Crimson Bears look to avenge last-second loss in playoff opener at South Anchorage on Saturday
- Mark Sabbatini
- Oct 10
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 10
JDHS’ 29-28 loss on a two-point conversion at the end is why they’re playing the postseason rematch on the road rather than at home
By Mark Sabbatini
Juneau Independent
The Crimson Bears would be opening the playoffs at home if they had stopped a two-point conversion at the end of a 29-28 loss last month to South Anchorage High School. Instead the postseason rematch against the Wolverines will be on their turf at 1 p.m. Saturday.
It does mean Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé (3-4 conference, 3-5 overall) as the fifth seed will be facing off against a fourth-seeded team they battled even throughout four quarters during the regular season. Juneau scored first in that game and the teams exchanged touchdowns until South Anchorage (5-2 conference, 6-2 overall) scored its final one with 18 seconds left to make the score 28-27 — and then opted for the win-or-lose two-point conversion.
Among the key differences besides the venue in the rematch — South Anchorage has starting quarterback Jim Massey back after he missed the regular-season game, while Juneau will play Saturday without starting running back Ethan Van Kirk due to a season-ending injury. Van Kirk was the Cook Inlet Conference’s leading rusher after the Sept. 12 game against the Wolverines,
"I think just on paper it doesn't swing in our favor, that's for sure," JDHS Head Coach Rich Sjoroos said Friday. "So ultimately we've learned over the years to have the mentality of a ‘next man up’ kind of thing and we have some very capable players."
Jaxin Jim, a junior who began the season at fullback, has played well after shifting to the starting running back position during the past two games, Sjoroos said. Also playing a larger role is senior receiver/defensive back Noah Ault, who was an offensive and defensive playmaker in the Crimson Bears’ 15-14 win over defending state champion Dimond High School on Sept. 20.
Junior quarterback Krew Ridle is expected to play after missing the latter part of last week’s game against top-ranked Service High School with an injury.
All three of Juneau’s wins this season came at home, so Sjoroos said one of the keys on Saturday will be a consistent effort matching the previous game against the Wolverines.
"We haven't played a really good four-quarter game on the road yet," he said. "And we just keep trying to weed out the things that haven't worked."
"Getting off to a good start would be great. And then just kind of settle in, knowing that the pressure is really just kind of on all of the seniors out there, regardless of what team they're on, because this is the first time all year that seasons end and careers end, and things like that. So whoever can manage those emotions the best early in the game will probably settle in and put themselves in a good spot to come out on top."
An analysis of the game by Sports Illustrated notes "the Crimson Bears have lost in the first round each of the past two seasons and are winless on the road this season."
"They’ll need to find a way to stop South’s junior RB Ethan Yarrington, the top rusher in Division I (852 yards, 14 TDs), as they did in their first meeting, when they held him to 63 yards and one score," the analysis states.
Sjoroos said Yarrington also is a defensive stalwart for South Anchorage, but the coach says he feels his team adjusted well.
"He was a tough matchup for us last time and he moved all over the place," Sjoroos said. "And I felt like he had to do that because of the fact that we were doing pretty good in the middle and on the edges, and things like that. So he was trying to find a pathway to success that required him to play about four different positions on defense that day. I don't think that's necessarily a normal thing for him, but he's very obviously good enough to do it."
The winner of the game between Juneau and South Anchorage will play the winner of the matchup between top-seed West Anchorage High School (6-1, 7-1) and eighth-seed Colony High School (1-6, 2-6). If Colony pulls off the upset then the Crimson Bears will play the semifinal against Colony at home. JDHS suffered a 44-8 defeat at West Anchorage last weekend and defeated Colony at home 34-20 on Sept. 28.
The championship game is scheduled at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at Colony High School in Palmer.
• Contact Mark Sabbatini at editor@juneauindependent.com or (907) 957-2306.
