The visiting Homer football team lost 22-14 to Barrow in Mid Alaska Conference action Saturday.
The Whalers move to 3-0 in the league and 4-2 overall by avenging a 34-0 nonconference loss to Homer in Week 2. The Mariners fall to 2-1 in the league and 5-1 overall.
Homer’s defense had given up just 16 points all season heading into the game, but the Whalers were able to score 22 points in the first half.
Homer recovered an onside kick to start the game, but was stuffed on three straight plays. Barrow blocked the punt and went right down and scored.
“We haven’t been in that position all year,” Homer head coach Justin Zank said. “So it was good for us to be in that spot.
“We didn’t know how to respond quite yet.”
The Mariners recovered another onside kick, then quarterback CJ Burns had a long scoring run and conversion for an 8-all game.
Zank said Barrow kept the momentum by winning the line of scrimmage.
“They were much more aggressive,” he said. “They were much more physical.”
The Whalers scored twice before the end of the half for a 22-8 lead.
“We made adjustments on defense and won the second half,” Zank said. “So we held their offense, but could only get one more score.”
Burns had a long scoring pass to Justus Grimes in the third quarter, but the run failed on the conversion for a 22-14 game.
On a day when the temperature was 32 degrees and snow flurries were blowing in the air, Homer had a few shots at evening the score, but the drives came up short.
Zank said the offense made too many little mistakes in the second half.
“Barrow, to their credit, had a great defensive game plan against us that really neutralized the run,” Zank said. “In the first half, we weren’t able to throw the ball too well in that weather.
“Second half, we were able to get the passing game going.”
Zank said Donovan Milstead played a good game on the defensive line, while Nikifor Reutov was solid at middle linebacker. The coach added Ty Gibby had a great game at outside linebacker, while safety Jayden Sims provided great leadership.
Homer now travels to Kenai on Saturday, Sept. 27, at 2 p.m. for a showdown between two squads both 2-1 in the league.
“I think that we’re going to learn from this, and I think it will be a net positive,” Zank said. “It’s something we can grow from.”
