Kenai Central opens state title defense by topping Homer

The Kenai Central football team began its Division III state title defense with a 21-0 victory over Homer in nonconference action at Ed Hollier Field in Kenai on Saturday.

The matchup featured the last two Division III state champs, with Homer having won the first state title in school history in 2022.

Both squads are in the Mid Alaska Conference, but this matchup was nonconference because the Kenai Peninsula rivals meet again in Homer on Oct. 4.

The Kardinals topped the Mariners twice last season, including by scoring twice in the final minute for a 21-16 victory in the Division III semifinals.

Saturday’s game was not nearly as dramatic due to a dominant effort by Kenai’s defense.

The Mariners had 67 yards of total offense and had five first downs.

Kenai head coach Jake Brand said most of the game felt tight because of the presence of Homer’s Preston Stanislaw at quarterback. Stanislaw was first-team all-Division III at the position last season.

“There for the majority of it, this scoreboard lies a little bit right now,” Brand said. “It did not feel like a shutout to me. They’re just one breath away, one big No. 10 run away, from pulling it even.

“I think the kids did a great job of handling adversity.”

Stanislaw started the day with two 8-yard rushes, but after that the Kardinals had an answer for everything Homer tried.

Brand said his defense did a great job of diagnosing formations and game situations.

“I think they did a great job of trying to be defensive coaches themselves,” he said.

Homer head coach Justin Zank said mistakes and missed assignments doomed his offense.

“Getting goose-egged right out of the gates is not ideal,” he said.

Brand gave credit to all the defenders, and even said some of the backup players did so well the coaches now have things to think about.

The coach gave special praise to senior Hollan Chadwick.

“He moved to the state over the summer and was a gymnast before this,” Brand said. “So this was his first time playing football, or the first time in a long time.

“He had a great game. He’s got a lot of speed and he’s very smart. His best weapon is his brain and he used it.”

The coach also gave credit to defensive end Makai Johansen for battling through an ankle injury.

“He’s just such a talented kid and a good kid,” Brand said. “He’s so into football and this group of people. They’re all his friends and brothers and he takes it personally. He wants to support them.”

Kenai had more success offensively, rushing 50 times for 256 yards and also racking up 67 passing yards.

It wasn’t until 8:21 left in the first half that Kenai took the lead on a 13-yard run by Bobby Hayes, though.

Hayes, the returning Offensive Player of the Year for Division III, rushed 11 times for 116 yards and often had the ball in his hands in the most important moments.

“We have a new quarterback and a couple new pieces on the line,” Brand said. “It was just about getting those things smoothed out.

“I think once they got a rhythm and played together for a whole half of football, they were really able to execute.”

The coach gave credit to Delen Byrd, a returning running back moving up to the starting role, with also being a steadying influence with 18 carries for 68 yards.

Some fresher faces made their mark in the second half, with quarterback Tony Perez hitting Zane James for a 34-yard touchdown pass and 13-0 lead with 11:21 left in the game.

Aasen Campanella punctuated the victory with a 17-yard run with 7:48 left, and Brand also liked the way Hayden Hughes stepped up due to the Johansen injury at tight end.

Zank said the defense was not mistake-free, but he said the unit did hold Kenai to one score for most of the game, hit hard and made some fourth-down stands.

“I’m proud of the guys,” Zank said. “It’s Week 1. We’ve got a lot of football to play to get better.”

The Kardinals are off to Barrow for a 2 p.m. conference game on Saturday, Aug. 24, at 2 p.m. The Whalers lost 40-0 to Division II opponent West Valley on Friday and are sure to be up for the game against Kenai, which topped Barrow 20-8 for the state title in 2023.

Homer plays at Redington on Friday, Aug. 23, at 7 p.m. Both are in the Mid Alaska Conference, but this will again be a nonconference game. Redington defeated Kodiak 52-6 in a Mid Alaska game Thursday.

Saturday

Kardinals 21, Mariners 0

Hom 0 0 0 0 —0

Ken 0 7 0 14 —21

2nd Quarter

Ken — Hayes 13 run (Vann kick), 8:21.

4th Quarter

Ken — James 34 pass from Perez (run failed), 11:20.

Ken — Campanella 17 run (Byrd run), 7:48.

Hom Ken

First downs 5 14

Rushing yards 31-44 50-256

Passing yards 23 67

Comp-att-int 3-11-0 5-9-0

Punts 7-35.9 2-41.5

Fumbles 1-0 3-2

Penalties 5-33 5-35

INDIVIDUAL STATS

Rushing — Homer: Stanislaw 20-19, Grimes 5-7, N. Reutov 3-5, Burns 3-13. Kenai: Byrd 18-68, Hayes 11-116, Campanella 8-66, Perez 8-(-32), Hughes 5-38.

Passing — Homer: Stanislaw 3-11-0—23. Kenai: Perez 5-9-0—67.

Receiving — Homer: Burns 1-10, I. Reutov 1-12, N. Reutov 1-1. Kenai: Campanella 3-21, James 1-34, Hayes 1-12.

Homer quarterback Preston Stanislaw pitches the ball to running back Justus Grimes on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, at Ed Hollier Field at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)