Mariner Football scraped past the Kenai Kardinals 7-6 for the last game of the regular season. The Mariners are now the number three seed going into the playoffs, and Kenai is fourth.

The Mariners had previously lost 46-6 against Kenai in week one. Both teams have lost players to injuries and other reasons, including disciplinary, but Kenai got the brunt of it, which gave Homer an advantage going into last week’s game.

Kenai, the loser of the rematch, will play in Utqiagvik against the No. 1 Barrow Whalers. Homer will travel to the Valley to play the No. 22 Redington Huskies, to whom they previously lost 16-0.

The winners of those two games will play each other for the state Division III championship Oct. 17 in Wasilla.

The Kenai game had many intense moments for both teams,including interceptions and a blocked field goal. There was a cross wind in the beginning of the game, and a light drizzle. This made it hard for both teams to throw and catch the slippery ball.

“I’m really proud of the guys, first of all, for responding. We haven’t had the most successful season, wins and losses wise. So to play a good team like that, and to play them tight like we did, and come out on top, I’m really proud of the guys,” said head coach Justin Zank.

The game started with the Mariners’ ball at their own 41. Over seven plays, they were able to push the ball to the Kardinal 36 before Homer’s quarterback Eli Weisser threw an interception, giving Kenai the ball at their own 31.

The Mariner defense stopped the Kardinals in the red zone. Asher Rozeboom and Ty Gibby stopped the attempted run, bringing the Mariners the ball at their own 7-yard line.

Homer attempted to run the ball over the next few plays, but got tackled in the backfield. Eli Weisser was forced to punt from the 9-yard line. The punt rolled backwards, giving the Kardinals the ball on the Mariner’s 35.

The Kardinals got the ball to the 26 before the end of the quarter. 

Kenai initiated the second quarter with a 25-yard pass, putting them into the red zone at the eight.

They ran the ball up the middle, on third-and-three, for a touchdown. Kenai’s attempted extra point was blocked by Gibby. This play would end up making the difference in the end for Homer.

This put the Kardinals up 6-0 in the beginning of the second quarter.

Homer received the ball at the 31 to start their drive. Senior Justus Grimes faked a handoff to Joaquin Jackson, and instead ran the ball up to the 39 bringing up second down. Then, he handed the ball to Jackson who ran the ball to the 49 for  a Mariner first down.

Weisser threw a 17-yard pass to Berend Pearson, getting the Mariners another first down at the 38. It was fourth-and-one on the 29, and Homer went for it, and scored!

Weisser handed the ball off to Grimes who ran up the middle for the touchdown. He avoided five tackles along the way. Carter Kinkaid kicked the extra point straight up the middle putting the Mariners up 7-6 going into halftime.

The second half brought no scoring, but some great plays by the Mariners.

Aleksea Yatchmeneff got a sack in the Kardinals first drive of the second half, forcing them to punt on fourth down. 

Grimes made two long runs, totaling for 39 yards, in Homer’s first drive before they were stopped in the red zone by Kenai’s defense.

Kenai made many great plays on their next drive, but after getting to the 23, Rozeboom hit the quarterback forcing the throw to land in the hands of Homer’s Logan Bailey for an interception.

Homer got stopped at the Kardinal’s 28. 

Kenai ran three plays before Homer’s Cameron Fox forced a fumble recovered by Grimes.

Homer was forced to punt on fourth down.

The Kardinals completed a 20-yard pass to the middle. The receiver barely hit the ground before Fox made a solo tackle with a hard hit to the ribs.

 “It was vicious,” said Zank.

With about two minutes left on the clock, and three plays later, Kenai attempted a deep pass, but it was tipped by Homer’s Onyx Allen, and then intercepted by Fox. This gave the Mariners their final possession of the game where they ran out the clock.

“It was a good game. I had a good touchdown, and hopefully we can keep it going against Redington,” said Grimes.

Homer will play away at Redington on Friday at 6pm.