Alaska High School Football Playoff Match-ups Set

by Jeff Fisher
Alaska High School Football Huddle

The 2010 Alaska state champs are back in the playoffs to defend their titles, but there will be at least one new champ this year thanks to the addition of a third classification called Medium Schools.

In the Big Schools classification, both of last year's finalists West and Service are back, however defending champ West has a big hill to climb as it enters the playoffs after a 4-4 regular season.  Service, on the other hand, enters its quarterfinal game against Palmer on an eight game unbeaten streak.  The Cougars finished the regular season with a 7-0-1 record with the tie coming against Leilehua in its season opener in the Fire and Ice Bowl in Hawaii

Earlier this year, I spoke with Service head coach Jason Caldarera about that game, and you can listen to that interview by clicking here or listening to the show on High School Football America's YouTube channel.



Defending Small Schools champ Soldotna will not be defending its title, because the Stars are now in the Medium School classification.  In the semifinals on Friday, Soldotna will face Kenai. Those two schools have combined to win the last nine Small Schools state titles.

In the Small Schools category, Barrow, the only school above the Arctic Circle, enters the postseason with a 6-1 record and looking for its first state championship in only its sixth season of varsity football.

In the inaugural High School Football America radio show, I spoke with first year head coach Brad Igou and his assistant Brian Houston about their team.  Igou felt this team had a good shot at winning a state title.

To listen to that interview, click here or check-out the interview below from our YouTube channel.



Now here's a look at this weekend's match-ups:

Large School Quarterfinals
Palmer (4-4) at Service (7-0-1), Saturday
West (4-4) at Wasilla (6-2), Saturday
West Valley (6-2) vs. South, Saturday
East (4-4) at Juneau-Douglas (7-1), Saturday

Medium School Semifinals
Homer (7-1) at Thunder Mountain (3-4), Friday
Kenai (4-4) at Soldotna (8-0), Friday

Small School Semifinals
Monroe (5-3) at Barrow (6-1), Saturday
Eielson (4-4) at Nikiski (7-1), Saturday