Anchorage Daily News

Friday's football opener between South and Chugiak already has the mojo for one of the season's best matchups.

The Wolverines are the defending large-school champs who finished undefeated while the Mustangs are up-and-comers who sniffed postseason glory last season, reaching the semifinals at state.

Both play in the Cook Inlet Conference, and both are among the best in the state.

The Alaska Sports Broadcasting Network on Monday released a preseason football poll, a vote by Alaska media outlets which ranks the top five large- and small-school teams in the state.

South was voted No. 1, Chugiak No. 2.

High school coaches usually don't place much stock in preseason polls. But it's always nice when your team is considered one of the best.

At a practice last week, Chugiak coach Duncan Shackelford explained all this talk he's heard of his team contending for a state title.

"I think it's because we have so many kids returning," he said. "We have 18, so I'd be speaking OK of that team, too.

"It's good, but we're going to have to stay in really good shape because if we get hurt, we go down really quick."

Perhaps the biggest surprise in the large-school poll is Service, a 3-5 team last season that is ranked No. 5.

The Cougars haven't had a winning campaign since 2002. But Jason Caldarera, entering his eighth season as Service head coach, is expecting that to change.

"I've got a really good feel with what's going on," he said. "For the first time in who knows how many years, we're running the same offensive scheme two years in a row.

"It's just a great group of kids coming back. We went to the All-Alaska Camp and everyone was Chugiak, Chugiak, Chugiak. They've got a huge line and we don't. But we have good athletes up front and team speed. It's exciting."

In the small-school poll, the defending champion Soldotna Stars were voted No. 1. The Stars, who beat Kodiak in last year's title game, had a coaching change this year.

Galen Brantley takes over while Sarge Truesdell, who coached the Stars for five seasons, stepped down into the role of assistant coach.

Brantley, a former Soldotna player and offensive lineman at Valley City State University in North Dakota, had been the Stars' offensive coordinator. In 2004, he was named assistant coach of the year.

Kodiak, coming off a season in which the Bears made their first appearance at state, was voted No. 4. They head to Juneau, which gets raucous crowd support, for a tough season opener. Juneau is ranked No. 4 in the large-school poll.

"We have good depth and skill at running back," Kodiak assistant coach Dave Jones wrote in an e-mail. "Defensively we will be very sound.

"It will be interesting to see how we do in Juneau."

Find Kevin Klott online at adn.com/contact/kklott or call 257-4335.

Alaska Sports Broadcasting Network 2007 Preseason Football Poll

LARGE SCHOOLS

Rank, Team Record last season

1) South 11-0

2) Chugiak 5-4

3) Palmer 5-4

4) Juneau 6-2

5) Service 3-5

SMALL SCHOOLS

Rank, Team Record last season

1) Soldotna 9-1

2) Kenai 5-3

3) Eielson 5-4

4) Kodiak 8-2

5) Houston 5-4

OPENING GAMES

Friday's Schedule

Colony at Eielson, 6 p.m. (nc)

North Pole at Soldotna, 6 p.m. (nc)

Nikiski at Skyview, 6 p.m. (nc)

South at Chugiak, 7 p.m.

Wasilla vs. Eagle River, 7 p.m., Anchorage Football Stadium (nc)

Saturday's Schedule

Valdez at Delta Junction, 11 a.m.

Palmer vs. Dimond, 1 p.m., AFS (nc)

West at West Valley, 1 p.m. (nc)

Seward at Homer, 2 p.m. (nc)

Houston at Kenai, 2 p.m. (nc)

Bartlett at Lathrop, 7 p.m. (nc)

Service vs. East, 7 p.m., AFS

Kodiak at Juneau, 8 p.m. (nc)