Soldotna 49, Lathrop 28
The Soldotna Stars are repeat state champions for the first time since 2019. Soldotna earned its 14th state title on Saturday in a game that was much tighter than the final score would seem to indicate.
In a late-season win over the Stars, Lathrop proved that its size would present a significant problem for Soldotna if the two met again in the playoffs. In that game, an offense boasting multiple 300+ lb. linemen and 270 lb. running back Oschaun Easaw bullied a physical SoHi team unlike any other D2 squad. That may be why the Stars looked a little caught off guard when the Lalamutes went to the air in their first two drives of the state championship.
On the Malamutes’ opening drive, senior quarterback Devin Emmett found wide receiver Jaycee Brooks for a 19-yard strike to open the scoring.
Soldotna, not to be denied with their Novacaine-esque running game, answered right back with a 51-yard touchdown run by Wyatt Faircloth.
Faircloth would go on to cap off a fantastic senior season with 136 rushing yards on 18 carries.
On their follow-up drive, Lathrop went to the air again, responding to Soldotna’s quick drive with a 33-yard Emmett touchdown pass to Luke Skinner.
Just before halftime, a gamble by the Malamutes paid off when they opted to try to convert a fourth down deep in their own territory. The Stars could stop another Easaw run, and Lathrop would go on to complete a 96-yard drive to take a 21-20 lead into halftime.
The game continued the back-and-forth motif, each team matching touchdown for touchdown in the second half until a critical Easaw fumble halfway through the fourth quarter with Soldotna leading 34-28. The Stars recovered the fumble and wasted no time scoring to take the game’s first two-score advantage by either team.
SoHi senior Lokeni Wong spent more time in the backfield for the Stars than he had all season after an injury to rushing leader Andon Wolvertron in the first quarter. Wong did not let the moment pass him by, scoring three pivotal touchdowns. He also notched a pair of critical, touchdown-denying pass deflections on Emmett throws bound for open receivers.
In tandem with Wong’s impressive performance, Wyatt Faircloth finished his Soldotna football career with one of his best performances of the season, rushing for 136 yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries.
Faircloth and Wong combined for 239 yards and 6 touchdowns.
The Malamutes’ Easaw rushed the ball 35 times for 237 yards and 1 touchdown.
Cover photo credit: Soldotna High School Athletics Facebook Page