Crimson Bears defeat defending state champs 15-14 in torrential rain and national TV spotlight
- Mark Sabbatini
- Sep 20
- 7 min read
Updated: Sep 21
Interception by JDHS’ Mati Iona wth less than a minute left seals win over Dimond that will be featured in documentary during next year’s Super Bowl
By Mark Sabbatini
Juneau Independent
Under the brightest of TV spotlights and soggiest conditions in decades, the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears put on a star performance with a 15-14 victory over defending state champion Dimond High School on Saturday at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Field.
An interception by JDHS senior running back/linebacker Mati Iona at the Juneau 25-yard line with 56 seconds remaining sealed the win.
"It was crazy — I didn't expect that," he said after the game. "I was just standing there with my hands out and then it just dropped right in front of me, and then I just ran."
It was the finale to a game filled with highlight moments, including senior receiver/defensive back Noah Ault snagging two interceptions and putting on a monstrous offensive show, junior quarterback Krew Ridle running for one touchdown and throwing another, and a defense that made tackles in Dimond’s backfield throughout the afternoon.
The Crimson Bears (2-4 this season) were playing with some extra fire due to being filmed by NBC Sports as part of a documentary about high school football scheduled to air as part of next year’s Super Bowl coverage. But they were also deluged by the most intense rainstorm JDHS Head Coach Rich Sjoroos said he’s seen in his 32-year career.
"This is a great experience," he said. "I think it was just neat for the team and I thought they did a nice job of focusing on football, which could be hard. You know, a lot of things to maybe catch your attention, but I thought they did a great job."
Juneau came out flat with a quick three-and-out after the opening kickoff. But Dimond’s first drive also ended quickly when sophomore lineman Leonidas Taualo-Tasi stopped a fourth-down run in the Lynx backfield for a loss. The Crimson Bears responded by taking the ball 65 yards in nine plays, highlighted by a 45-yard run by Ault to the Lynx’s 5-yard line, with Ridle running for Juneau’s first touchdown and Ault the two-point conversion to make the score 8-0 halfway through the first quarter.
"We scored a touchdown on a play we hadn’t even practiced — a fake counter," Sjoroos told his players while congratulating them after the game for notable moments. He also noted senior Daniel Campbell, who filled in at quarterback and picked up key clock-killing first downs late in the game, played well despite limited practice time, and the offensive line was solid with fill-ins there as well.
"(It’s) just a lot of really, really good things you guys should feel real good about," he said..
The Crimson Bears added another touchdown on a pass from Ridle to junior running back/linebacker Jaxin Jim to make the score 15-0 with seven minutes left in the second quarter. They threatened again after an interception by Ault was followed by a 40-yard Ridle-to-Ault pass to the Dimond 10-yard line with four seconds left in the half. But a mishandled snap thwarted a field goal attempt as the second quarter expired.
Dimond stalled after taking the second-half kickoff, but after a Juneau fumble on the ensuing drive the Lynx got its first score on a 53-yard run with 8:21 left in the third quarter, making the tally 15-6 when a two-point conversion failed.
The next three possessions all ended in turnovers when Juneau fumbled on a sack on the first play after the kickoff, Dimond fumbled it back to Crimson Bears on the next play, and Juneau fumbled again four plays later after driving inside the Dimond 40-yard line with 5:35 left in the third quarter.
Both teams stalled on their next drives, with the Lynx having a fourth-down kick blocked at about midfield and the Crimson Bears turning the ball over on downs when a pass on fourth-and-13 at the Dimond 36-yard line fell incomplete.
The Lynx turned the game into a cliffhanger when, facing a fourth-and-17 at their own 28-yard line, a long pass went for a score and the two-point conversion made the score 15-14 with 9:37 remaining.
Juneau took a few minutes off the clock on the ensuing drive, but a tipped punt gave the Lynx the ball back on their 41-yard line with 5:41 remaining. A run and two incompletions resulted in a fourth-and-8 — and a bleacher-shaking response from a full hometown crowd — but Dimond’s Everett Monteil took a short pass and broke several tackles to bull his way to a first down at the Juneau 48-yard line. However, that effort went for naught as the Lynx then threw four incomplete passes to give the ball back to the Crimson Bears with 4:25 remaining.
Campbell picked up a clock-killing first down on four straight runs, including converting a fourth-and-1 with 1:35 to go. But the snap on the next play went over his head and was recovered by Dimond at their own 45-yard line with 1:18 remaining.
Two plays later a deep pass was intercepted by Iona and Juneau proceeded to kneel on the ball to run out the clock.
"In all my years of playing football this has been the rainiest game by far," Ricky Tupou, a senior lineman, said after the game. "But I think we all kind of enjoy wet games. Both teams have got to play with it and I think we have the advantage there."
Tupou was one of three Crimson Bears, along with Ault and Jim, interviewed by NBC after the game, with longtime football writer/broadcaster Peter King asking them about growing up playing football in Juneau as well as the just-completed game.
"I mean, the whole week has kind of been a little bit of a distraction, but also I think it really made us excited and motivated us for this game," Tupou said after the TV interview was finished.
"Pregame you see all the camera crew and then you’re like ‘I kind of want to look good for that.’ But I think once the game started, then I think we all got locked in."
• Contact Mark Sabbatini at editor@juneauindependent.com or (907) 957-2306.
