The promise of a “normal and complete” high school football season for 2021 brings the institution of revised classifications and the re-organization of conferences for Alaska high school football.
The 2021 Alaska football season will feature changes to all three classifications of football within the state.
Division II Football
The reigning Division II champion Soldotna Stars, winners of eight-straight DII state championships and undefeated in 2020, will face additional competition with two DI programs Wasilla and Chugiak reclassified to DII. With the new additions comes a two-conference format: Railbelt and Northern Lights. Five of the seven largest schools reside in the NLC.
The Stars are placed in the Northern Lights Conference with Eagle River, Palmer, Chugiak and Wasilla.
The Railbelt Conference will include: Kodiak, Lathrop, West Valley and North Pole.
The Kenai Kardinals change classification joining Homer in Division III football.
Division II School Enrollments (according to ASAA school contact information form)
West Valley, 987; Lathrop, 952; Chugiak, 905; Wasilla, 868; Eagle River, 855; SoHi, 754; Palmer, 743; North Pole, 638; Kodiak, 628
Division III Football
The Kenai Kardinals move to Division III football for 2021 and will be the largest school in the classification. Division III is comprised of 10 football programs, with Kenai the only newcomer. Houston is the reigning champion from 2019; the Hawks completing an undefeated 10-0 season.
Division III will also have two conferences: Mid-Alaska and Denali.
Mid-Alaska Conference: Kenai, Barrow Homer, Houston and Redington.
Denali Conference: Ben Eielson, Monroe Catholic, Nikiski, Seward and Valdez.
Division III School Enrollments (according to ASAA school contact information form)
Kenai, 456; Homer, 391; Houston, 337; Redington, 311; Barrow, 269; Eielson, 201; Nikiski, 185; Seward, 165; Valdez, 183; Monroe, 100
