Redington headed to first football state title game in school history

KNIK — The Redington Huskies are headed to their first ASAA/First National Bank Division III state championship football game in the school’s seven-year history after defeating the Kenai Kardinals 60-14 at Redington Jr./Sr. High School on Friday night.

The Huskies dominated Kenai from the opening kickoff and punched their ticket to play rival Houston Hawks in the Division III state title game at 12 p.m., at Service High School on Oct. 16.

Following the game, a fireworks display donated by Gorilla Fireworks lit up the night sky above the field where the Redington seniors had just played their final game. Senior running back Jaden Spaulding led all rushers with 170 yards and two touchdowns, doing much of his damage in the first half. The Husky backups played much of the fourth quarter. Spaulding had tears in his eyes as he watched the fireworks explode overhead following a decisive and historic victory for the Husky team that has yet to lose a game they’ve played this season.

“I’ve been practicing on that field over there since 6th grade so it’s a little deep. It’s like a happy sad though,” said Spaulding.

The Redington offense scored five times in the first half and sophomore defensive back Trevor Bowman intercepted two passes, including the on the last play of the first half. Spaulding scored the first two touchdowns before the Huskies ran a direct snap to senior lineman Mason Brouillet, who scored his first touchdown during his high school football career.

“We’ve been trying for three weeks, we’ve been talking about it all year. We thought about it senior night we’ve been trying, we finally got him in there it was great. Makes me feel good because that’s my favorite lineman, that’s like my best friend,” said Spaulding.

Brouillet typically plays offensive and defensive line, but took the ball for four carries including a touchdown and a two-point conversion.

“When I crossed the end zone I just felt so happy for my team like because they really blocked everybody I went in there untouched. All I could feel was just like, I was so happy,” said Brouillet. “I realize how good they have it. I was running, I was like there’s nobody here.”

Back in his usual role, Brouillet jumped on a fumble on the first snap of the second half to give Redington their third forced turnover. Just over a minute later, senior quarterback Wayde Bowman threw his third of four touchdown passes to senior wide receiver Logan Seymore.

“Job’s not finished. Now we’ve got to take every day at practice seriously and just work because Houston is not going to come easy and we know that,” said Brouillet.

Bowman continued his stellar season behind center for the Huskies, going 13 of 21 without any interceptions and throwing four touchdowns to Seymore. On the Huskies final possession of the first half, Bowman sliced the Kenai defense open, orchestrating a scoring drive that lasted just over a minute. Bowman scrambled out of the pocket and threw a 22-yard strike on the run to Seymore in the front corner of the end zone.

“It’s such an outstanding season and playing a playoff game at home for the first time in front of a crowd like that with those players, they just understand where they’re at. It’s just coming together unbelievably and Kenai did a good job preparing. They’re a different team than when we met them the first time and they did a good job over there, but I’m really glad that our guys responded and kept going and ultimately we had a good result on our side,” said Redington head coach Mathias Weinberger.

Bowman would finish the game with 190 yards, most of which Seymore was on the receiving end of. The Huskies delighted their home fans with another blowout victory and earned the opportunity to play for their first state title in football.

“We had a pretty good season, players are doing a tremendous job, seniors understand their role. They understand to put themselves on display that is really important,” said Weinberger. “It’s great to see those young men grow up and making memories for the future they are not forgetting those seasons and their high school football career for sure and that’s a great thing.”

Redington 60, Kenai 14.

Friday, Redington Jr./Sr. High School

SCORING

First Quarter

Redington — Spaulding 20 run, 9:20

Redington — Spaulding 13 run, (Brouillet run) 4:45

Second Quarter

Redington — Brouillet 1 run (Spaulding run) 8:20

Redington — Seymore 30 pass from Bowman (Spaulding run) 4:18

Redington — Seymore 22 pass from Bowman (Spaulding run) :34.5

Third Quarter

Redington — Seymore 14 pass from Bowman 10:31

Redington — Seymore 10 pass from Bowman (Comins pass from Bowman) 6:00

Kenai — Wilson 11 run (kick good) 3:16

Redington — Lawrence 14 run (Vargas-Gutierres pass from Bowman) :30

Fourth quarter

Kenai — Wilson 45 run (kick good) 5:52

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Kenai: Wade James 2-6, William Wilson 16-119, Reagan Graves 5-1, Owen Whicker 1 6, James Sparks 2-22. Redington: Wayde Bowman 5-24, Mason Brouillet 4-6, Wyatt Pinard 1-5, Trevor Lawrence 6-49, Jeremiah Bailey 3-12, Jaden Spaulding 14-170.

PASSING — Kenai: Bridger Beck 0-8-0--0, Wade James 0-1-1--0, Roc Riggle 1-7-1--8, Redington: Joseph Spiegel 1-1-11 yards, Wayde Bowman 13-21-0--190.

RECEIVING — Kenai: Elliot Haakenson 1-8. Redington: Trevor Bowman 4-51, Dallas Matson 1-11, PomaiKai Vargas-Gutierres 1-5, Jaden Spaulding 1-4, Bryce Murdock 1-11, Logan Seymore 6-119.