With as yet no ASAA sanction for 9-Man football, the Nikiski Bulldogs and Eielson Ravens played an entertaining, free-wheeling and defense-free game at Nikiski High School Saturday evening.
Starting with an impressive drive to start the game, the Ravens QB Nico Mesa engineered a time-consuming, ball-control drive, only to have a fumble turn the ball over to Nikiski on their 15 yard line. Instantly, the Bulldogs blasted free Truit McCaughey on a 65-yd, up-the-middle gallop to open the scoring. The 2-point conversion failed, as it would most of the game for Nikiski.
The Ravens answered quickly with a 78-yd TD pass from Mesa to favored receiver Mykah Drayton, and took an 8-6 lead, their only one of the game, with a 2-pt conversion.
The ‘Dogs replied, as they would throughout the game, with a 28-yd TD pass from QB Ethan Ellis to his own favored receiver Seth Payne for a 12-8 Nikiski lead.
As the game progressed, outstanding rushes and TD’s were accomplished by McCaughey, and Kaiden Parrish, two separate TD passes for 55 yds each from Ellis to brothers Wyatt and Ryan Maguire and a game-highlight, broken field run by Oliver Parrish for a 46-yd TD.
But the Ravens demonstrated a great offense as well, never quitting until the final play. Mesa handed off frequently HB Ayden White and Michael Garza, with TD passes to brother Mykah and Mitchell Drayton.
The Bulldogs “doubled-up” Eielson twice, with scores of 44-22 and 60-30, but the Ravens never quit. The game between the two teams showed that 9-man football can keep a program going with moxie and joy, win or lose.
The 9-man schools are Nikiski, Eielson, Valdez and Seward. Each school will play each other home-and-home.
