Homecoming 2014 featured a pair of conference contests and a showdown between divisional powers in week seven of the regular season for high school football.
Nikiski 57 – Barrow 12
With a playoff spot on the line, the Nikiski Bulldogs dismantled the Barrow Whalers 57-12 on Friday night in Greatland Conference football action. The Bulldogs control their own fate, standing at 4-1 in the GLC, Nikiski plays Seward (4-1) next Saturday in the final game of the regular season.
Nikiski controlled play from the beginning leading 22-6 after one quarter and 47-12 at the half.
Christian Riddall lead the rushing attack with five touchdowns and 300 rushing yards, averaging 45 yards per touchdown carry. Cade Anderson passed for a touchdown to Corin Cooper and Cooper rushed for a touchdown.
Kenai 41 – Homer 6
The Kardinals locked-in a playoff spot with a 41-6 victory over the Homer Mariners on Saturday in Northern Lights Conference play.
Lead by a punishing ground game, Kenai amassed 330+ rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns. Chase Logan scored three rushing touchdowns; Andrew Welborn added a pair of touchdowns on the ground and Kyle Foree scored Kenai’s final touchdown.
Kenai forced four Mariner turnovers, including two interceptions for Chase Gillies.
Kenai improves to 2-2 in the NLC and will travel to Soldotna High for the season finale’ against the Stars on Saturday, October 4th.
SoHi 67 -West Valley 30
The Soldotna Stars football program will play its third Large School division opponent of the season on Saturday overpowering Fairbank’s West Valley 67-30.
What looked to be a solid pairing early developed into a rout for the Stars as SoHi built a 45-point lead through three quarters.
The Stars and Wolfpack traded blows early with West Valley holding SoHi out of the end zone on SoHi’s first possession and SoHi ending West Valley’s first drive with an interception. The teams traded touchdowns for a 7-7 tie and continued battling to a 21-14 SoHi advantage midway through the second quarter.
Then SoHi’s defense stiffened and the offense got on-track. The Stars scored 38 unanswered points while the Wolfpack offenseturned over the ball three times and was twice stopped on downs.
For the game, SoHi scored eight touchdowns and a field goal on 11 possessions through three quarters. Drew Gibbs carried for four touchdowns and over 185 rushing yards. Bailey Bloomentritt added two touchdowns; Brooks Furlond rushed for a score and passed for a TD; Mason Prior and Jared Chavez added touchdowns rushing and Dylan Ackerman kicked a 41-yard field goal.
In mop-up time in the 4th quarter, West Valley scored twice and SoHi added the Chavez touchdown.
The Stars rushed for over 500 yards and the defense generated two interceptions and two fumbles.
SoHi improves to 6-0 on the season and extends their state-leading win streak to 26 games.
The Stars will host the Kenai Kardinals on Saturday, October 4th in the final regular season game with the Northern Lights Conference title on the line; both teams are 2-0 in the NLC.