The Nikiski Bulldogs held-off a late charge by the Eielson Ravens for a 28-27 victory for Nikiski in the Bulldogs season-opener at Eielson Air Force Base.
The teams traded touchdown passes in the final minute with the Bulldogs leading throughout the final quarter.
Nikiski 28 – Eielson 27
Eielson opened the scoring with the only touchdown of the first quarter for a 7-0 lead.
Nikiski scored midway through the second quarter on a 25-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Brady Bostic to Simon Grenier to draw to within a point at 7-6. The Bulldogs took the lead with 2:35 remaining in the first half with a 10-yard touchdown run by Truit McCaughey. Eielson closed to 14-13 with 1:24 remaining in the first half on a 29-yard run.
In the third quarter, Eielson retook the lead on a touchdown pass: 19-14 Eielson.
The Bulldogs answered with a Brady Bostic 6-yard touchdown run on the final play of the third quarter for a 22-19 Nikiski lead.
The fourth quarter scoring all came in the final minute. Nikiski’s Bostic was intercepted in the end zone by the Ravens with 3:56 remaining; then Nikiski returned the favor with an interception on the Eielson 20-yard line by Bostic.
With :60 seconds remaining in the game, Truit McCaughey scored on a touchdown run for a 28-19 Nikiski lead. Eielson mounted a final touchdown with a 10-yard TD pass with only 5.6 seconds left; the two-point conversion drew Eielson to within a point at 28-27. Nikiski, following an on-side kick, ran out the final seconds for the 28-27 Division III victory.
Nikiski faces Monroe Catholic in Fairbanks on Tuesday, August 17th at 5 p.m.
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