Evidently parity reigns supreme in Alaska.
Soldotna High School’s attempt to break a state record for most consecutive wins was done in by quarterback Justin Kauffman and his West teammates which prevailed 34-21 in a season opener for both teams Saturday at Anchorage Football Stadium.
According to the Anchorage Daily News, Kauffman accounted for 315 yards and four touchdowns as West snapped Soldotna’s 29-game win streak.
Soldotna was trying to become the state’s first school to win 30 straight and break the mark of 29 it shared with East from 1985-87.
East’s streak also was snapped by West, which Saturday committed five turnovers and fell behind 14-0 to the three-time defending small-school state champions.
Kauffman rushed for 149 yards on 16 carries and passed for 166, including a 22-yard touchdown pass to Will Sharp late in the second quarter to put the Eagles up for good.
Chris Nolden rushed for 80 yards and two scores for Soldotna.
In other opening-weekend Alaska results:
Service 18, South 15
Sophomore quarterback J.J. Christy threw two touchdown passes leading defending big-school state champion Service to a win over arch-rival South.
It was the first win for Service over its arch-rival since South was opened in 2004. Many of Service’s students split off and attended South.
Lucas Cosgrove and Anthony Order caught TD passes from Christy, who also rushed for a team-high 62 yards, and Robert Smith added a 1-yard TD run for the winners. A late interception by Chris Theulen preserved the victory.
David Sollars rushed for a game-high 72 yards and a TD for South.
Bartlett 39, Wasilla 0
Jamal Hale and Cyrus Chenault combined to rush for 380 yards and five touchdowns leading Bartlett to a 39-0 win Wasilla. Coach John Jessen told the Anchorage Daily News that the running back tandem is as good as he’s ever coached after Hale rushed for 182 yards and three touchdowns and Chenault added 198 yards and two scores on 15 carries.
