Video: Best football teams from each state A look at the very best from each of the 50 states, including Alaska.
It came down to one play and with a single one-yard touchdown run, the nation's second longest current win streak came to a halt on Friday night.
That's one heck of a way to start the 2018 season.
According to the
Anchorage Daily News,
Bubba Mendoza dove over from the 1-yard-line on the final play of the game, lifting
West (Anchorage, Alaska) to a 18-13 win at
Soldotna (Alaska).
Following the last-second West 18-13 win to snap Soldotna's 59-game win streak.
Photo by Skip Hickey
The loss snapped a 59-game win streak for Soldotna, which hadn't lost since a season-opener to the 2012 season.
The Stars had outscored their 59 opponents by an average score of 49-12 and only three foes had even come within a touchdown.
They actually looked like their were going to go up by more than a touchdown with less than four minutes to go, but a fumble at the West 7-yard line set up the final score.
West quarterback Bubba Mendoza stepping to line just before the final play.
Photo by Skip Hickey
West traveled 93 yards in 10 plays and was keyed by a 50-yard reception on a third down play, putting the ball at the Soldotna 27-yard line. On third down from the 2, Soldotna stopped West cold, but the Eagles had one more timeout and called it with 2.8 seconds left.
On the next play, Mendoza scored the game winner.
Jersey Truesdell accounted for both Soldotna touchdowns, one rushing and one passing.
But the Stars couldn't stop West in the final minute.
"The streak going away, it was fun to hang on while it was there, but there's no blame," Soldotna coach Galen Brantley Jr. told Radio Kenai after the game. "We win together and we lose together. It just so happens these guys have never lost."
Kimberly (Wis.) owns the nation's longest current win streak at 70. Now the second longest streak is
Lamar (Mo.) at 49. Alaska and Hawaii kicked off football games this weekend, the first two among the 50 states.
Bubba Mendoza is at the bottom of the pile with the winning score for West, which broke Soldotna's 59-game win streak with an 18-13 win.
Photo by Skip Hickey
West bench erupts after the game-winning touchdown.
Photo by Skip Hickey
In the West postgame celebration and talk with coaches.
Photo by Skip Hickey
Soldotna seemed to take control late in the fourth quarter.
Photo by Skip Hickey
Soldotna quarterback Jersey Truesdell (4) accounted for two touchdowns.
Photo by Skip Hickey
Soldotna's 59-game win streak is over.
Photo by Skip Hickey
