The opening game of the Alaska football season and the Soldotna Stars 59 game win streak came down to the final play of the contest between SoHi and West Anchorage, the final two seconds and a final yard.
The West Eagles, on a one-yard quarterback sneak by Bubba Mendova on the final play from scrimmage, pushed the Eagles past the Soldotna Stars 18-13 on Friday night at Soldotna High School. The Eagles capitalized on a SoHi fumble on the West seven-yard line late in the fourth quarter; which West converted into a 93-yard scoring drive.
The Stars lead 6-0 at the half on a 55-yard scoring drive, capped by a 20-yard touchdown pass from Jersey Truesdell to tight end Galen Brantley III with two minutes remaining in the first half.
West scored on its first possession of the third quarter to even the game at 6-6 on a Lewis Malata run.
SoHi scored early in the fourth quarter with a 36-yard touchdown run by quarterback Truesdell. The Eagles answered with a one-play, 80-yard pass play from Josh Stoltz to Malata.
The Stars drove to the Eagles 7-yard line with a probable, game-sealing touchdown in reach; however, a fumble turned the ball over to the Eagles for a game-winning drive. The Stars turned-over a pair of fumbles and a pair of interceptions.
Final Score: West 18, SoHi 13
More game details to follow.