Perennial powers in Alaska high school football prepare for the 2018 football season; Soldotna, Kenai and Nikiski, all past state champions, are readying for the opening weekend of the gridiron season.
Soldotna High School Stars
The Soldotna Stars football program, under the direction of head coach Galen Brantley, embarks on its season-long journey to a seventh-straight Division II (Medium School) football championship and its immediate defense of a state-record 59-game consecutive victory streak.
The Stars, under 11-year head coach Brantley, have won nine state championships in eleven years and have amassed an overall record of 107-5.
The Stars currently hold the second-longest win streak in USA high school football with 59-straight victories; behind only the Kimberly (Wisc) Papermakers with 70 straight wins.
Season Opener
The Stars will open the regular season against the Division I state football runner-up from 2017 (and 2016), the West High Eagles on Friday, August 10th at Soldotna High School. For a fourth-straight year, a pairing featuring the Medium School Champion Stars vs Large School football champion or runner-up (SoHi defeat reigning Large School champion South to open 2015 football season; defeated Large School champion West to open 2016 football season, and defeated Large School runner-up West to open the 2017 football season).
2017 SoHi Football Recap: The Soldotna Stars football program recorded its 59th straight victory with a 21-0 shutout win in the 2017 ASAA First National Bowl Division II Football Championship defeating the Palmer Moose.
SoHi notched a sixth-straight, Division II (Medium School) Football Championship; completed a 10-0 undefeated season; and extended current win streak to 59 games.
The Stars defeated three Division I (Large School) opponents in 2017 and added a road victory over Crater High School in Oregon.
Kenai Central High School Kardinals
The Kenai Kardinals open the 2018 season with a new head coach, Dustin Akana. The Kardinals look for stability with Coach Akana moving up from the assistant coaching ranks. Kenai football will have its fourth, new head coach in four seasons.
Kenai football finished as runner-up at the 2015 Medium School Football Championships and won the Medium School title in 2011. Kenai also owns five Small School football championships from 2002-2009.
Season Opener
The Kardinals season opener will be on the road in Fairbanks against the Lathrop Mulemutes on Saturday, August 11th at 1 p.m. Lathrop joins Division II football ( along with West Valley) in 2018 competing in the Railbelt Conference.
2017 Football Recap: The Kardinals missed the playoffs in 2017 for the first time since the Division II (Medium School) classification was created. The Kardinals finished 3-5 overall in 2017.
Nikiski High Bulldogs
The Nikiski Bulldogs, with third-year head coach Paul Nelson, will open the regular season in Utqiaġvik, Alaska to battle the Barrow Whalers. The Bulldogs vs Barrow pairing is scheduled for Saturday, August 11th at 1 p.m.
The Bulldogs advanced to the Small School football playoffs in 2017 and had played in five-straight Small Schools championship games leading to the 2016 season. Nikiski won the Small School Football Championship in 2011 and 2013, adding to the Bulldogs’ state titles in 2000 and 2001.
2016 Football Recap: The Nikiski Bulldogs advanced to the 2017 Division III playoffs, falling to Barrow in the semi-final contest. The Bulldogs finished 4-4 overall and 3-1 in the conference for 2017. The Bulldogs fell to the Eielson Ravens in the first-round of the Small Schools football championships in 2016.
Division II 2018 Conference Alignment (new for 2018)
Northern Lights (2) Railbelt (2)
Eagle River Lathrop
Kenai North Pole
Kodiak Palmer
Soldotna West Valley
Division III 2018 Conference Alignment (new for 2018)
Aurora (2) Peninsula (2)
Barrow Homer
Ben Eielson Houston
Monroe Catholic Ketchikan
Redington Nikiski
Valdez Seward
Division I 2018 Conference Alignment (new for 2018)
Cook Inlet (4) Chugach (4)
Dimond Bartlett
East Anchorage Chugiak
Service Colony
South Anchorage Juneau (combined with Thunder Mountain)
West Anchorage Wasilla
High School Football: Week One Game Schedule
Friday, August 10th
Soldotna High vs West Anchorage High @ Soldotna High School 6:30 p.m.
ESPN 1140AM and www.radiokenai.com Pregame begins at 6:15 p.m.
Saturday, August 11th
Kenai Central High vs Lathrop High @ Lathrop 1 p.m.
ESPN 1140AM and www.radiokenai.com Pregame begins at 12:55 p.m.
Saturday, August 11th
Nikiski High vs Barrow High @ Utqiaġvik 1 p.m.
KSRM 920AM and www.radiokenai.com Pregame begins at 12:55 p.m.
