Mariners edge Hawks in Division III state title game

Trailing by nine points during the final minutes of the game, the Houston Hawks scored on a highlight reel-worthy touchdown grab, recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff and had one final opportunity to march down the field. But the Homer Mariners managed to hold on and upset the Hawks 22-20 in the ASAA First National Bowl Division III state championship Saturday evening at Service High School in Anchorage.

“I am completely proud of these kids. They’ve done an amazing job, played their tails off the entire season,” Houston co-head coach Charles Whittington said after the game. “They took it to the wire and came up a little short.”

With the Hawks trailing 22-13, Houston junior quarterback Carter Seime connected with junior Keldin Nicoll on a 25-yard touchdown pass with 1 minute, 9 seconds left in the game. Nicoll reached up for the ball and came down in the corner of the end zone for the score.

“Keldin did a great job, jumping up and making that catch,” Houston co-head coach Jared Barrett said.

After cutting the deficit to just two, Houston attempted the onside kick. Homer made the initial recovery, but during the return, a Hawk punched the ball out and sophomore Noah Whitted made the recovery for the Hawks.

Houston took possession at its own 33-yard line, but the Mariners did not allow another first down.

“You can’t be more proud of a team when they give you everything right down to the end,” Barrett said. “The heart these kids have, that is what you coach for.”

Houston entered the final 8-0 after outscoring opponents 336-29. The Hawks beat Homer 46-0 early in the season. But both Whittington and Barrett said they saw a different Homer team on the Service turf Saturday night.

The difference-maker?

Homer’s massive senior quarterback Carter Tennison.

“Tennison is an amazing athlete. They did an amazing job, their game plan was solid,” Whittington said. “They had their leader in there today and he played like a leader today.”

Tennison did not play during Homer’s regular season loss to the Hawks.

“For me it was a lot different having Tennison on the other side of the ball,” Barrett, who is also Houston’s defensive coordinator, said. “The guy is a special athlete and they put together a good game plan.”

Houston held Tennison to only 15 yards on 17 carries, but Tennison ran for a pair of 1-yard touchdowns and a pair of two-point conversions. Tennison, the Mid-Alaska Conference Offensive Player of the Year, threw for 158 yards.

Seime, Houston’s signal caller, enjoyed a career night completing 6 of 14 passes for 141 yards and two touchdown passes.

“We’ve been testing him,” Whittington, Houston’s offensive play caller, said of his quarterback. “He’s an amazing athlete, and the routes were there today.”

Seime connected with receiver Hayden Howard on a 63-yard touchdown pass late in the first quarter.

Houston’s workhorse running back, Mark Kudryn, led the Hawks with a game-high 178 yards on the ground. Kudryn broke free for a 70-yard touchdown run on the second play of the game.

Saturday marked the third time in four years that Houston played for a Division III state title. The Hawks won their first state football championship in 2019 and finished as the runner-up to rival Redington last year. The 2020 state title game was canceled due to the covid pandemic.

The Hawks will graduate only seven seniors from the 2022 team.

“This will sting. But we’ll come back more prepared, ready for next year,” Whittington said.

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