Senior Ian Lowe gave Homer Mariners their one and only touchdown in Saturday’s 41-6 loss to the Kenai Kardinals, saving the Mariners from a complete shutout.
“I wasn’t planning on playing him, but we had a bunch of people with injuries go down,” said Coach Josh Fraley of putting Lowe in the game. It was the senior’s first time back on the field since being injured earlier this season.
The Mariners defense kept the Kardinals to one touchdown in the first quarter. After that, however, things started to fall apart for the Homer team.
“The second quarter got away from us,” said Fraley.
“We weren’t able to run the ball effectively at all.”
By the fourth quarter, Homer’s receivers were taking a beating. Then, with less than a minute left and Homer without a score, quarterback Shelton Hutt threw a 26-yard pass to Lowe who carried the ball all the way to the end zone.
“I was happy he got that score and we were happy with the ending,” said Fraley.
“It should have been a closer game. I figured it would be pretty close, within one or two touchdowns, but that’s just the way it goes. Now, we’re trying to get everyone healthy so we can suit everybody for homecoming.”
Fraley praised Hutt for his role as a leader on the team.  
“We asked a lot of him. He was pretty much our offense,” said Fraley.
On Saturday, Homer’s homecoming games are against Houston’s junior varsity and varsity teams.
“I think we’ll match up pretty well with them,” said Fraley.
“As most games do, it’s going to come down to execution and who makes the most mistakes. We should roll pretty good.”
The public is invited to homecoming festivities that begin on Friday with a parade at 6 p.m., followed by a bonfire. The football games on Saturday begin with the JV game at noon and the varsity game at 3 p.m.
“We want everybody to come out and support us for the last home game and enjoy the homecoming festivities,” said Fraley.
McKibben Jackinsky can be reached at mckibben.jackinsky@homernews.com.