In their season home opener, the Soldotna Stars football team trounced the North Pole Patriots 66-0. The Stars improved to 2-0, following up their 36 point road win over the defending state champion, Lathrop Malamutes, with another display of dominance; this time on both sides of the football.
The game’s final outcome was in little doubt from the first possession, as SOHI scored on their opening possession, and every subsequent possession for the rest of the game. The Stars moved the ball at will, dominating the trenches both on offense and defense.
Perhaps the most telling statistic, was that North Pole did not punt the ball, despite not scoring any points. A unique stat in a shutout, but not so odd when you realize every Patriots possession ended in either an interception (4), a lost fumble (2) or a turnover on downs (3). The only two North Pole drives which did not end in a turnover were their drives concluded when time expires at the end of the first half, and the end of the game.
SOHI player of the game, quarterback Zac Buckbee led the way, throwing one touchdown pass, and rushing for two more. Tight End and Outside Linebacker, Andrew Pieh, also helped set the tone of the game, hauling in Buckbee’s TD pass, then getting the ball back for SOHI with an acrobatic interception in the Soldotna Red Zone on the following possession.
Wyatt Faircloth followed up his outstanding performance against Lathrop with a 2 touchdown show, his second score on an outside scamper of 62 yards.
Gerhet Medcoff, added a score in the second quarter, powering up the middle for a 5 yard touchdown run.
Other notes:
SOHI will lose Defensive End Elias Brantley for some time. The Junior went down before halftime with an injured leg, and had to be driven off the field on a cart.
Faircloth put on a show of strength on his 62 yard score, laying down a stifling stiff-arm just past the line of scrimmage to secure the outside edge, and giving himself 60 yards of sideline for the touchdown.
Up Next:
SOHI stays home to take on the visiting Palmer Moose. Palmer is 1-1 with a 10-7 win over Chugiak in their season opener, and a 39-14 loss at home last week to Lathrop. Tune in this Friday at 6 p.m. on ESPN 1140AM, 96.9FM and radiokenai.com.
