Alaska Football

[alaskacat]

Here is something of interest to all of you. Soldotna in Alaska is an equivalent to Celina or LH down here.

And they would be competitive. I would love to see a matchup, and do have some feelers out, but would be a scheduling nightmare.

As youlook through the schedule early on Soldotan handily beat Palmer, who wound up 2nd in the Big School state final. North Pole is a Big School state champ from 2005 I believe.

Soldotna has around 500 kids, and are truly the real deal..

http://www.maxpreps.com/FanPages/Team.mxp/AreaID-9ed7b5d4-1169-4de1-898c-6c36b5d95bc3/SchoolID-21fba82f-af2a-4ad0-b884-063561c180b1/Boys_Varsity_Football_Fall_07-08/Alaska

[Sweetwater Red]

Originally posted by alaskacat
Here is something of interest to all of you. Soldotna in Alaska is an equivalent to Celina or LH down here.



No, but seriously.:hand:



I guess they could meet at a neutral site. Like Seattle, Washington.:thinking:

[alaskacat]

No Like Home- home..Alaska Airlines hub is in Dallas. And they always do something for the kids with sports things, especially something like this...

Soldotna runs an offense very similar to LH. here is an article that is rather fun..it even screwed up the refs calling the ball dead, cause they couldn't find the thing..lol

Prep football: Soldotna powers past Palmer


Published on Saturday, August 18, 2007 10:34 PM AKDT
Aug. 19, 2007

By Jeremiah Bartz/ Frontiersman

PALMER - It's tough to imagine a team could have some unanswered questions after scoring 62 points in the first game of the season, unless that same team allowed 42.

After their 47-14 win over the Palmer Moose at Machetanz Field in Palmer on Friday night, the Soldotna Stars are feeling a bit better about their defense.

“We know we're a pretty good team offensively, but we had some question marks after the first week,” Soldotna first-year head coach Galen Brantley Jr. said. “And it was nice to answer those.”

The Soldotna defense forced four Palmer turnovers and kept the Moose Gooser - the 10-gauge cannon that fires after every Palmer score - silent until late in the third quarter en route to the Stars' second win over a large-schools program in as many weeks.

Soldotna topped North Pole 62-42 last week.

“It's like two different kind of teams,” Soldotna senior lineman Les Baker said. “The first week we were kind of unfocused, and this week it's a totally different team.”

A different team on defense, the Stars produced the same results on the other side of the ball.

Riding the ridiculously deceptive work in the Power-T, Soldotna rumbled for seven touchdowns on the ground and piled up 429 rushing yards.

Quarterback Anthony Griglione rushed for a team-high 157 yards and two touchdowns, fullback Marvin Tate posted 122 yards and two touchdowns and tailback Bryce Gardner added 91 yards and two scores.

Soldotna rolled to a 47-point lead in the third quarter, and at one point had scored on four consecutive offensive plays.

Gardner scored on a 16-yard touchdown run on the Stars' final play of the first half. Tate posted a 56-yard touchdown run on Soldotna's first offensive play of the third quarter. After Griglione picked off a Palmer pass on the ensuing possession and returned the ball to the Moose 4-yard line, Kyle Wood scored on the next play. And Griglione added a 78-yard scamper for a score on Soldotna's very next offensive play.

“I think they've got a talented bunch,” Palmer head coach Rod Christiansen said. “They do an awfully good job at what they do.”

Soldotna's offensive repertoire was not extensive - much of the damage was done with merely a handful of base plays - but the misdirection absolutely befuddled the Moose defense. With their three-headed rushing monster - Griglione, Tate and Gardner - and a set of starting linemen that average more than 250 pounds, the Stars primarily used the trap, sweep and quarterback keeper to roll through the Palmer defense.

But for Soldotna it was all about the fake.

The Stars would fake the trap and run the sweep.

Or fake the sweep and run the trap.

Or fake the sweep and the trap, and run the quarterback keeper.

“We've kind of brainwashed our kids into thinking a good fake is better than a good block,” Brantley said. “If you block someone you can only block one person. But if you fake, you can drag two or even three people.”

With their hands and forearms tight to their chests, it looked like three Stars could be carrying the ball on any given play. The Palmer defense would routinely swarm on one back in the backfield, only to watch another burst down the field.

“Over and over, we were tackling the wrong guy,” Christiansen said.

Christiansen, a coach who has faced a variety of offensive game plans during his 17 seasons as Palmer's head coach, said it takes good football fundamentals to combat the misdirection of the Power-T.

“You've got to play off the blocks, instead of looking in the backfield and chasing people,” Christiansen said.

The Stars were so deceptive, they even fooled the referees. Plays were killed by inadvertent whistles twice.

“We take that as a compliment,” Brantley said.

Late in the first quarter, a crowd of Moose players collapsed on Gardner, who was running toward the right sideline, and a referee whistled the play dead. But Gardner didn't have the ball. Griglione did, and he was a good 10 yards down field. The official called to replay the down.

“The worst thing is the officials got it wrong,” Brantley said.

Brantley said the official was supposed to give the Stars the choice of taking the ball where the ball carrier was when they blew the whistle, or the option to re-play the down.

“The only reason I knew that is this is not the first time this has happened,” Brantley said with a smile.

Soldotna was not the only squad to amass the rushing yards. Led by Devin Konkler's totals - a game-high 169 yards on 19 carries - the Moose surpassed the 300-yard mark on the ground.

Konkler averaged nearly nine yards per carry, senior fullback Shannon Sawyer ran for 74 yards on 12 carries, quarterback Conrad Smith rushed for 47 yards on 10 carries and sophomore Brennan Bohman added 41 yards on eight tries.

“Our (offensive line) made those guys look pretty good,” Christiansen said. “Our o-line did a pretty good job for most of the game, giving them places to run. Our o-line gets the game ball.”

Konkler scored a touchdown for the second consecutive week, posting a 25-yard run late in the third quarter. In the fourth, Bohman notched the first varsity touchdown of his career on a 5-yard run.

But while the Moose accumulated the yardage, turnovers killed Palmer.

“Obviously we were moving the ball, but we couldn't finish,” Christiansen said.

Smith was intercepted twice in the first half, and the Moose also fumbled.

“It was a big deal,” Christiansen said. “We could have had a one-touchdown game at halftime.”

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

Soldotna 47, Palmer 14

Friday, Machetanz Field

Soldotna 7 19 21 0 - 47

Palmer 0 0 7 7 - 14

First quarter

Soldotna - Tate 38 run (Elson kick) 11:23.

Second quarter

Soldotna - Griglione 2 run (kick blocked) 11:54.

Soldotna - Gardner 21 run (pass failed) 4:21.

Soldotna - Gardner 16 run (Elson kick) 00:17.

Third quarter

Soldotna - Tate 56 run (Elson kick) 9:01.

Soldotna - Wood 4 run (Elson kick) 8:43.

Soldotna - Griglione 78 run (Elson kick) 4:43.

Palmer - Konkler 25 run (Ott kick) 2:28.

Fourth quarter

Palmer - Bohman 5 run (Ott kick) 6:09.

Soldotna Palmer

First downs 21 19

Rushes-yards 39-429 49-331

Passing yards 8 10

Att-Comp-Int 1-5-0 1-8-3

Fumbles 5-1 1-1

Individual statistics

RUSHING - Soldotna: Griglione 10-157, Tate 8-122, Gardner 8-91, Elson 7-55, Aberkane 3- (-4), Wood 2-10, Jenson 1-(-2); Palmer: Konkler 19-169, Sawyer 12-74, Smith 10-47, Bohman 8-41.

PASSING - Soldotna: Griglione 1-5-0-8; Palmer: Smith 1-8-3-10.

RECEIVING - Soldotna: Gleason 1-8; Palmer: Swetzof 1-10.

[3afan]

Celina by 50+

[alaskacat]

This would surprise some Celina might win, and most likely would but it wouldn't be by 50:)

A good game it would be.

I watch them both year after year

[Sweetwater Red]

Originally posted by alaskacat
This would surprise some Celina might win, and most likely would but it wouldn't be by 50:)

A good game it would be.

I watch them both year after year


How many players from this Alaskan team made all-state? We
all know that's how you measure a team.:thinking: :D

[nobogey72]

I heard from a very reliable source that that Alaskan team recruits, uses steroids (even the cheerleaders) and they jack with their enrollment #s. Also, from the same source, Steve Spurrier will be the new head coach. Details to follow.:D

[Sweetwater Red]

Originally posted by nobogey72
I heard from a very reliable source that that Alaskan team recruits, uses steroids (even the cheerleaders) and they jack with their enrollment #s. Also, from the same source, Steve Spurrier will be the new head coach. Details to follow.:D


I'd rather they go after Sandifer.:thinking: :D :devil:

[nobogey72]

Originally posted by Sweetwater Red
I'd rather they go after Sandifer.:thinking: :D :devil:

They would have to promise to let him be president of The Alaskan UIL for him to be interested. And, an igloo allowance, and a dogsled allowance. :D

[alaskacat]

Originally posted by Sweetwater Red
How many players from this Alaskan team made all-state? We
all know that's how you measure a team.:thinking: :D


Just for grins they are rated 182 over all on Max Preps

Small Schools

Offensive Player of the Year -- Bill Chimphlee, Kenai.

Defensive Player of the Year -- Timo Gleason, Soldotna.

Lineman of the Year -- Josh Denna, Soldotna.

Coach of the Year -- Lea Cockerham, Valdez.

Assistant Coach of the Year -- Bill Hancock, Skyview.

First Team Offense

Quarterback -- Anthony Griglione, Soldotna. Fullback -- Marvin Tate, Soldotna. Running Back -- Bill Chimphalee, Kenai; Chance Renfro, Eielson. Wide Receiver -- Evan Holloway, Nikiski. Tight End -- Richie Shirnberg, Skyview. Center -- Lee Baker, Soldotna. Guard -- Josh DeTavernier, Soldotna; Patrick Sheridan, Kodiak. Tackle -- Josh Denna, Soldotna, Mike Brown, Eielson.

First Team Defense

Defensive Backs -- Bryce Gardner, Soldotna; Bill Chimphalee, Kenai, Anthony Griglione, Soldotna. Outside Linebacker -- Randy Diocares, Kodiak; Marvin Tate, Soldotna. Inside Linebacker -- Timo Gleason, Soldotna; Jaron Dambacher, Kenai. Interior Lineman -- Mike Brown, Eielson; Nate Rogers, Valdez; Josh Denna, Soldotna; Travis Pierce, Kenai.

First Team Specialists

Punter -- Dylan Beck, Seward. Kicker -- Matt Walsworth, Homer. Long Snapper -- Richie Shirnberg, Skyview. Return Specialist -- Bryce Gardner, Soldotna. Utility Player -- Corey Sutherland, Homer.

Second Team Offense

Quarterback -- Adam Failing, Valdez. Fullback -- Isreal Morales, Houston. Running Back -- Bryce Gardner, Soldotna. Beau Calderwood, Nikiski. Wide Receiver -- Jon Bryant, Kodiak. Tight End -- Kevin Barnicle, Eielson. Center -- Hunter Gallien, Nikiski. Guard -- Josh Saylors, Valdez; Elliot Tuttle, Nikiski. Tackle -- Garrett Mooney, Houston.

Second Team Defense

Defensive Backs -- Dylan Beck, Seward; Beau Calderwood, Nikiski; James Rogers, Valdez. Outside Linebacker -- Chance Renfro, Eielson; Parker Hutchison, Valdez. Inside Linebacker -- Isreal Morales, Houston; Dwanye Fearon, Eielson. Interior Lineman -- James Steed, Houston; Hunter Gallien, Nikiski; Josh Bailor, Kodiak.

Second Team Specialists

Punter -- Brady Quinn, Homer. Kicker -- Dylan Beck, Seward. Long Snapper -- Elliot Tuttle, Nikiski. Return Specialist -- Cody Hedberg, Valdez. Utility Player -- Cody Hedberg, Valdez.
Comments

[Sweetwater Red]

Originally posted by nobogey72
They would have to promise to let him be president of The Alaskan UIL for him to be interested. And, an igloo allowance, and a dogsled allowance. :D

Hey, whatever it takes to get him the hell outta our district.:D :devil:

[nobogey72]

Originally posted by Sweetwater Red
Hey, whatever it takes to get him the hell outta our district.:D :devil:

His youngest daughter is a soph. and when she graduates, there is no telling what he'll do. We all hope that she flunks a couple of times. :D

[alaskacat]

here is a little video from the State Game...sorta resembles LH offense:)

http://community.adn.com/mini_apps/vmix/player.php?ID=1529936&GID=118

[kepdawg]

I thought it was always either snowing or dark in Alaska!

[ASUFrisbeeStud]

I'd like to see some matchups between other states, I'm not so sure about Alaska being on Texas level.

[loyalleopard]

They look like a pretty good 2A team. Sorry, it would be hard for them to compete in 3A in Texas. Maybe Rhode Island or Vermont, but not in Texas.

[catgut]

Originally posted by alaskacat
here is a little video from the State Game...sorta resembles LH offense:)

http://community.adn.com/mini_apps/vmix/player.php?ID=1529936&GID=118

Looked like there were more players on the field than fans in the stands.

[alaskacat]

That is true, they dont get very big crowds...actually miniscule, but go to a hockey game and it will have 5000 at Sullivan Arena.

But one thing to remember More people live in Plano than live in all of Alaska. If you cut Alaska in half Texas would be the 3rd largest state:)

Travel is a huge problem. If Juneau has to play an Anchorage school they have to fly in, and a ticket is like 500. The home team has to pay for the visiting team to get there and parents and fans are on their own.

There is only two leagues big school and small school, but the districts encompass the entire state. Ketchikan to Houston is slightly more than 2500 miles by air.

North Pole to Anchorage is 450 miles.

Eilson to Skyview is 690. and add another 100-150 for Homer and Seward

Delta Junction to Nikiski is 560

Barrow you have to fly in to. Same with Kodiak, Sitka and Juneau.

VAldez to Kenai/Soldotna, is 790.

Each team needs like 200,000 at the start of the season just for travel. If they make the playoffs need to raise more money.

That is not just for football, that is for all sports. BBall ,wrestling, and volleyball are less expensive because of fewer players and less equipment to haul around.

I guess thats why I dont seem to mind driving from Oklahoma to Dallas for a game, or Waco, or Abilene.

It is just an ordinary drive to go watch a ball game:)