The Northern Lights Conference Championship, seeding for the Small and Medium School division playoffs, and the Soldotna Stars 26-game win-streak were all on the line on Saturday in the final games of the regular season for high school football.
SoHi 21 – Kenai 14
The Northern Lights Conference football championship again belongs to the Stars, but not without a fight.
On the strength of two, second-half touchdowns and a pair of goal-line stands in the fourth quarter, the Soldotna Stars held-off the Kenai Kardinals 21-14. SoHi clinches the 2014 Northern Lights Conference championship and the #1 NLC seed into the state Medium Schools football playoffs.
The two most dominating offenses in the Medium School division of high school football were overshadowed on Saturday by the defensive efforts of both the Stars and Kardinals.
Game Recap
SoHi’s offense, which averages over 450 yards per game and 50+ points per game, was held in check by a stingy Kards defense and a patient, clock-managing offense.
The Kardinals took the opening drive 65 yards for the game’s first score on a Kyle Foree 1-yard run, using 8:30 minutes of the first quarter. Kenai lead 7-0 after one quarter. The Stars answered with their first score early in the second on a 3-yard Ty Fenton touchdown run. Following a SoHi fumble, Kenai extended the lead to 14-6 on a 31-yard touchdown pass from Jace Baker to Chase Gillies. Halftime score: 14-6 Kardinals.
The third quarter opened with the Stars fumbling to kill an early drive. SoHi tied the game at 14-14 with a 4-yard touchdown run for Fenton, the only score of the third quarter. The Stars opened the fourth with a 5-yard touchdown run by Drew Gibbs to give the Stars their first lead of the game.
The Kardinals, trailing 21-14 drove 89 yards to the SoHi 1-yard line and were turned away on 4th down by the Star defense. With less than a minute remaining, Kenai had one final chance after a punt return and a drive put Kenai on the SoHi 5-yard line with five seconds remaining. On the game’s final play, Drew Gibbs intercepts a Kyle Foree pass in the end zone to seal the Stars 20th Northern Lights Conference championship.
Medium School Playoff Schedule
Both SoHi and Kenai have secured playoff spots in the upcoming Medium School Football Championships.
The Medium School playoffs open Saturday, October 11th with a doubleheader at Dimond High Alumnin Field.
SoHi will play the Juneau, SEC #2 seed; Kenai will play North Pole, the SEC #1 seed
Game times are scheduled for 1:00 and 4:00 p.m.
Nikiski 69 – Seward 14
The Nikiski Bulldogs dominated Seward 69-14 and as the winner of the Greatland Conference contest will be the #2 seed into the Small School Football Championships and the Bulldogs earn the right to host a first-round game on October 10th.
Christian Riddall lead the Bulldog offense with six touchdowns, five rushing and one receiving. Riddall rushed for 231 yards on only 10 carries.
Nikiski will host Seward in the Small School playoffs first round on Friday, October 10th at 4:30 p.m.. Eielson will host Barrow in the other first round pairing.