Week seven of the high school football season opens with Friday afternoon football at Nikiski. Homecoming Saturday at KCHS and Northern Lights Conference football at SoHi fill’s the Saturday schedule.
Division I: Peninsula Conference vs Aurora Conference
Nikiski vs Eielson @ Nikiski Friday 4:00 p.m. ESPN 1140AM and www.radiokenai.com
Three teams are still vying for two playoffs spots representing the Peninsula Conference into the Division I playoffs.
The Nikiski Bulldogs, following a loss in Homer last week, stand at 2-1 in conference play; Homer leads the Peninsula Conference at 2-0.
The Bulldogs play reigning Small School champions Eielson on Friday at Nikiski in a Division I showdown. Eielson enters the game 4-2 on the season and 2-1 in the Aurora Conference. The Bulldogs will close the season against Seward in week eight.
Friday’s Bulldogs vs Ravens is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. Friday. Follow the Bulldogs on ESPN 1140AM and www.radiokenai.com
Nikiski Playoff Scenarios
Nikiski win over Seward on September 30 = Nikiski in playoffs
Joe Redington loss to Homer on Saturday = Nikiski in playoffs (hold tie-breaker over Redington)
Division II: Northern Lights Conference
The conference champion for the Northern Lights Conference in high school football may be determined on Saturday with four of the conference’s five teams meeting on the central peninsula in week seven of the football regular season.
The Soldotna Stars have the upper-hand with an NLC record of 2-0, and control their fate entering a showdown against Eagle River (0-2 in NLC) on Saturday at SoHi. Kenai (1-1 in NLC) and Palmer (2-1 in NLC) face each other on Saturday at KCHS.
Kenai vs Palmer @ KCHS Saturday 2:00 p.m. KSRM920 AM and www.radiokenai.com
The Kenai Kardinals playoff possibilities ride on a Saturday showdown with the Palmer Moose on Saturday at KCHS. The Kardinals stand at 1-1 in the conference with Palmer on the schedule this week and a week-eight pairing against SoHi still on the schedule. Kenai returns to NLC play following a non-divisional loss to Chugiak in week six. Palmer topped Eagle River last week, recording the 150th career victory for head coach Rod Christiansen. The victory tied Christiansen with Buck Nystrom as the all-time winningest Alaska coach.
Saturday is Kenai’ Homecoming with the game scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Follow the Kardinals on KSRM 920 AM and www.radiokenai.com
SoHi vs Eagle River @ SoHi Saturday 2:00 p.m. ESPN 1140 AM and www.radiokenai.com
The Soldotna Stars, 2-0 in the Northern Lights Conference, host the Eagle River Wolves on Saturday at SoHi. The Stars defeated Kodiak last week 44-7 and the SoHi starting defense has allowed only one touchdown to a conference opponent. The Stars stand at 6-0 on the season and have extended their program’s consecutive winning streak to 55 straight games (second-longest current streak in the nation).
Saturday’s contest is scheduled for a 2:00 p.m. start. Follow the Stars on ESPN 1140AM and www.radiokenai.com
Northern Lights Conference Playoff Scenarios
SoHi victory and Kenai victory = SoHi 2-1, Kenai 2-1, Palmer 2-2; NLC title game at Kenai on Saturday, September 30th–Kenai vs SoHi
SoHi victory and Kenai loss = SoHi and Palmer advance to playoffs
SoHi loss and Kenai win = NLC title game at Kenai on Saturday, September 30th–Kenai vs SoHi
SoHi loss and Palmer win = Palmer clinches playoff spot; winner of SoHi vs Kenai advances to playoffs.