As football kickoff inches closer around the country, MaxPreps forecasts the top five teams in the state of Alaska for the 2009 season.
1. North Pole
A funny thing happened on the way to the Alaska large school state championships last year. The two undefeated league champions, North Pole (9-1) and South (9-1), both lost in the semifinals leaving Service and Juneau-Douglas to battle it out for the state championship. The Patriots certainly don’t want a repeat of last season and Richard Henert appears to have the horses necessary to make another run at a state title. North Pole has possibly the top returning quarterback in the state in Lee Jones, a 6-foot-3, 240-pound athlete who was an all-league pick at linebacker last year. Eric Antesberger and Alex Innes, a pair of second team all-league picks, also return at running back to give North Pole the most experienced backfield in the state. The offensive line may be a bit small, considering that Jones is the biggest returning player on the team, but center Keith LeMay and guard Chris Wentland both received honorable mention all-league status last year.
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2. Soldotna
There’s a good case to be made for Soldotna as the top team in the state regardless of school size. Last year the small-school champion Stars whipped Colony 40-16. The Knights, meanwhile, lost by less than four points to the likes of North Pole and Juneau-Douglas. Soldotna scored under 40 points just once last year (in the state finals against Kodiak, 28-6) and scored over 50 seven times while racking up 551 points in a 10-win season. Although state MVPs Anthony Griglione and Ross Courtney have graduated, five other all-state players return including Nate Strieby (T), Phil Bennett (KR), Tyler McGillivray (LS), Chase Jensen (Ut) and Braden Price (LB). Many of the Stars’ top players last year were just sophomores, putting Soldotna in good position for the next two seasons. Soldotna has won 29 games in a row and is the three-time defending small schools state champion.
3. Service
The Cougars were the surprise champions last year in Alaska, winning their final three games of the season including a 27-12 victory over previously unbeaten North Pole and a 22-14 win over Juneau Douglas in the state finals. Service finished second in the Cook Inlet Conference standings behind South of Anchorage with a 5-2 record. While Service took a hit in the skill positions from graduation, the offensive and defensive lines should be among the best in Alaska. All-state center Joe Sokimi returns along with all-conference linemen Young Kim (G), Dalton Riggs (DL), Sean George (OT), T.J. Hale (LS) and Andy Enz (DL). All-conference receiver Connor Mamakunian is the top returning skill player for the Cougars.
4. Juneau Douglas
The Crimson Bears have won the Cook Inlet Conference in 2003, 2005 and 2007. You may have noticed a pattern emerging. With seven returning starters on both sides of the ball, Juneau Douglas could make another run at the conference championship as well as make a return to the state championship. Juneau Douglas, which won the state title in 2007, lost to Service in the finals last year after upsetting previously undefeated South of Anchorage in the semifinals 28-17. Replacing state MVP Alex Fagerstrom at running back will be difficult, but the Crimson Bears could have one of the state’s best defensive players in all-state linebacker Jack Perkins (6-1, 210). He’ll also play in the offensive backfield at fullback along with Silver Maake (6-0, 225) at running back. Lawrence Fenumiai (6-4, 270) leads the Crimson Bear linemen along with all-conference pick Eric Sele (G). Depth and experience at quarterback will be a concern for the Crimson Bears, who start a freshman signal caller this year.
5. South Anchorage
South was hit hard by graduation, losing 16 players who earned all-conference honors from last year’s 9-1 Cook Inlet championship team. Still, the Wolverines have been one of the more consistent large school teams in Alaska over the past five seasons, boasting a 35-14 record during that span with a pair of conference titles and a state championship in 2006. South should have one of the state’s top linebackers in Matt Higgins while all-conference center Dylon Short is the top returning lineman.
Others considered: Colony (5-4), Chugiak (3-5), Palmer (5-4)
