These Ravens have something to crow about.
The Eielson Ravens, powered by record-setting running back Anthony Griffith, capped an undefeated season by capturing their second state football championship in three years Saturday by winning a 55-51 shootout with Nikiski.
It didn't start as a shootout. The Bulldogs dug their way out of an early 19-0 hole and put up 23 points in the fourth quarter of the small-school title game at Dimond Alumni Field.
They turned a game that at times bordered on being a blowout -- the Ravens led 41-20 late in the third quarter -- into a thriller. Christian Riddall's six-yard touchdown run in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter made it 41-35, and the teams traded touchdowns the rest of the way to craft a dramatic finish.
Griffith, a senior who set the state's single-game rushing record with 516 yards in a regular-season game against Nikiski, rushed for 277 yards this time.
Griffith scored three touchdowns on runs of 1, 47 and 63 yards, and on the second of his 33 carries he broke the 2,000-yard threshold for the season. He ended the season with 2,268 yards and 32 touchdowns.
But this wasn't a one-back show. Riddall was every bit as dangerous. The senior rushed for 263 yards and seven touchdowns on 21 carries, scoring on runs of 18, 1, 23, 79, 6, 22 and 18 yards.
The game was a matchup of small-school powerhouses. Eielson (9-0) has won two of the last three titles, beating Nikiski both times. The two recent titles give the Ravens three total. In 1992, when all of Alaska's football teams played in the same classification, the Ravens claimed their first state title.
Nikiski (8-2) has earned two state crowns in the last four years and has a total of four. The Bulldogs won small schools titles in 2013, 2011, 2001 and 2000.
Eielson 13 12 16 14 -- 55
Nikiski 0 14 14 23 -- 51
First quarter
Eielson -- Dunlap 41 (Benjamin kick), 8:13
Eielson -- Antonio Griffith 2 run (kick failed), 5:34
Second quarter
Eielson -- Dunlap 14 run (kick failed), 11:51
Nikiski -- Riddall 19 (Carstens pass from Anderson), 9:57
Nikiski -- Riddall 1 run (run failed), 6:09
Eielson -- Anthony Griffith 1 run (pass failed), 39.8
Third quarter
Eielson -- Antonio Griffith 10 run (Dunlap), 7:37
Nikiski -- Riddall 23 (run failed), 4:00
Eielson -- Anthony Griffith 47 (Antonio Griffith run), 2:59
Nikiski -- Riddall 79 (Riddall pass from Anderson), 2:38
Fourth quarter
Nikiski -- Riddall 7 (Schwenke kick), 8:29
Eielson -- Anthony Griffith 63 (Anthonio Griffith run), 7:24
Nikiski -- Riddall 22 (Holloway pass from Anderson), 6:51
Eielson -- Dunlap 9 run (run failed), 2:03
Nikiski -- Riddall 18 (Holloway pass from Anderson), 1:30