Service Wins Alaska Big School Title

by Jeff Fisher
Alaska High School Football Huddle

Service captured the school's sixth overall Alaska football championship Saturday with a 37-23 win over South.

The Cougars iced the Big Schools title with a 25-yard fourth-quarter interception return by Daniel Murakami.  Murakami also led the team in rushing with 129 yards.

Service, which finished runner-up last year, finishes the season unbeaten at 10-0-1.  The only blemish was a season-opening tie in the Fire and Ice Bowl in Hawaii.  South finishes with an 8-3 record.

Click here to read a game story from the Anchorage Daily News.

Nikiski Wins Small School Title

by Jeff Fisher
Alaska High School Football Huddle

The Nikiski Bulldogs are the first 2011 high school football champs.

Nikiski today beat Barrow 52-21 to win the Alaska Small School championship.  The Bulldogs won the first two Small School championship games in 2000 and 2001.  Kenai (5 titles) and Soldotna (4 titles) are the only other schools to win Small School crowns.

The Bulldogs used a strong running attack and the right arm of quarterback Colton Anderson to win the school's third state title.  Nikiski rushed for 391 yards, while Anderson was 6-of-8 for 128 yards and three touchdowns.

Alaska High School Football Championship Games Moved From Anchorage

by Jeff Fisher
Alaska High School Football Huddle

The crowning of the 2011 Alaska high school football champs will take place outside of Anchorage.

The Alaska School Activities Association has decided to move the three state championship games to Chugiak High School.  In addition to the titles games, Thomas Huffer Sr. Football Stadium will host the Large School semifinal match-ups.

Below is the 2011 high school playoff schedule...

October 7-8, 2011

Small - Semifinals at higher seed
Medium - Semifinals at higher seed
Large - Quarterfinals at higher seed

October 14, 2011

Large - Semifinal #1 at Chugiak HS

October 15, 2011

Small - Championship Game at Chugiak HS - noon
Medium - Championship Game at Chugiak HS - 7:30 PM
Large - Semifinal #2 at Chugiak HS - 4 PM

October 22, 2011

Large - Championship Game at Chugiak HS - 2 PM

Anchorage West Captures Alaska Big Schools Football Title

by Jeff Fisher
Alaska High School Football Huddle

Anchorage West captured its first Alaska high school football title Saturday with a 6-0 win over Service in the Big Schools championship game at a soldout Anchorage Football Stadium.

The Anchorage Daily News reports the Eagles won the title late in the game on a touchdown run by J'Vonte Buster.

It was a perfect bookend season for West (11-0), which opened the season with a come-from-behind 38-35 win over Service (9-2).

Soldotna Runs to Alaska Small Schools High School Championship

by Jeff Fisher
Alaska High School Football Huddle

Soldotna captured its fourth Alaska Small Schools state championship in the last five years beating Kenai 77-42 on Saturday.

The Stars (11-0) finished a perfect season by rushing for a state championship game record 641 yards rushing.  The Anchorage Daily News reports that Soldotna had 11 running plays of 30 yards or longer.

Soldotna and Kenai have combined to win the last nine Small Schools' championships

Alaska High School Football Scores - Playoffs/Semfinals

Alaska High School Football Scores
Saturday, October 9, 2010

Playoffs - Semifinals

Big Schools

Anchorage West  21  Juneau-Douglas  18

Small Schools

Kenai  47  Homer  17

Alaska High School Football Pre-Season Practice Begins August 26th

by Jeff Fisher
Alaska High School Football Huddle

Welcome to our new look as the 2010 season is upon us!

Welcome to the new look!

With two-a-days beginning in 12 days, I wanted to take the time to thank all of my readers, who have made this blog successful over the past three years.  I have bigger-and-better things planned this year with more original content.

Also, don't forget to check-out High School Football America for great high school football stories from around the country.  If you have story ideas that I should know about, please feel free to email me.

Now to help you get ready for the 2010 season, here are the important dates to know...

First Practice - July 26th

First Contest - August 6th

Playoffs First Round - Oct. 1st & 2nd

Semifinals - Oct. 8th & 9th

Finals - Oct. 16th @ Anchorage Football Stadium

Bartlett and Kenai Wins Alaska High School Football Championships

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

Kenai and Soldotna wrote another chapter in their rivalry Saturday.

Three weeks after being blown out by three-time defending champion Soldotna 52-27 in the regular season finale, Kenai (10-1) bounced back and beat the Stars 21-10 on Saturday to claim the 2009 Alaska Small Schools high school football championship.

The title is the fifth for Kenai during this decade. The Kardinals won four straight championships before Soldotna (8-3) began its run of three straight in 2006. According to the Anchorage Daily News, Soldotna hadn't lost to a small schools opponent since the 2005 season.

That opponent? Kenai, of course.

In the Large Schools championship, Bartlett's defense keyed the Golden Bears 21-3 win against Chugiak. The Anchorage Daily News reports that Bartlett forced five turnovers.

Playoff Brackets
2009 Alaska Big School Football Tournament
2009 Alaska Small School Football Tournament

Alaska High School Football Championship Scoreboard

Alaska High School Football Scoreboard
Saturday, October 17, 2009

Small Schools Championship

Kenai 21 Soldotna 10

Large Schools Championship

Bartlett 21 Chugiak 3

Alaska High School Football Championships To Be Decided Today

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

Alaska was the first to start, so it stands to reason that it's first to end the 2009 high football season.

Today at Anchorage Football Stadium, three-time state champ Soldotna will play Kenai for the Small Schools championship. Once that hardware is handed out, Bartlett and Chugiak will battle for the Large Schools Championship.

The Small Schools title tilt has a lot of glitz to it since Soldotna and Kenai have won the last seven Alaska Small Schools championships. According to the Anchorage Daily News, a win by the Stars would match Kenai's streak of four straight between 2002 and 2005.

No one expected Bartlett and Chugiak to be playing for the First National Bowl Large Schools championship trophy. Bartlett finished third in the Cook Inlet Conference, while Chugiak finished fourth in the CIC.

You can watch the two championship games on the internet from KTUU-TV.

Soldotna Goes After Four-Peat

by Jeff Fisher
The High School Football Huddle

Before Soldotna went-on its run of three straight championship, Kenai captured four straight. Next week, Soldotna will try to match Kenai's streak when the two square-off for Alaska's Small Schools Championship.

Saturday, Soldotna held-off Homer 44-20. According to the Anchorage Daily News, Homer was able to hang with the champs even though they only dressed 24 players.

Friday night, Kenai reached the final with a 34-13 win over Kodiak. It's the first time that the Kardinals are back in the finals since 2005. The Anchorage Daily News reports that the underdog Bears hung with Kenai for the first half.

Chugiak to Face Bartlett for Alaska's Large Schools Championship

by Jeff Fisher
The High School Football Huddle

The post-season can be a funny thing...just ask Chugiak and Bartlett, who will square-off next week for Alaska's Large Schools high school football championship. Neither team expected to make it to the title game, but the Mustangs and Golden Bears are the last two teams standing after two rounds of post-season play.

Chugiak needed a 24-21 overtime win over Palmer on Saturday to move-on to the championship game. The Anchorage Daily News reports that the Mustangs captured the championship berth on the right leg of junior kicker Bryan Maley.

Bartlett sealed its fate with a 40-19 defeat of pre-season #1 North Pole Friday night. According to the Anchorage Daily News, Bartlett running backs Jamal Hale and Cyrus Chenault combined for 392 yards on the ground.

Alaska High School Football Scores
Large Schools Semifinals

Bartlett 40 North Pole 19
Chugiak 24 Palmer 21 (OT)

Soldotna Gets the Three-Peat

By Jeff Fisher
The High School Football Huddle

The third time wasn't the charm for Kodiak, but it was for Soldotna as for the third straight year they met for Alaska's Small Schools state championship. Soldotna won its third straight title with a 28-6 win, which also tied the Alaska record for consecutive wins at 29 straight.

Click here to read about the Stars championship.

Service Wins Alaska Big Schools Football Title

By Jeff Fisher
The High School Football Huddle

At halftime, it looked like Service's incredible season would end with a runner-up finish for Alaska's Big Schools high school football championship. Defending champ Juneau-Douglas held a 14-2 lead and looked like it would cruise to it's third championship in the last four years.

However, the dream changed in the second half as the Cougars clawed back with two second quarter touchdowns on the way to a 22-14 win.

Click here to read a recap story.

Alaska High School Football Championship Game Webcasts

If you want to watch Saturday's Alaska high school football championship games, click here to watch a webcast of the Big Schools title game between Juneau-Douglas and Service or the Small Schools championship between Soldotna and Kodiak.

Big Schools Championship
Juneau-Douglas vs. Service 4PM EST

Small Schools Championship
Soldotna vs. Kodiak 8:30PM EST

Alaska To Crown State Champs Today

By Jeff Fisher
The High School Football Huddle

Juneau-Douglas is back to defend its 2007 Alaska Big Schools high school football championship, while Soldotna is looking for the three-peat in Saturday's Small Schools championship game in Anchorage.

Juneau-Douglas (6-4), which has won two of the last three Big Schools titles, will face Service (7-3), which is playing in its first title game since 1999. Click here to read a preview story on Service. Click here to read a preview story on Juneau-Douglas.

It's deja vu all over again in the Small Schools championship as two-time defending champ Soldotna faces Kodiak for the third straight year for the title. The Stars are riding a 28-game win streak. A win by Soldotna will equal the straight record for consecutive wins. Anchorage East currently holds the record at 29.

Click here to read a preview story on Soldotna. Click here for a preview story on Kodiak.

Juneau-Douglas and Soldotna Ready to Defending State Titles

By Jeff Fisher
The High School Football Huddle

Alaska's Big Schools high school football championship game will feature two teams that weren't expected to make it to the title game. With seven losses between them, defending state champ Juneau-Douglas (6-4) will face Service(7-3) for the title on Saturday.

Juneau made it back to the championship game with a 28-27 come-from-behind win Saturday against unbeaten Anchorage South in the semifinals. Click here to read a recap of that game.

Service will play for its first title since 1999 after beating Alaska's other unbeaten big school North Pole 27-12 on Friday. Click here for a Service/North Pole recap.

In the Smalls School semis, Barrow's season of first ended with a 19-13 loss to Kodiak. Kodiak will play two-time defending state champ Soldotna, a 69-33 winner over Eielson on Saturday. Soldotna is now within one win of tying Alaska's consecutive win streak of 29 set by Anchorage East between 1985 and 1987.

Click here for a Kodiak/Barrow recap. Click here for the Soldotna/Eielson recap.

Juneau-Douglas Wins 2nd Alaska High School Big Schools Championship

Both of Juneau-Douglas' Alaska High School Big Schools' Championships have come at the hands of the Palmer Moose. The Crimson Bears won Saturday's 2007 championship by defeating the Moose 23-13.

J-D, which beat Palmer 49-29 in the 2005 title game, used a strong defense to shutdown Palmer's strong rushing attack. Palmer entered the game averaging 268 yards per game rushing, but the Crimson Bears held the Moose to just 113 yards on 50 carries.

It was the 13th time in state history that a team has won the title while going undefeated. J-D finished 11-0 while Palmer ends the season 6-5. The game marked only the second time since the Alaska School Activities Association began it's championships in 2000 that a team with four losses played for a title.

To read more about the championship game from the Anchorage Daily News, click here.

Here's a look at Alaska's state champions. 1990 was the first season of the Alaska School Activities Association tournament.

Big Schools Champs

2007 Juneau-Douglas
2006 Anchorage South
2005 Juneau-Douglas
2004 North Pole
2003 Anchorage East
2002 Barlett
2001 Dimond
2000 Dimond
1999 Service
1998 Service
1997 Service
1996 Chugiak
1995 Palmer
1994 Service
1993 Dimond
1992 Eielson
1991 Bartlett
1990 Anchorage East
1989 Bartlett
1988 Chugiak
1987 Anchorage East
1986 Anchorage East
1985 Anchorage East
1984 Chugiak
1983 Dimond

Small Schools Champs

2007 Soldotna
2006 Soldotna
2005 Kenai
2004 Kenai
2003 Kenai
2002 Kenai
2001 Nikiski
2000 Nikiski