SoHi’s Martin named Player of Game at North South Football Classic

  • By Staff Report
  • Saturday, October 29, 2016 11:48pm
  • Sports

The Alaska Shriners 40th Annual North South Football Classic went to another level Saturday at The Dome in Anchorage, and Soldotna senior Bryce Martin was more than up to the task.

Instead of multiple games, the event was cut to one game in which each school around the state got one senior, then any additional seniors were chosen by committee.

Playing against and with the state’s best players, Martin, at 5-foot-8, 209 pounds, was named the Player of the Game from his inside linebacker position.

Martin led the South team to a 14-0 victory over North after posting double-digit tackles from his inside linebacker position, according to South and Soldotna head coach Galen Brantley Jr.

Brantley Jr. said Martin also had a key pass breakup on fourth down when it was still a one-touchdown game.

“He had a phenomenal game,” Brantley Jr. said. “That is an astronomical amount of tackles for a linebacker in any game.

“He had one of his better games against the best competition he’s ever played against.”

Martin was actually first-team medium-schools all state at offensive guard, but made his mark Saturday playing solely on the other side of the ball.

Brantley Jr. credited Jack Clouse of the Kenai-Soldotna Shrine Club for working hard to make the new format possible.

“I’ve heard nothing but positive things from coaches, players and Shrine members,” Brantley Jr. said. “It was a much better product for people to watch, and a much better product in film for college recruiting.”

The South team was made up of South, Dimond, Service and West, plus the Kenai Peninsula and Fairbanks. Kenai head coach Davis Lowery was an assistant on the South team.

The North team was made up of the northern Anchorage schools, plus the Matanuska-Susitna valleys and Southeast.

Also for Soldotna, Aseli Finau was on the defensive line and Jace Urban was in the secondary. Brantley Jr. said Finau made a couple of plays in the backfield, and Urban did not have a pass completed on him.

Kenai was represented by Chase Gillies and Jonathan Delgado. Gillies played in the secondary and also did not have a pass completed on him. Delgado played at left tackle and Brantley Jr. said he held up well.

Rhett Sieverts represented Seward, while Cole Sallee played for Homer.

“I know there weren’t a lot of points, but both teams moved the football and there were some big special teams plays,” Brantley Jr. said. “There were also some really big plays on offense that didn’t result in points.”

More in Sports

The 10-mile race begins at the Run for the River on Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Run for the River draws 197 finishers

The Run for the River drew 197 finishers on Saturday in Soldotna.… Continue reading

Nick Varney
Reeling ‘Em In: Old-timers cast their lines

The grizzled gentlemen have been coming down to Homer for over 35 years to ambush flats from their modest skiff in “secret holes” east of the Spit.

Benny Loyer of Palmer soars through the air racing 65 intermediate at the Alaska State Motocross Series Race 4 on Sunday, June 15, 2025, at Twin City Raceway in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
State motocross puts sport’s strong family ties on display

The strong family ties that bind motocross racing were on display at… Continue reading

tease
Sunday: Twins sweep Dimond

Post 20’s Harper throws shutout in league game

Post 20's Jayden Stuyvesant flies out to left field against West on Friday, June 13, 2025, at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Friday: Twins lose league game, win nonleague game vs. West

The American Legion Post 20 Twins split a doubleheader against West Post… Continue reading

tease
Thursday: Twins split with Service

The American Legion Post 20 Twins split with Service on Thursday at… Continue reading

tease
Brown Bears select 7 in NAHL Entry Draft

The Kenai River Brown Bears selected seven players in the North American… Continue reading

tease
Monday: Twins open season with victory over Bartlett

The American Legion Post 20 Twins opened their season in Anchorage with… Continue reading

Most Read