Service (Anchorage, Alaska) vs. South (Anchorage, Alaska)
South High (wearing white) took a trip to California and battled Vista Murrieta, one of the nation's top teams. That could pay dividends in this week's state-title game.
Photo by Louis Lopez
Service earned its third-consecutive berth in the Alaska Large School state championship game with a 49-34 victory against West (Anchorage) last week. Leading the way was explosive two-way standout
Viliamu Aukusitino, who
accounted for 533 combined passing and rushing yards and all seven Service touchdowns. He also snagged a pair of interceptions on defense. Aukusitino scored seven touchdowns –
including three on defense – in the Cougars' 58-10 rout of Juneau-Douglas two weeks ago in the state quarterfinals. Service (9-1) is undefeated against Alaska opponents. Its only loss came in Hawaii at the
Fire and Ice Bowl to Leilehua (Wahiawa, Hawaii) on Aug. 10, 23-15.
View the MaxPreps Alaska football playoff brackets for all divisionsIf South upsets Service on Saturday, it would earn its first state championship since 2006. In addition, it would snap South's losing streak against the Cougars that includes last year's Large School championship game and reached five games with a 21-14 defeat on Sept. 15. South earned its return trip to the finals with a 25-7 win over then-unbeaten Palmer last Friday. Like Service, the Wolverines played a road game against strong opponent from another state, falling 49-8 to nationally ranked Vista Murrieta (Murrieta, Calif.) on Sept. 7.
Mitch Stephens: Service 42, South 28
Steve Montoya: South 28, Service 21
Stephen Spiewak: Service 14, South 7
Kevin Askeland: Service 35, South 14
Leland Gordon: South 24, Service 21
Jamie DeMoney: Service 42, South 28
Jamie DeMoney is a Regional Content Manager and Product Specialist for XOS Digital PlayerOnDemand. He has covered high school sports and recruiting for more than 15 years.
