Second-year head coach for the Brown Bears Oliver David will  lead a Kenai River team which returns a team record nine players from 2009-2010.  The Bears also list 10 Alaskans on the early roster.

Kenai River looks to improve on a last place finish in the West Division of the North American Hockey League in 2009-2010 with a roster of experienced players and an established coaching staff. 

The West Division of the NAHL will have a few new looks as well.  The Alaska Avalanche has moved from Wasilla to Palmer and the league has added two new teams; the Fresno (California) Monsters and Dawson Creek (British Columbia) Rage.  With the addition of two teams, the West now has six teams and will qualify the top four to the playoffs.  The Brown Bears finished last season at 12-40-6; however, received a playoff berth because the West sported only four teams.

Kenai River Brown Bears: Opening Weekend

September 10th

Kenai River vs Alaska Avalanche @ Palmer Ice Rink   7:30 p.m.

September 11th

Kenai River vs Alaska Avalanche @ Subway Arena in Anchorage   7:30 p.m.

SoHi 46 – Skyview 27

The Soldotna Stars used a punishing ground game to over run the Skyview Panthers 46-27 in a Northern Lights Conference pairing at Skyview High School on Friday night.  The Stars totaled 500 rushing yards, including 227 yards for Robbie Smithwick and 143 yards for Philip Bennett.  Skyview took to the air for 183 yards, with quarterback Jordan Jones completing 17 of 44 passes for 183 yards and three touchdowns.

The Stars and the Panthers traded first quarter touchdowns; SoHi scoring first on a Philip Bennett 14-yard run for a 7-0 lead.  Skyview answered with a 2-yard touchdown passs from Jordan Jones to Jordan Mcnamara; 7-6 SoHi after one quarter.

SoHi added a 12-yard touchdown run by Bennett in the second quarter and took a 14-6 lead in at the half.  Skyview tied the game on the first play of the second half; Jason Sounveri returning the kick-off 95 yards for a touchdown and with the 2-point conversion, Skyview knotted the game at 14-14, just 16 seconds into the second half.

Then the Stars took control of the contest, scoring 25 points in just over 4:00 minutes to take a 39-14 commanding lead.  Robbie Smithwick opened the floodgates with a 77-yard TD run.  SoHi then forced a fumble on the kick-off return and scored in two plays, finished by a Jared Duncan 4-yard touchdown run.  SoHi, on the next kick-off, again created a fumble and recovered the football on the Skyview 25-yard line.  Four plays later and SoHi was again in the Panther endzone with a 12-yard Smithwick run.  Skyview scored the final touchdown of the third quarter on a touchdown pass to Albert White.  After three quarters: SoHi 39, Skyview 21.

Both teams scored in the final quarter; SoHi first on a Jared Duncan 11-yard run, then Skyview on a second Albert White touchdown reception.  Final Score: SoHi 46 – Skyview 27.

The Soldotna Stars remain undefeated at 5-0 on the season and 4-0 in the Northern Lights Conference.  Skyview stands at 3-2 on the season and 1-2 in the NLC.  SoHi has not lost a Northern Lights Conference regular season game since 2005.

Nikiski 51 -  Monroe 12  

The Bulldogs continued their tour of Alaska with a fourth-straight road game, traveling to Fairbanks defeating the Monroe Rams 51-12 on Saturday in a Great Land Conference game.

Nikiski dominated the Rams scoring 27 first quarter points and eight touchdowns for the game.  Kaden Spurgeon led the ground attack with 141 yards and three touchdowns; Stephan Krogseng added 89 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Colten Anderson threw for 82 yards and two touchdowns.

The Bulldogs improve to 3-0 in the GLC.

Kenai 47 -  West Valley 20 

Kenai faced its third large-school opponent on Saturday with the West Valley Wolfpack traveling to Ed Hollier Field at KCHS.  The Kardinals, now 3-2 overall, defeated West Valley 47-20; behind a bruising defense, Kenai capitalized on five fumble recoveries and two interceptions.

West Valley scored first in the contest with a touchdown pass on the first drive of the game.  Kenai responded with 20-straight points for a 20-7 halftime lead.  Kenai added two touchdowns in the third quarter for a 33-6 lead over the Wolfpack.  Two touchdowns for each team in the fourth quarter pushed the score the 47-20.

For the game, AJ Hull passed for one TD, ran a kick-off return back 92 yards for a touchdown and rushed for a TD.  Six different Kardinals scored touchdowns on the day.

Kenai stands at 2-0 in the Northern Lights Conference and 3-2 on the season.

NLC Volleyball:  SoHi downs Kenai

The Soldotna Star volleyball team rallied for a four-game, match win over the Kenai Kardinals.  Kenai won game one 25-23.  The Stars took three games in a row 25-15, 25-8, and 27-25.  Kaycee Munn lead SoHi with nine kills; Kenai’s Allie McGahan recorded seven kills.

NLC Volleyball:  Skyview Sweeps Homer

The Panthers made quick work of the Homer Mariners on Tuesday, sweeping Homer in three straight games 25-15, 25-8, and 25-22. 

NLC Swimming:  SoHi Splits With Homer

The SoHi boys and Homer girls recorded team wins in dual meet action at the Homer pool.  In the boys competition, SoHi’s Christian Carrico raced to a pair of individual victories, winning the 200 free and 100 breaststroke.  In the girls race, Oliva Bowen and Kaitlyn Groleske each record a pair of individual wins.

Kenai 32 – Palmer 36

The Kenai Kardinals stepped out of Northern Lights Conference play on Friday hosting the Palmer Moose at Ed Hollier Field at KCHS.; in the best battle of the 2010 football season so far. 

In a game that featured defense early and late, the offenses provided the excitement in a 36-32 victory for Palmer.  The Kardinals scored the first touchdown of the night with just 1:25 remaining in the first quarter for a 6-0 lead.  Then the offenses took over with Kenai and Palmer trading touchdowns throughout the second quarter leading to a 21-20 halftime lead for the Moose.  Kenai added two touchdowns in the third and the Moose a lone TD run.  The play of the night came midway through the final quarter with the Kardinals driving for a lead-expanding touchdown.  Leading 32-29, Kenai’s AJ Hull completed a 4th downpass to tight end Alex Nason.  Nason headed for the goal line; however, a Palmer defender knocked the ball loose and Palmer covered the ball in the end zone for a touchback.  Palmer followed-up with a go-ahead score; held Kenai and recorded a non-divisional win.

Kardinal quarterback AJ Hull rushed for four touchdowns, passed for a TD, carried for 193 yards, passed for 67 yards and punted and returned kicks for the Kardinals.

Kenai’s record goes to 2-2 overall and 2-0 in the Northern Lights Conference.

The Kardinals play another large-school opponent on Saturday, September 4th, with the West Valley Wolfpack coming to KCHS.  Game time set for 2:00 p.m. with coverage on ESPN 1140AM and on the web at www.radiokenai.com.

SoHi 70 – Houston 0

The Stars extended their undefeated record to 4-0 with a Northern Lights Conference 70-0 shutout of the Houston Hawks.

The big play offense of the Soldotna Stars lived-large, even by SoHi standards, as the Stars overpowered Houston 70-0 behind 448 rushing yards on only 20 carries.  The Stars averaged over 22 yards per carry against the Hawks, with five runners gaining more than 60 yards.  The Stars scored ten touchdowns; six of which were on plays of 40-or-more-yards.

Philip Bennett scored four touchdowns on only six carries and a total of 97 yards.  Robbie Smithwick rushed for for two touchdowns on two carries and 91 yards.  Austin Tennis scored a 97-yard touchdown and carried for 135 yards on only four attempts.  Garrett Bosick caught a touchdown pass of 37 yards; and Reid Schmelzenbach and Jared Duncan added single touchdown runs.  Placekicker Daniel Koch was a perfect 10 of 10, setting a SoHi record for PAT’s converted.

Soldotna High improves to 4-0 on the season and 3-0 in the Northern Lights Conference. 

SoHi travels to Skyview High for an NLC showdown on Friday Night, September 3rd at 6:30 p.m.

Nikiski 30 – Seward 8

Nikiski continued its tour of Alaska with a third-straight road game for the Bulldogs and a Nikiski win over Seward 30-8 in a Great Land Conference game. 

Skyview 32 – Homer 8

The Panthers returned to Northern Lights Conference play traveling to Homer for an NLC game against the Mariners; overpowering the Mariners 32-8.

Nearly thirty schools are listed to attend with competition in open girls and boys and varsity girls and boys races; as well as, a community race, following the high school competition.

Skyview Invitational Race Schedule

10:30 am——Coaches Meeting in Library

11:00 am——Walk the Course

12:00 pm——Open Race Girls

12:45 pm——Open Race Boys

1:30   pm——Girls Varsity Race

2:15   pm——Boys Varsity Race

3:00   pm——Community Race

3:30   pm——Results and Awards

Kenai 44 – Houston 14

Defense was the key for the Kenai Kardinals; as the Kardinals recorded a pair of safeties and held the Houston Hawks scoreless through three quarters in-route-to a 44-14 Northern Lights Conference victory for Kenai.

Kenai’s offense was lead by quarterback AJ Hull.  Hull threw three touchdown passes and rushed for 112 yards and three touchdowns.  Alex Nason, Colton Hayes and Tyler Glidden caught touchdown passes for the Kardinals.  Kenai improves to 2-0 in the NLC and 2-1 overall.

SoHi 26 – Homer 20

The Soldotna Stars defense also set the tone in SoHi’s 26-20 victory over the Homer Mariners.  The Stars, who had allowed only one touchdown in two games, held Homer to a single touchdown through three quarters; building a 26-6 lead over Homer.

The Stars scored a first quarter touchdown on an 18-yard run by Jared Duncan; and added a Tanner Fowler, 4-yard quarterback keeper for a 13-6 halftime lead.  The Stars extended to a 26-6 advantage with a Robbie Smithwick 25-yard TD run and a Garrett Bosick touchdown reception of 23 yards.  Smithwick rushed for 77 yards, Philip Bennett carried for 65 yards and Duncan added 45 yards; as the Stars amassed nearly 220 rushing yards.  SoHi improves to 3-0 on the season and 2-0 in the NLC.

Nikiski 22 – Thunder Mountain 47

 The Bulldogs took an early lead on an interception return, in a non-conference game against Southeast Conference Thunder Mountain of Juneau; however, the Falcons answered with 47-straight points leading to a 47-22 win for Thunder Mountain.

Nikiski struck first when Julien Harris ran an interception back 17 yards for a 6-0 Bulldog lead early in the first quarter.  Thunder Mountain dominated until the fourth quarter, scoring two first quarter rushing touchdowns, three second quarter rushing touchdowns, and a lone 75-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.  In the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs scored on a 5-yard pass from Colton Anderson to Kaden Spurgeon and a Spurgeon TD run of four yards.  Thunder Mountain is 3-0 and unbeaten on the season; the Bulldogs stand at 1-2 overall and 1-0 in the Great Land Conference.

Skyview 35- Sitka 12

The Panthers used a balanced rushing and passing attack on offense and capitalized on four interceptions by the defense to down the Sitka Wolves 35-12.

On offense,  quarterback Jordan Jones passed for three touchdowns and 263 yards.  Cody Williams lead all rushers with 110 yards, most in the game’s second half: Sounveri carried just seven times for 77 yards.  Ryan Reynolds lead the receiving core with six catches for 112 yards and one touchdown. 

Skyview scored first on a Jones to Reynolds touchdown pass of 44 yards for a 7-0 lead.  The Panthers added a second quarter TD pass to Nick Symonds to take a 14-0  lead.  Sitka scored to tighten the score to 14-6; however, Skyview answered with an 80-yard catch and run by Albert White for a 21-6 Panther halftime lead.

The Panthers and Wolves held each other scoreless in the third quarter. After a Sitka touchdown to close to 21-12, Skyview added two rushing touchdowns, one for Cody Williams and one for Adam Sounveri.  Final score: Skyview 35 – Sitka 12.

Skyview 74 - Service High (Anchorage) JV 14

The Skyview Panthers opened week two with a home contest against the Service High School Cougars junior varsity team on Friday night.  The non-conference game for Skyview High School was no contest as the varsity Panthers dominated play.  Skyview scored 20 first quarter points, 14 in the second; and added 40 second half points for the 74-14 victory.

Skyview collected 384 total yards, including 220 rushing yards.  Richard Reynolds scored three touchdowns on passes from quarterback Jordan Jones.  The Panther defense contiributed three touchdowns; with a fumble recovery in the end zone for a score, and two interception returns for touchdowns, a 50-yard return by Vlad Ferderer and a 99-yard return by Albert White.

The 1-1 Panthers play Sitka on Thursday at 6:00 p.m. at Skyview High School.

Nikiski 34 - Delta 6

The Bulldogs traveled north to Delta for a Great Land Conference showdown with the Huskies.  The Bulldogs controlled play, scoring 21 first half points, in-route-to a 34-6 GLC victory.  Kaden Spurgeon rushed for 105 yards and a touchdown and Stephan Krogseng scored three touchdowns for the Bulldogs. Nikiski amassed 337 total yards.  The Bulldogs improve to 1-1 and 1-0 in the Great Land Conference. 

Nikiski travels to Juneau on Friday, August 20th for a contest against football newcomer Thunder Mountain of the Southeast Conference.

Kenai 13 – Service 20

The reigning small-school state champion Kardinals stepped-out of conference and divisional play for a test against the large-school division Service Cougars of Anchorage; and gave the Cougars all they could handle.

Following a scoreless first quarter, Kenai scored the game’s first touchdown on an AJ Hull 27-yard TD pass to Alex Nason.  The Kardinals added a Hull touchdown run of 4 yards for a 13-0 halftime advantage.  The second half scoring all belonged to Service; as the Cougars opened the third period with a rushing touchdown to close to 13-7 at the end of the third quarter.  Service took the lead 14-13 midway through the fourth quarter and added a final touchdown with just :18 left in regulation for a 20-13 advantage.  Kenai had a final chance; however, time expired on the Kardinals. 

Kenai’s AJ Hull rushed for 32 yards and passed for 90 yards.  Kenai carried for 155 yards.  The Kardinals allowed 182 passing yards, allowing three, second half touchdowns.

Kenai travels to Houston on Saturday, August 21st for a Northern Lights Conference game against the Hawks.

Soldotna High 28 – Kodiak 0

The Stars took to the road, figuratively speaking, as SoHi traveled to Kodiak for an early season, Northern Lights Conference contest against the Kodiak Bears; recording a 28-0 shutout.  The Stars improved to 11-0 against the Bears all-time, having never lost to Kodiak.

SoHi rushed for 218 yards and three rushing touchdowns and added 54 passing yards and a fourth-quarter passing touchdown.  Philip Bennett scored a pair of rushing touchdowns and caught a TD pass; Bennett lead the Stars with 144 yards.  Austin Tennis carried for 16 yards and a first quarter touchdown; Robbie Smithwick added 103 rushing yards.  SoHi improves to 2-0 and 1-0 in the NLC.

The Stars travel to Homer on Saturday, August 21st for a Northern Lights Conference game against the Mariners.

The Grace Christian girls and boys won both of the 9th and 10th grade events.  Kodiak raced to team wins in both 11th and 12th grade events.

Jaymi Bethea of Kodiak recorded the fastest girls’ time at 20:26 in the 11th-12th grade race.  Grace’s John Klein recorded the fastest boys’ time at 17:36 in the 11th-12th grade race.  Grace’s Ellie Arnold topped the field in the 9th-10th grade event and Kodiak’s Cole Christiansen won the 9th-10th event.

The first weekend of the regular season continued Saturday with the Kenai Kardinals shutting-out Skyview 36-0 and the Homer Mariners collaring the Nikiski Bulldogs 14-6.

Kenai 36 – Skyview 0

The reigning small-school state champion Kardinals opened the 2010 season with a decisive 36-0 shutout of the Skyview Panthers at KCHS on Saturday.

The Kardinals dominated in all facets of the game.  Kenai’s offense collected 399 yards rushing and passing; including quarterback AJ Hull’s 110 rushing yards and four touchdowns and Kia Risung’s 171 yards and one touchdown.  The Kardinal defense held Skyview to four positive yards; as the Panthers rushed for a -42 yards.

Kardinals 36, Panthers 0

Skyview 0 0 0 0 — 0

Kenai 8 21 0 7 — 36

1st Quarter

Kenai — Hull 28 run (kick blocked), 10:15          Kenai — safety, 2:26

2nd Quarter

Kenai — Hull 10 run (Hull kick), 11:15     Kenai — Risung 12 run (Hull kick), 10:06   

Kenai — Hull 2 run (Hull kick), 0:41

4th Quarter

Kenai — Hull 15 run (Hull kick), 5:46

Homer 14 – Nikiski 6

In a defensive battle, the Nikiski Bulldogs were denied on three drives inside the Homer 10-yard line, as the Mariner defense holds the Bulldogs in check for a 14-6 non-conference victory. 

The Bulldogs managed a lone rushing touchdown in the third quarter on a 1-yard carry by Kaden Spurgeon, who led the Bulldogs with 134 yards on 33 rushing attempts.  The Bulldogs closed to 8-6; however, Homer added a 4th quarter 36-yard touchdown pass locking-in the win.  The Bulldogs lost five fumbles and Bulldog quarterback Anderson passed for 90 yards.

Mariners 14, Bulldogs 6

Homer 0 0 8 6 –14

Nikiski 0 0 6 0 –6

3rd Quarter

Hom — Shealy 1 run (Day pass from Shealy), 7:40

Nik — Spurgeon 1 run (pass failed), 3:30

4th Quarter

Hom — Shealy pass from 36 (conversion failed), 7:00.

SoHi 15 – Wasilla 7

In the first football game of the 2010 season, the Stars again used its clock-controlling, ground game and a stingy defense to defeat Wasilla 15-7 in a non-divisional game.

SoHi scored on its first possession with 60-yard run by Phillip Bennett.  Wasilla scored a first-half touchdown to take a 7-6 lead. SoHiretook the lead witha Daniel Koch field goal for a 9-7 halftime score.  The Stars locked-up the game with the only score of the second half.  Bennett added a rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Stars 15, Warriors 7

Wasilla 0 7 0 0 — 7

Soldotna 6 3 0 6 — 15

1st Quarter

Soldotna — Bennett 60 run (kick failed), 10:28

2nd Quarter

Wasilla — Teeling 10 run (Solelev kick), 6:26

Soldotna — Koch 28 Field Goal, 1:40

4th Quarter

Soldotna — Bennett 34 run (kick failed), 6:17

Football Season Notes: 

The Kenai Kardinals are the reigning small-school state champions.  Kenairecorded its fifthstate football championship in 2009 with a 21-10 victory over the Soldotna Stars.  SoHi won the state championship in 2006, 2007, and 2008; the Kardinals won four straight from 2002-2005.  Nikiski captured the first two small-school championships in 2000 and 2001.

All ten small-school football championships have been claimed by central peninsula schools.

High School Football Schedule

Week of August 6-7

Friday, August 6th: 

Soldotna High 15 – Wasilla 7

Saturday, August 7th:

Nikiski 6 – Homer 14

Kenai 36 - Skyview  0

Week of August 13-14

Friday, August 13th: 

Skyview vs Service JV    6:30 p.m.

Saturday, August 14th:

Nikiski  @ Delta  11:00 a.m.

Kenai vs Service @ KCHS    2:00 p.m.

Soldotna High @ Kodiak   3:00 p.m.

Week of August 19-21

Thursday, August 19th: 

Skyview vs Sitka @ Skyview    6:00 p.m.

Saturday, August 21st:

Nikiski  @ Thunder Mt. in Juneau    TBA

Kenai @ Houston    TBA

Soldotna High @ Homer   3:00 p.m.

Week of August 27-28

Friday, August 27th: 

Soldotna High vs Houston @ SoHi    6:30 p.m.

Kenai vs Palmer @ KCHS   6:30 p.m.

Saturday, August 28th:

Nikiski  @ Seward   3:00 p.m. 

Skyview @ Homer    3:00 p.m.

Week of September 3-4

Friday, September 3: 

Soldotna High  @ Skyview   6:30 p.m.

Saturday, September 4:

Nikiski  @ Monroe   1:00 p.m. 

Kenai vs West Valley @ KCHS     2:00 p.m.

Week of September 10-11

Saturday, September 11:

Nikiski vs Valdez   1:00 p.m. 

Kenai vs Kodiak @ KCHS     2:00 p.m.

Skyview @ Houston    TBA

Soldotna High @ North Pole in Fairbanks    1:00 p.m.

Week of September 17-18

Saturday, September 18:

Nikiski  vs Barrow @ Nikiski   3:00 p.m. 

Kenai vs Homer @ KCHS     2:00 p.m.

Skyview vs Monroe @ Skyview    Noon

Soldotna High vs Eielson @ SoHi    2:00 p.m.

Week of September 24-25

Saturday, September 25:

Nikiski  vs Eielson @ Nikiski   1:00 p.m. 

Kenai @ SoHi     2:00 p.m.

Skyview vs Kodiak @ Skyview    2:00 p.m.

Fall Sports: Football, Cross Country, Volleyball and Swimming

Tuesday, September 7th

SoHi vs Homer   6:00 p.m.

Kenai @ Seward

Nikiski vs Skyview   5:30 p.m.

Thursday, September 9th

Kenai @ Nikiski     5:30 p.m.

Friday, September 10th

Volleyball:

SoHi @ Kodiak    

C-C Running:

ACS Invitational

Swimming & Diving:

Homer Invitational

Saturday, September 11th

Football:  

Kenai vs Kodiak   3:00 p.m.      Time Change!            

SoHi @ North Pole    1:00 p.m.        

Nikiski vs Valdez      1:00 p.m.  Homecoming Game

Skyview @ Houston   2:00 p.m.          

Volleyball:

SoHi @ Kodiak

C-C Running:

Palmer Invitational

Swimming & Diving: 

Homer Invitational