lead to Eielson and fell to the Ravens in North Pole’s opener last week.
In the loss to West, the SoHi offense amassed 223 rushing yards, a rushing touchdown and a passing touchdown. Galen Brantley III caught three passes for 35 yards and a touchdown; Aaron Faletoi rushed for 56 yards and Wyatt Medcoff added 54 yards.
Saturday Football Preview
Nikiski vs Valdez @ Nikiski High School 2 p.m. ESPN 1140AM and www.radiokenai.com
The Bulldogs offense went south as the Bulldogs played in the Far North at Utqiagvik against the reigning Division III state champion Barrow Whalers last Saturday, falling 40-8 to the Whalers. The Bulldogs rushed for 172 yards including a 114-yard effort by Cody Handley.
Nikiski looks to record a home victory against the Valdez Buccaneers on Saturday at Nikiski High School.
