The Soldotna Stars strive for a sixth-straight Division II (Medium School) football championship and the Homer Mariners football team advances to its first Division III title game, with the pairings set for the 2017 ASAA First National Bowl Series Football Championships on Saturday at Palmer High School.
Division II Football Championships: Soldotna High vs Palmer High 3:00 p.m. Saturday
The Soldotna Stars, 9-0 on the season, will face the Palmer Moose, 5-4 on the season, in a rematch of the 2016 medium School football championship game on Saturday on Machetanz Field at Palmer High School. Game time is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
The Stars defeated Palmer in the 2016 championship game 49-13; in 2017, the Palmer Moose challenged SoHi throughout their regular season meeting with the Stars prevailing 28-10 in week five of the high school football season.
The Stars and Moose both rely on power-run games; the Soldotna Stars featuring a Full-T offensive set with double tight ends and the Palmer Moose running a stable of tailbacks out of an I-formation set.
SoHi’s Brenner Furlong, the leading rusher in Alaska, has amassed 1440 yards averaging 150 yards per game through nine games. Aaron Faletoi averages over seven yards per carry, totaling 786 yards for the season. The Stars average over 325 yards rushing per game and have scored 40 rushing touchdowns. SoHi’s pass offense is lead by Brandon Crowder’s 770 yards and 11 passing touchdowns. Galen Brantley III is the leading receiver with 422 yards on 21 receptions and eight touchdowns.
The Soldotna Stars have won the past five Medium School football championships and have extended the SoHi football programs current win streak to 58 games.
Follow the Stars on ESPN 1140AM and www.radiokenai.com with the Sweeney’s Pregame Show at 2:45 p.m. and the kick-off at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday.
Division III Football Championships: Homer High vs Barrow High (Utqiagvik) 3:00 p.m. Saturday
The Homer Mariners advance to play in the Mariners first Division III championship game by virtue of a 33-21 play-off victory over the reigning (three-time) Small School champion Eielson Ravens. Homer, 8-1 on the season, will be the home team for their contest against the Barrow Whalers. Barrow defeated Nikiski 21-6 to advance the Whalers to the Division III title game.
Homer defeated Barrow in week two of the regular season 26-14 at Utqiagvik.
The Mariners are lead by quarterback Teddy Croft in both passing and rushing yards. Croft has rushed for 869 yards through nine games and passed for 798 yards.
The 2017 Division III football championship game, for the first time since 2011, will not feature either Eielson (4 titles) or Nikiski (2 titles).
The Homer Mariners vs Barrow Whalers game is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. at Machetanz Field at Palmer High School.