Bulldogs blank Huskies

NIKISKI — There were a lot of questions about both teams heading into Saturday's conference meeting between Nikiski and Redington high schools, the top two teams sitting atop the Peninsula Conference.

The Bulldogs answered those questions with an emphatic 39-0 homecoming win to establish themselves as the team to beat in the Peninsula Conference. The two sides were tied with identical division records entering the day, but Nikiski (3-2 overall) placed itself on top with a 2-0 mark, as Redington (3-2 overall) dropped to 1-1 in conference.

And with Nikiski celebrating homecoming festivities, the shutout victory put the cherry on the top of the Bulldogs cake.

"We played our best game of the year," said Nikiski head coach Paul Nelson. "We executed in all facets of the game."

Nelson said preserving the shutout was important for Nikiski's defense, which proved itself on the final drive of the game. Two big first-down pickups by Redington placed the Huskies within range of a last-second touchdown as the game came down to its final seconds, but the Bulldogs — which were using their second-string defensive players — erased any chance of giving up points with a breakup on a long pass by Redington quarterback Sam Reed.

"The defense was lights out today," Nelson said. "All year we've taken pride in holding opponents back, and we preach a shutout."

After starting 0-12 in its first two seasons of existence, the young Redington football program was on a breakout campaign with three wins in four games this fall entering Saturday's clash with Nikiski.

The Bulldogs left little doubt by the end of the day who was still top dog.

Senior running back Ian Johnson led a triple-headed rushing attack for Nikiski that racked up 334 yards. Johnson led the way with 153 yards rushing on 25 carries, including two scoring runs, junior Cody Handley added 114 yards and two touchdowns and junior Justin Harris notched 81 yards and a 32-yard touchdown reception.

Handley said the win was crucial to keep Nikiski's season rolling with momentum.

"We wanted to beat them to show them that we're still the best team," Handley said.

Handley said the emergence of Harris in the Nikiski backfield has added a much-needed boost of offense for the Bulldogs, as well as a relief for hurting players. Handley himself checked out of Saturday's game at least three times with cramping muscles, and Harris picked up where Handley left off.

"He's a beast," Handley said.

"Our rotation of backs keep us fresh," explained Nelson. "When its their chance, they step up and carry us."

Sophomore Michael Eiter rolled out his best game of the year with two touchdown passes on 5-for-7 efficiency and 90 yards.

Nikiski's defense held Redington to 202 yards of offense, while the Bulldogs stacked up 424 yards. Huskies running back Kyler Rumfelt led the way with 65 yards on 17 carries, while Reed hit 5 of 18 targets for 80 yards.

Johnson opened the scoring late in the first quarter to cap a 55-yard scoring drive, breaking free for a 22-yard scoring rumble to put Nikiski ahead.

One the key moments of the game occurred on Redington's next possession, which stalled out and forced the Huskies to punt. Before the Redington punter could get the kick off, senior Tyler Litke charged past the line and blocked the kick, setting Nikiski up with excellent field position at the Redington 20-yard line, and the Bulldogs cashed in on three plays, ending with a nine-yard scamper by Johnson to put Nikiski up 13-0.

The Huskies faked a punt on their next drive on a fourth-and-13 situation, but punter Seth Mueller couldn't escape the Nikiski coverage and the Bulldogs took over on Redington's 26-yard line.

After the Bulldogs couldn't convert the play into points, Redington embarked on its biggest drive of the game, covering 78 yards from their own 17 to the Nikiski 5-yard line on 14 plays, but failed to score after a touchdown was called back on a holding penalty. The Huskies were backed up to the 25 on an additional unsportsmanlike call, and turned it over on downs on a pass incompletion.

Nikiski capitalized by going 75 yards to score on a short pass from Eiter to Tyler Olson in the end zone, putting Nikiski up 20-0 at the half. The touchdown was set up by a 54-yard carry from Harris, who got loose on the left outside edge and ate up most of the field before being pushed out of bounds.

The Bulldogs built on their lead in the second half with a 32-yard catch-and-run from Eiter to Harris and a 27-yard rumble by Handley to put the game out of reach. Nikiski led 33-0 after three quarters of play.

Nikiski will receive another crucial conference test next weekend on the road in Homer.

Nikiski 39, Redington 0

Saturday, Nikiski

First quarter

Nik — Johnson 22 run (Johnson kick), 1:09

Second quarter

Nik — Johnson 9 run (kick failed), 11:40

Nik — Olson 6 pass from Eiter (Johnson kick), :56

Third quarter

Nik — Harris 32 pass from Eiter (Johnson kick), 10:34

Nik — Handley 27 run (kick failed), 1:22

Fourth quarter

Nik — Handley 8 run (kick failed), 4:03

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Nikiski: Johnson 25-153, Handley 22-114, Harris 6-81, Olson 2-0, Eiter 1-(-14). Redington: Rumfelt 17-65, Hall 8-12, Long 2-5, Mueller 1-5, Reed 5-35, Norris 1-7, Nashookpuk 1-(-2).

PASSING — Nikiski: Eiter 5-7-0—90. Redington: Reed 5-18-0—80.

RECEIVING — Harris 1-32, Johnson 1-29, Berry 1-20, Handley 1-3, Olson 1-6. Redington: Norris 3-47, Amirault 2-29, Rumfelt 1-4.