Early season breakdowns and a pair of crucial fumbles resulted in the Soldotna Stars dropping their season-opener to the Lathrop Malemutes 27-21 in high school football action on Friday night in Fairbanks.
SoHi 21 – Lathrop 27
The Soldotna Stars received the opening kick-off; however, the Stars fumbled the football on the first play from scrimmage to set-up Lathrop’s first touchdown. Lathrop running back Tyler Clooten scored a rushing touchdown for a 7-0 Malemute lead.
The Stars answered with a Zac Buckbee quarterback run for a touchdown to tie the game at 7-7.
In the second quarter, Clooten added his second rushing touchdown for a 14-7 Lathrop lead. SoHi scored on a 79-yard touchdown run by Gehret Medcoff and with a missed PAT SoHi trailed 14-13.
The Malemutes quarterback Jarren Littell scored on a 2-yard run and the Stars blocked the PAT for a 20-13 Lathrop lead at the half.
Lathrop opened the third quarter with a 30-yard pass reception to Elijah Deans for a 27-13 lead early in the quarter. SoHi mounted a drive which featured a 4th down pass completion to extend the drive and a 4th down run which was stopped on the two-yard line. Third quarter ends 27-13 Lathrop.
SoHi held Lathrop to start the fourth quarter. The Stars closed to within six points with an 8-yard touchdown pass from Buckbee to Wayne Melon and a 2-point conversion pass to Melon for a 27-21 score.
Following an unsuccessful on-side kick, the Stars forced a Lathrop fumble to get a final shot at a touchdown drive.
The Stars were unable to convert a final 4th down and eight with under two minutes remaining turning the ball over to Lathrop on downs.
Lathrop managed a pair of first downs and ran-down the clock for a 27-21 Lathrop victory.
The Stars win streak ends at 22-straight games as the Stars drop their season-opener to Lathrop.
Lathrop improves to 2-0 on the regular season; the Stars stand at 0-1, with SoHi’s week one contest cancelled due to covid.
The Stars travel to Chugiak next week to battle the Mustangs on Friday, August 27th.
