By Dayten Van Ostrand

Special to the Homer Independent Press

The Mariners run a play against the Kardinals. (Photo courtesy of Andrea McClenning.)

The Homer Mariner football team opened their season last weekend with a disappointing 52-6 loss to the Kenai Central Kardinals. The defending state champion Mariners face another tough match this Saturday with an away game against Barrow, the team they shut out 20-0 last year to win their second consecutive state title.

The Homer team lost 13 seniors last season with nine rising seniors this season. This has made for a change in positions for many of the upcoming athletes including Eli Weisser as the new first string quarterback. He played as the back-up quarterback last season.

The Mariners started the game by receiving the ball for a short run to the 35-yard line for a first down by junior Logan Bailey. Weisser then threw incomplete to Joaquin Jackson.

On second down, the Mariners threw a deep pass to Justus Grimes for a 24-yard gain and a first down. They were forced to punt after that.

The Kardinals marched down the field for a touchdown and 2-point conversion, leaving the Mariners down 8-0 at the start of the first quarter. 

The Kardinals scored another three touchdowns in the first quarter. This put the Mariners down 30 points to start the second quarter.

The Mariners gave up two more touchdowns to the Kardinals in the second quarter leaving them down 44-0 at the half.

The Kardinals received the ball to start the second half. They slipped through the Mariner defense for an eventual 17-yard pass, and a run into the endzone for a touchdown. The 2-point conversion was successful, putting the score at 52-0 in the third quarter.

The Mariner defense found some ground and held Kenai scoreless for the remainder of the game. 

In the last 13 seconds of the game, Kenai attempted a pass, but was intercepted by Justus Grimes. Grimes ran the ball for an 85-yard touchdown while avoiding five tackles.

The clock ran out before Grimes made it to the endzone. This ended the game, and took away the chance for the Mariners to try for a 2-point conversion. 

“It was a good touchdown, and hopefully we can do better in the games coming,” said Grimes after the contest.

The Mariners ended with only 47 total yards to Kenai’s 308 total yards.

The Mariner defense fought hard with only one touchdown being scored in the second half.

“I think our defense showed real pride and our offense will find ways to move the ball,” said defensive lineman Dawson Stokes.

Following the game, head coach Justin Zank said, “I think Kenai is an excellent football team. It’s a hard lesson to hold early in week one, but we’ll take the lessons from week one and we’ll learn and be better next week.”

“I think that as a team we did well to overcome adversity and move on to the next play every time, even when we made mistakes,” said offensive lineman Brayden McClenning.

The Mariners will play this weekend at Barrow’s home in the North Slope town of Utqiagvik. The Mariners shut out Barrow at home last season, but were defeated when they played away.