J's World: Teams can’t ignore Colony

As we blitzed through the end of the regular season and dove into the playoffs, much of the chatter surrounding Alaska prep football included a handful of teams. There were the usual suspects and a few a new ones. But there are two programs that deserve to be a bigger part of the conversation.

Colony and Eielson.

At the Division I level, Bartlett and East Anchorage have been the teams most talked about. And rightfully so. Both won their respective conferences, and earned titles in decisive fashion. But aside from its loss to the Golden Bears, Colony continues to take care of business week after week.

Division III has had some great storylines this season.

Houston’s historic season. Ketchikan’s debut as a DIII squad. Barrow’s return to the title game.

All of the above may have deflected attention away from Eielson. But Eielson has spent the season doing what the Ravens do.

Win.

Let’s take a closer look at each class as we run into the second weekend of the postseason.

Division I

While a Bartlett-East Anchorage final is the hope for all of those on the east side of Anchortown, Colony and West want to spoil the eastsiders’ plan in the Division I semifinals Saturday. Bartlett, the top seed from the Chugach, hosts West, the No. 2 from the Cook Inlet, at 2 p.m. Colony, the Chugach No. 2, is at East, the CIC top seed, at 2 p.m.

Colony finally shed the monkey from its back and scored the elusive first-round win last week into the quarterfinals. And the Knights did it in dominating fashion, crushing South Anchorage 47-0. It marked Colony’s first playoff win since 2010, and snapped a five-game playoff losing streak. Colony entered the game 1-7 in its last eight quarterfinal games.

The Knights, who allow a Division I-low 13.1 points per game have not been scored on since Wasilla’s Jordan Quenga powered 18 yards for a touchdown during a 42-7 loss to the Knights in Week 6. For those counting, that means Colony has not allowed a point in 13 straight quarters.

Division II

Soldotna and Eagle River will meet in the DII championship game Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at Palmer High.

Yes, Eagle River.

I’m serious, Eagle River.

It’s pretty much a guarantee that everyone outside of the Wolves Den did not have Eagle River among their postseason predictions. But that’s why the play the game folks. Eagle River is the Cinderella story in 2018, the only team remaining team in the Alaska football playoffs that has not played in a state title game.

Eagle River is a first-time playoff team, which makes it that much more special.

And Soldotna.

Eagle River is the rookie, SoHi is the veteran. The Stars are in search of their seventh straight state title.

Division III

Barrow is the defending state champ, but Eielson may be the team to watch when the Aurora Conference rivals meet in the DIII title game Saturday at 3 p.m. at Palmer High.

The Ravens are 8-1, with the lone loss coming to Division II West Valley in Week 2. Eielson has outscored opponents 370-79 in its eight wins.

Contact Frontiersman editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.