Soldotna football wins battle of defending state champs with Dimond

Published 9:01 pm Friday, August 29, 2025

The visiting Soldotna football team defeated Dimond 56-7 on Friday night in nonconference action.

The Stars, the two-time defending Division II champions, improved to 3-0 by dropping the Lynx, the defending Division I state champ, to 0-3.

Now in his 19th season and with 10 losses on his record, Soldotna head coach Galen Brantley Jr. still has just two losses to Anchorage schools — to West in 2009 and 2018.

“Anytime we get a chance to beat an Anchorage school, that’s a feather in the hat,” he said. “We’re always looking for those opportunities to challenge ourselves.

“I think overall, you’re seeing our level of football close the gap to a degree.”

The coach pointed to Division II West Valley losing to Division I West 28-27 and Division II Wasilla losing to Division I Colony in double overtime. Both those games were Friday.

Brantley Jr. said the Lynx certainly felt the loss of some seniors. Cayden Pili, the Gatorade Player of the Year last season, elected to play his senior year out of state.

“Certainly, that wasn’t the Dimond team that won state a year ago,” Brantley Jr. said. “Regardless, I thought our kids played extremely well, especially defensively.

“We shut them out with our ones and really kind of suffocated their run offense.”

The coach said the defensive coaches put together a great game plan and the players executed.

Brantley Jr. said Logan Myers is progressing nicely at defensive end and outside linebacker Liam Peck also had a good game.

Dimond did not score until 3:35 remained in the game.

SoHi had a 14-0 lead after the first quarter when Andon Wolverton scored on a 2-yard run and Owen Buckbee scored on a 1-yard run.

Brantley Jr. said Buckbee did a great job running the offense at quarterback and Wolverton continued to progress in recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament tear.

“This was the first time, this week in Game 3, where he played most of the offensive snaps,” Brantley Jr. said. “So we finally got him through a game without anything significant.

“That was really good to see for him.”

The Stars led 42-0 at the half. Eli Richards scored on a 4-yard run, then Wolverton scored on 16- and 34-yard runs.

Matthew Schilling capped the half by catching a 34-yard pass from Buckbee for a score.

Brantley Jr. said Schilling broke his collarbone on the play. The coach hopes Schilling will be able to return late this season.

“As far as a receiving tight end, I have not had better,” Brantley Jr. said.

In the third quarter, Wolverton ran 4 yards for his fourth touchdown of the game.

In the fourth quarter, Ethan Piscoya ran 2 yards for a score.

Luke Hillyer made all eight extra points. Brantley Jr. also said Koda Lepule and Theo Huff led the offensive line with great play at guard.

SoHi now takes on host Eagle River in the Railbelt Conference on Saturday, Sept. 6, at 3 p.m.

“That’s going to be a good football team there,” Brantley Jr. said. “They’re a team I would expect has a very good chance to be in the playoffs.”