tease

Soldotna trounces West Valley to stay perfect

The visiting Soldotna football team defeated West Valley 69-14 on Friday.

The win moves the Stars to 6-0 overall and 5-0 in the Railbelt Conference, while West Valley falls to 2-3 and 2-4.

Also in the Railbelt, Eagle River is 5-1 and 5-1, Lathrop is 4-1 and 4-2, North Pole is 2-3 and 2-4, Wasilla is 2-4 and 2-4, Palmer is 1-4 and 2-4, and Chugiak is 0-5 and 0-6.

Now 151-9, a clip of .944, SoHi head coach Galen Brantley Jr. moves past Buck Nystrom and into sole possession of second place on the Alaska wins list. Next up is Palmer’s Rod Christiansen at 159 wins.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Facing off against West Valley’s David DeVaughn, who is fourth on the wins list at 137, the score went in Soldotna’s favor quickly to the tune of a 62-8 halftime lead. A running clock was used for the second half.

“It got away from them,” Brantley Jr. said. “We ended up pulling our starters with eight minutes left in the second quarter.”

Andon Wolverton returned the opening kickoff 82 yards for a touchdown for Soldotna.

“We put a high premium and emphasis on coming out of the gates fast,” Brantley Jr. said. “I felt like the kids did that.”

While the kickoff return for a touchdown was nice, Brantley Jr. said the Stars need to clean up the blocking on the return game, because two punt returns for touchdowns were called back.

Also in the first quarter, Wyatt Faircloth had touchdown runs of 18 and 35 yards, Collin Peck scored on a 34-yard run and Jaykob Kemp scored on a 53-yard run for a 34-0 lead after the first quarter.

“It’s was one of those things,” Brantley Jr. said. “Wyatt Faircloth had two touches and both were touchdowns. Collin Peck was in a similar boat — three touches and two were scores.”

In the second quarter, Zac Buckbee had a 65-yard scoring pass to Leigh Tacey, Peck had a 34-yard run, Wolverton had a 14-yard run and Mason Bock had a 5-yard run.

Jace O’Reagan was 7 of 8 on extra points in the first half, while Luke Hillyer had an extra point in the first and second halves.

Charles Huff scored on a 2-yard run in the fourth quarter for Soldotna.

Brantley Jr. said the team continues to get healthier. Luke Miller returned and had a few sacks, while lineman Hakoa Montoya also returned. Running back Gehret Medcoff sat, but should be back soon.

The SoHi coach said the defense also was solid, with Buckbee and Andrew Pieh getting interceptions.

The Stars host Chugiak at 5 p.m. on Friday. The Mustangs are coming off an 18-0 loss to Eagle River. Brantley Jr. said Chugiak is better than its record, pointing to a 19-18 loss to South Anchorage earlier this season and the three times Chugiak scored on Lathrop.

Houston 13, Homer 8

In a rematch of the 2022 Division III state championship game won by Homer, the Hawks notched the Saturday victory.

Homer is now 1-2 in the league and 3-3 overall after starting the season with three straight wins, then going on a three-game losing streak. Houston is 2-1 and 5-1.

The Mariners travel to winless Redington for a 7 p.m. conference game Friday.

More in Sports

tease
Friday: Soldotna baseball loses to Juneau, Sitka

The Soldotna baseball team lost 7-3 to Juneau-Douglas: Yadaa.at Kale and 5-1… Continue reading

Michael Fiedorczuk of the Kenai River Brown Bears ties the game against the Anchorage Wolverines with 15 seconds left in the third period Friday, April 4, 2025, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Brown Bears drop final home game of season to Wolverines

The Anchorage Wolverines defeated the Kenai River Brown Bears 5-4 in a… Continue reading

Soldotna's Wyatt Faircloth celebrates his touchdown with Owen Buckbee and Dalton Armstrong on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, at the First National Bowl Division II title game at Pride Field at Colony High School in Palmer, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
SoHi’s Armstrong commits to track and field at Mount St. Joseph

Soldotna’s Dalton Armstrong recently committed to continue his track and field career… Continue reading

tease
SoHi baseball opens season with loss, tie

The Soldotna baseball team opened its season Thursday at the Sitka American… Continue reading

The Seward cheerleading team. From left to right are head coach Jean Beck, freshman Sophia Hughes, junior Somi Clendaniel, junior co-captain Juniper Ingalls, junior captain Lola Swanson, sophomore Josie Andrews, sophomore Addison Gerlach and assistant coach Brittany Swanson. (Photo provided)
Seward cheerleaders lead peninsula with runner-up finish at state basketball competition

The Seward cheerleading team led the Kenai Peninsula by finishing second in… Continue reading

Rachel Johnson kicks the ball in May 2014 for the Nikiski soccer team at Nikiski Middle-High School in Nikiski, Alaska. (Clarion file)
3 area athletes make Alaska High School Hall of Fame

Kenai Central’s AJ Hull, Nikiski’s Luke Johnson and Nikiski’s Rachel Johnson are… Continue reading

Kenai River Brown Bears goalie Owen Zenone saves a breakaway by Cole Christian on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Wolverines notch weekend sweep of Brown Bears

The Anchorage Wolverines pulled off a weekend sweep of the Kenai River… Continue reading

Seward's Ava Jagielski drives on Glennallen's Brejanay Stone-Jordan at the Class 2A girls state championship game Saturday, March 15, 2025, at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Peninsula puts 3 players on 1st-team all-state teams

The Alaska Association of Basketball Coaches announced its All-State Teams this week,… Continue reading

Soldotna’s Ryan Buchanan works to pin Kodiak’s Luke Lester during the boys 119-pound final of the Northern Lights Conference Championships Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, at Palmer High School in Palmer, Alaska. (Photo by Jeremiah Bartz/Frontiersman)
SoHi’s Buchanan to wrestle at Morningside

Soldotna High School’s Ryan Buchanan has committed to wrestle for Morningside University… Continue reading

Most Read

You're browsing in private mode.
Please sign in or subscribe to continue reading articles in this mode.

Peninsula Clarion relies on subscription revenue to provide local content for our readers.

Subscribe

Already a subscriber? Please sign in