The Kenai Kardinals defense set the tone with a pair of first half touchdowns as the Division II Kardinals defeated Division III Nikiski 43-14 in non-divisional football on Friday at KCHS.
The Kardinals opened the scoring with a blocked punt returned 25 yards by Reagan Graves for a touchdown to lead 8-0 after the first quarter.
The second quarter opened with a Kenai fumble, followed by a Nikiski fumble which was scooped-up by Riley Graves and returned 50 yards for a touchdown. Kenai added a pair of River Tomrdle rushing touchdowns, one of 25 yards and one of 17 yards, pushing the score to 30-0 Kenai. The Bulldogs got on the board before halftime with a 12-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Brady Bostic to Simon Grenier. Halftime score: Kenai 30, Nikiski 6.
The second half featured touchdown runs of 53 yards and 46 yards for Kenai’s Tucker Vann and a second Nikiski touchdown for Grenier of one yard.
Tucker Vann lead the Kenai rushing attack with 135 yards on eight carries; Koleman McCoughey rushed for 74 yards to lead the Bulldogs.
Final Score: Kenai 43- Nikiski 14
Nikiski opens the ASAA Division III football playoffs with a first-round pairing against Houston, hosting the Hawks at Nikiski High School on Saturday, October 10th.
The Kenai Kardinals close the regular season with a road game against the Soldotna Stars on Friday, October 9th at Soldotna High School. Game time scheduled for 4 p.m.
The Stars advance as the #1 Peninsula seed to the Division II football playoffs and will host Eagle River (#1 Anchorage) on October 17th in the ASAA Division II playoffs.