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Crimson Bears earn multiple all-conference football honors
JDHS looks to ground East as state playoffs begin on Adair-Kennedy turf
By Klas Stolpe
Juneau Independent
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé head football coach Rich Sjoroos stood along the Thunder Mountain Middle School stadium sidelines on Wednesday watching the Crimson Bears practice. The team was preparing to host East Anchorage in a Cook Inlet Conference playoff quarterfinal at 7 p.m. Saturday at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park.
Waiting for warmups to finish, Sjoroos walked onto the stadium turf and gathered his charges near the end zone. The past two days had been spent off the field. Monday was film sessions and Tuesday the team went door-to-door selling raffle tickets, the cost of a Southeast season and impending playoffs. Both days gave the team extra healing hours out of pads after last weekend’s physical win over Bartlett.
Sjoroos had been up close to midnight on Tuesday, championing for his team like coaches across the state were doing, voting on Cook Inlet All-Conference honors.
“My meeting went long last night,” Sjoroos told the team. “If you were not selected, it is not because you didn’t do your job. Individuals get mentioned, but these are team awards. Your blocks, your tackles, the way you play makes it possible for teammates to be honored.”
It was that simple. The Crimson Bears play for each other. This is family, school and community. This is 300-pound lineman and 130-pound defensive backs walking through neighborhoods in the rain when their most important game of the season is just around the corner.
“We have some serious business against East this weekend,” Sjoroos said on the field. “But first I think it is important to announce what you have helped each other earn.”
Sjoroos first noted JDHS senior Avei Tuvaifale (#8) earning honorable mention selection at defensive back, then noted second team selections: senior Jaxin Jim (#20) at running back, junior Leonidas Taualo-Tasi (#79) at offensive lineman, junior Tayt Whiteley (#84) at tight end, junior Caleb Aube (#23) at linebacker, and Taualo-Tasi at defensive lineman.
Sjoroos then announced first team selections: Senior Ethan Van Kirk (#3) at running back, senior Isaiah Galletes-Fale (#75) at offensive lineman, senior Krew Ridle (#14) at quarterback, Jaxin Jim at linebacker, Van Kirk at defensive back and sophomore Carter Day at linebacker.
Sjoroos then began with the top honors, noting first All-Conference Punter, West Anchorage senior Gideon Plikat (#43).
“All-conference kicker ended in a tie,” Sjoroos told the team. “They went with co-kickers. West senior Elias Sandberg (#42) and some kid from Juneau, Sonny Mazon (#2).”
When cheers subsided Sjoroos continued, noting all-conference kick returner went to Colony sophomore Jackson Forsyth (#1), long snapper to West junior Konelio Fonoti (#32), utility player of the year to South Anchorage senior WR/DB/KR Bryson Jackson (#8), defensive player of the year to West senior linebacker Truss Irwin (#0), offensive lineman of the year to West junior Gideon Makihele (#73), and defensive lineman of the year to Service senior Zeddy Fanene (#68).
Sjoroos noted there were three players at the top of the offensive player of the year selection, which included Dimond senior quarterback Braden Pili (#2).
“They couldn’t break the tie and selected co-offensive players of the year,” Sjoroos told the team. “South senior Ethan Yarrington (#5) and… that other kid from Juneau, Krew Ridle.”
When the team’s cheers had subsided it was back to business. Sjoroos tried to brush past coach of the year honors, noting that West’s Cory Evans was assistant coach of the year.
“And because of these guys,” Sjoroos said, pointing at this coaching staff. “I was selected Coach of the Year.”
Again the JDHS team responded with cheers, and Sjoroos made sure to include his staff again.
“I am really happy for the kids that got these awards,” Sjoroos said later. “It is tough when you are ultra competitive and battling it out with these teams, and then you are at the end of the year hoping to get their vote for your players.”
East will be bringing their first team all-conference junior defensive lineman Lawrence Iotamo (#51), senior DL Alema Masaniai (#77), sophomore DB Kaiedenn Sanders (#2), and senior OL Pati Feagiai (#75), and second team senior RB Sunu Fatialofa (#45), senior DL Eugene Iotamo (#62), junior LB Sylas Johnson (#9), and honorable mention sophomore LB Iosepa Nicholas-Silvira (#44).
“We are excited about the playoff atmosphere in Juneau, one of the best in Alaska,” East coach Jeff Trotter said. “Looking forward to competing down there. Playoff time! We are always looking for our players to demonstrate growth and progress. I am proudest that our effort on the field and the effort to learn has been there regardless of the outcomes.”
The number three Crimson Bears are not overlooking the sixth-ranked Thunderbirds. East lost to Service by six points on the last play of the game and to JDHS by three points in week one.
“They win both those games and then they are at home Saturday,” Sjoroos said. “The margins were pretty slim in the standings this year. South and West kind of separated themselves from everybody and, lucky for us, we were able to get wins over Colony and East on the road. That really was the difference for us.”
Sjoroos is excited for the first home playoff night game since 2019.
“It has been a few years,” Sjoroos said. “And we have had some great playoff matchups with East going all the way back to 2003. A lot of history and some great games, I think it is one of our biggest playoff rivalries in our school history and we look forward to another chapter of what has been a pretty rich history.
Against East, JDHS lost 33-15 in the 2003 state championship; in 2004 JDHS won on the quarterfinals road 27-26; in 2005 JDHS won 21-3 in the state semifinals; in 2011 JDHS won a home quarterfinal 7-6; in 2021 JDHS lost in the state championship 30-17; and in 2022 JDHS won a home day quarterfinal 39-6.
The 2019 home playoff game was against South Anchorage. At that time JDHS was the number one seed in what was then the Chugach Conference and South the fourth seed in the Cook Inlet. South led 20-14 at halftime and won 54-14. The Wolverines would go on to beat West in the semifinals and Service in the state championship.
“They just got on a run,” Sjoroos said. “And it was really led by their defense, their tackling was good. And they had a generational player at quarterback (Jackson Harmon went on to play defensive back and win a FCS national championship at Montana State) and he was a problem for everybody that season. Unfortunately there are four quarters in a game. They steamrolled us.”
East will have roughly 50 players on their sideline and, as all season, the Crimson Bears usually have half that number.
“It is impressive that we are able to do as well as we have in some of these four quarters this year,” Sjoroos said. “You would think our energy level would fall off, but it really has not. So credit to our kids for being so determined. I imagine Krew will be a focal point for them. We have some work ahead of us. Everybody gets better at different rates and I have been saying that since the beginning of the year and it makes it harder. You have to find ways to execute at an even higher level. You can’t rely on teams making mistakes, they not going to have bad snaps or drop balls or run the wrong route or miss blocks. They will be more polished. You have to get stops on defense because offenses are getting better as the season goes along.”
JDHS’ lines will try to slow East’s Masaniai (#77) and their aforementioned all-conference picks.
“We think Isaiah (Galletes-Fale) is big,” Sjoroos said. “This kid is even bigger. And he moves well. He can push the pile and is one of the better in the state. East has a lot of athletes and they have that depth to plug guys in to give others a break. They have a couple different quarterback threats, both mobile, a big running back and present different challenges to a defense.”
JDHS line coach Jeff Hedges said the season comes down to fundamentals.
“It is a long season, everybody is banged up and tired,” Hedges said. “You have to rely on getting your footwork right, hand placement right. Even if you are tired you still need to be able to do those little things that are building blocks for every drive block, every pass move… It is really just drilling that, ‘Yes, I know you are tired. You have to do your job.’ And for us we are even more tired. I have eight or nine guys, the other teams have 20 guys. We try to limit guys going two-ways (OL and DL) as much as we can.
The key for JDHS is shown in grit, brawn and brains.
“We can run the same play against multiple different defensive fronts,” Hedges said. “They can put guys in different spots. We have to react, know our areas to block. And turn that around with our own defensive front. That is why we watch film. We learn tendencies and try to use that to our advantage. Everyone does.”
Said Sjoroos, “We had a nice road win at East in week two. That doesn’t give you an extra credit going into this game. East has had the same coaching staff for 20 years and we have matched up a bunch of times and they have always been a tough game. I think this game will come down to whoever can settle in, not panic in the first quarter. Just play composed football, especially in the second half and find a way to come out on top.”
Note: The first team all-conference selections will be voted on for the all-state selections at the end of October.
FINAL STANDINGS/ WEEK 8 SCORES/ WK 9 PLAYOFF GAMES
DI COOK INLET
1. West (7-0, 7-1); 2. South (6-1, 6-2); 3. JDHS (4-3, 5-3); 4. Colony (4-3, 4-4); 5. Service (3-4, 4-4); 6. East (2-5, 2-6); 7. Bartlett (1-6, 2-6); 8 - Dimond 1-6, 2-6).
Big Hits: JDHS’ win over Bartlett moved them into third. Meaning a first-round playoff win would give them a second-round home playoff game if Bartlett upsets South. Bartlett and South have histories of being unsettling to each other. So Crimson Bears’ fans cross your fingers.
Week 8 Scores: South 43, East 13; JDHS 33, Bartlett 28; West 45, Colony 28; Service 54, Dimond 26.
Playoff Quarterfinals:
Fri: Colony vs Service / Colony 65% Chance To Win, Projected Score 26-19
Fri: West vs Dimond / West 99% CTW, PS 56-6
Sat: South vs Bartlett / South 95% CTW, PS 28-3
Sat: Juneau-Douglas vs East / Juneau 87% CTW, PS 31-13 / JDHS is averaging 25.7 points per game in conference and allowing 20.8, East averages 16.1 PPG and allows 25.4.
2026 ASAA FIRST NATIONAL BOWL SERIES DI FOOTBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
DII RAILBELT
1. Lathrop (7-0, 8-0); 2. Soldotna (6-1, 6-2); 3. Wasilla (5-2, 6-2); 4. Palmer (4-3, 5-3); 5. North Pole (3-4, 3-5); 6. Chugiak (2-5, 3-5); 7. West Valley (1-6, 1-7); 8. Eagle River (0-7, 0-8).
Big Hits: Wasilla jumps up to third ahead of Palmer thanks to their win over the Moose, and will face Soldotna. The Warriors lost to the Stars 49-14 in week one, but they lost to top seed Lathrop 41-14 in week seven. So, as far as poisons go, the taste of defeat to either will be bitter.
Week 8 Scores: North Pole 50, Eagle River 0; Wasilla 41, Palmer 33; Soldotna 53, Chugiak 15, Lathrop 70, West Valley 14.
Playoff Semifinals:
Sat: Lathrop vs Palmer / Lathrop 95% CTW, PS 42-17
Sat: Soldotna vs Wasilla / Soldotna 90% CTW, PS 42-21
2026 ASAA FIRST NATIONAL BOWL SERIES DII FOOTBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
DIII MID ALASKA
1. Barrow (3-1, 5-1); 2. Redington (3-1, 4-3); 3. Kenai (2-2, 4-3); 4. Homer (2-2, 2-5); 5. Houston (0-6, 0-6).
Week 8 Scores: Homer 7, Kenai 6; Redington 46, Houston 26.
Big Hits: Homer’s win over Kenai, and Redington’s over Houston, were key. With identical records Homer has the tiebreaker, meaning Kenai opens state against Barrow. Homer has a better chance against Redington, despite losing to them three weeks ago 16-0.
Playoff Semifinals:
Fri: Redington vs Homer / Homer 53% CTW, PS 22-21
Sat: Barrow vs Kenai / Barrow 58% CTW, PS 22-19
2026 ASAA FIRST NATIONAL BOWL SERIES DIII FOOTBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
DENALI 9-MAN
1. Student Wrestler Development Program (8-0); 2. Kodiak (5-3); 3. Nikiski (5-3); 4. Seward (4-4); 5. Monroe (2-6); 6. Valdez (0-8).
Week 8 Scores: Seward 50, Valdez 6; Nikiski 50, Monroe 20; SWDP 32, Kodiak 0.
Big Hits: Nothing unexpected. Three of the top four won, and the fourth that lost is still in the playoffs.
Playoff Semifinals:
Fri: Kodiak vs Nikiski / Kodiak 60% CTW, PS 35-31
Sat: SWDP vs Seward / SWDP 99% CTW, PS 49-7
ALL ALASKA POLL (Cook Inlet, Railbelt, Mid Alaska)
1. Lathrop (Fairbanks - DII RBC 7-0) 8-0; 2. Soldotna (Soldotna - DII RBC 6-1) 6-2; 3. West (Anchorage - DI CIC 7-0) 7-1; 4. South (Anchorage - DI CIC 6-1) 6-2; 5. Juneau-Douglas (Juneau - DI CIC 4-3) 5-3; 6. Wasilla (Wasilla - DII RBC 5-2) 6-2; 7. Palmer (Palmer - DII RBC 4-3) 5-3; 8. Colony (Palmer - DI CIC 4-3) 4-4; 9. Service (Anchorage - DI CIC 3-4) 4-4; 10. North Pole (North Pole - DII RBC 3-4) 3-5; 11. Bettye Davis East (Anchorage - DI CIC 2-5) 2-6; 12. Bartlett (Anchorage - DI CIC 1-6) 2-6; 13. Chugiak (Chugiak - DII RBC 2-5) 3-5; 14. Barrow (Utqiagvik - DIII MAC 5-1) 5-1; 15. Kenai (Kenai - DIII MAC 4-2) 4-3; 16. West Valley (Fairbanks - DII RBC 1-6) 1-7; 17. Dimond (Anchorage - DI CIC 1-6) 2-6; 18. Redington (Wasilla - DIII MAC 4-2) 4-3; 19. Eagle River (Eagle River - DII RBC 0-7) 0-8; 20. Homer (Homer - DIII MAC 2-4) 2-5; 21. Houston (Big Lake - DIII MAC 0-6) 0-6.
(The Juneau Independent bases their standings on local readership knowledge, MaxPreps, ASBN, Sports Illustrated, ASAA, Alaska Sports Report, ASHOF, national state ranking polls and opinionated interviews. They are not to be used for betting purposes).
• Contact Klas Stolpe at sports@juneauindependent.com
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