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.
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.
