High School Football Playoff Time in Alaska

by Jeff Fisher
The High School Football Huddle
Soldotna appears to be ready to make it four Alaska Small School high school football championships in a row. With just two losses to Big School playoff teams (West & Colony), the Stars (6-2) open defense of its championship Saturday with a home game against Monroe (5-3).

Small School Quarterfinal Match-ups:
Saturday, October 3

Monroe (5-3) at Soldotna (6-2)
Barrow (4-4) at Kenai (7-1)
Kodiak (4-4) at Eielson (8-0)
Homer (5-2) at Nikiski (5-3)

There will be a new Big Schools champ with 2008 champ Service on the outside looking in. West is the top seed and will face North Pole Saturday in the quarters. North Pole began the season at the pre-season #1 in the Alaska Sports Broadcasting Network poll.

Large Schools Quarterfinal Match-ups:
Friday, October 2

Bartlett (6-2) at Colony (7-1)
Palmer (5-3) vs. Anchorage South (6-2)

Saturday, October 3

North Pole (4-4) at Anchorage West (8-0)
Chugiak (5-3) at Juneau-Douglas (6-2)

The Anchorage Daily News has more on the first round of the playoffs.

Meanwhile, below is the final high school state football rankings from the Alaska Sports Broadcasting Network.

Alaska Sports Broadcasting Network Final State High School Football Poll
Big Schools

1. Anchorage West 8-0
2. Juneau-Douglas 6-2
3. Bartlett 6-2
4. Anchorage South 6-2
5. Colony 7-1

Small Schools

1. Soldotna 6-2
2. Eielson 8-0
3. Kenai 7-1
4. Nikiski 5-3
5. Barrow 4-4

Defending Champ Juneau and Anchorage South Open Alaska Playoffs With Wins

By Jeff Fisher
The High School Football Huddle

Defending Alaska Big Schools state champ Juneau-Douglas had no problems in the opening round of the Alaska state football playoffs, but second seed Anchorage South got a scare.

Juneau, which won state titles in 2005 and 2007, beat Palmer 34-14 behind five touchdowns and 264 yards rushing from Alex Fagerstrom, who was last year's Alaska Offensive Player of the Year.

Juneau will face South in next week's semifinals, which beat Dimond 21-13 in Friday's nights quarterfinal match-up in Anchorage. Last year Juneau beat Anchorage South in the state semis on the way to its second state title.

Click here for a Juneau-Palmer game recap.

Click here for a South-Dimond recap.

Click here to go to The High School Football Huddle for news and scores from around the nation.

Post-Season Begins Friday

By Jeff Fisher
The High School Football Huddle


While most states are just halfway through their regular season, the post-season begins this weekend in Alaska.

Defending Big Schools champ Juneau-Douglas and Small Schools champ Soldotna are joined by 14 other teams in this weekend's quarterfinal round.

Here's a look at the match-ups...

Big Schools Quarterfinals
Friday
Dimond (4-4) at Anchorage South (8-0)
Juneau-Douglas (4-4) at Palmer (5-3)

Saturday
Bartlett (5-3) vs. Service (5-3)
Colony (5-3) vs. North Pole (8-0)

Small Schools Quarterfinals
Saturday
Nikiski (5-3) at Kodiak (4-3)
Houston (5-3) at Barrow (7-1)
Valdez (4-4) at Soldotna (7-0)
Kenai (5-3) at Eielson (4-3)

Click here for a preview of the first round.

Click here to go to The High School Football Huddle for news and scores from around the nation.