Sports

West, South vie for state football bragging rights

No matter the result in Friday night's large schools championship football game, one group of players will walk off the turf at Anchorage Football Stadium as two-time state champions.

Defending champion West (8-2) has 17 players back from last year's squad while nine South Wolverines earned rings two years ago as sophomores. One of those players is South senior tight end Jared Hudson, who said the opportunity to earn a second title in three years is something he and his teammates aren't taking for granted.

"It's pretty cool getting a chance to get a second ring," Hudson said before the team's final practice Thursday. "We know a lot of people don't get that chance."

Hudson's teammate, senior back Justice Augafa, said South's seniors feel they have a legacy to protect for future teams.

"We talk about it a lot," said Augafa, whose 26 touchdowns this season are tops among large schools players. "South doesn't end with this team."

South (9-1) coach John Lewis said those nine players have been the backbone of this year's team.

"The impact that those guys bring to the team right now is priceless," he said. "They're the ones barking to move faster, to hit harder in practice."

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West senior defensive back Jordan Murchinson said he and his teammates are doing much the same to try to lead their team to victory.

"As leaders it would really mean a lot to us," he said.

Murchinson said he just wants to leave the field for the last time with his head held high.

"It is kind of sad knowing it's our last game, so we just want to go out with a bang," he said.

The winner will be the seventh consecutive Cook Inlet Conference team to win the large schools title. Juneau, in 2007, was the last school not from Anchorage to win the championship. The meeting is the sixth straight all-CIC final but marks the first time the Eagles and Wolverines have met for the championship. In fact, the teams have just one previous meeting in the playoffs, a 30-28 West win in the 2011 semifinals.

While West is the defending champ, South rolls into the title game as the presumptive favorite by virtue of its first-place Cook Inlet Conference finish and unbeaten record against Alaska opponents. Recent history is also on the Wolverines' side after the team throttled West 55-9 in September.

But West coach Tim Davis said that game was a turning point for the Eagles, who have reeled off four straight wins since then.

"That was an incredibly exposing game," said Davis.

And he said West's players won't be intimidated come Friday night.

"We respect them, but we do not fear them," he said.

Davis explained that his team may have learned more from its biggest loss of the season than any of its wins.

"Losses have a much higher potential for personal growth," he said. "We're a much different team now."

Murchinson said the loss is actually what helped propel the Eagles to the title game.

"That's what woke us up this year," he said.

South's own wake-up call came last week, courtesy of the Bartlett Golden Bears, who took a 12-0 lead on South in the semifinals before the Wolverines clawed back for the win. Head coach John Lewis said the comeback victory showed his team's character.

"That's who we are," said Lewis, who like Davis is looking to win a third title as head coach. "We're not going to give up, we're going to get mad."

Lewis said the game will likely come down to which team better handles adversity.

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"It's about what you do after mistakes," he said. "Are you confident enough to brush it off and move on to the next play?"

Davis said he'll be proud of his team no matter the outcome as long as the Eagles play to their potential. In fact, he said a repeat title has never been the team's goal this season.

"It's to put on a performance on the field that we can be proud of," he said.

Players and coaches on both sides said they can't wait for Friday night's kickoff at Anchorage Football Stadium. Lewis likened it to Christmas morning.

"Are you getting the new bicycle or are you getting socks?" he joked.

Hudson said he expects a huge crowd and an intense atmosphere befitting the biggest game of the season.

"It's undescribable," he said.

Contact Matt Tunseth at 257-4335 or mtunseth@alaskadispatch.com

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ASAA First National Bowl

Large Schools State Championship

South (9-1) vs. West (8-2)

Friday, 6:15 p.m.

Anchorage Football Stadium

On the Radio: AM-590, FM-96.7

Matt Tunseth

Matt Tunseth is a former reporter for the Anchorage Daily News and former editor of the Alaska Star.

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