Service's state title win Saturday was so huge, the Cougars caused a cease fire on an Army base in Kansas.

Fenumiai "Numi" Ilalio Jr., a full-time member of the Alaska Army National Guard and a part-time assistant coach for the Cougars, was on a mission at Fort Riley when a Reilly in Anchorage was on one too.

Quarterback Kevin Reilly was in the midst of driving the Cougars 95 yards down the field in the fourth quarter, looking to give the Cougars their first state title in nine years.

At the same time, Ilalio was searching for explosive mines with 16 fellow soldiers who are preparing for a deployment to Afghanistan next month.

When Reilly capped the drive with a touchdown pass that gave Service a 15-14 lead, Ilalio got a phone call from his wife. He immediately told the news to Maj. Paul Darling, who then relayed the message to his commander.

"He told us to stop training until Service wins a state championship," said Ilalio, a master sergeant who left Alaska during midseason. "My team of 16 was cheering for Service High School."

Wearing fatigues, a helmet and toting an M4 rifle, the offensive coordinator who helped turn Service into a winner again couldn't hold in his emotions.

"We didn't know the big guy cried," a soldier told Ilalio, who checks in at 260 pounds.

Ilalio's wife, Terri, texted him play-by-play the entire game. He called Service coach Jason Caldarera at halftime when the Cougars trailed 14-2.

"What the hell's going on?" Ilalio asked. "Loosen the defense and throw the ball."

His adjustments worked as the Cougars stormed back from a 12-point deficit with a sure-fire passing game in the second half to capture the program's fifth state title.

Ilalio said he heard that Eddie Brakes, Juneau's defensive coordinator, thinks he owns AFS because the Crimson Bears had won two state titles on the turf in the last three seasons.

But Saturday, it belonged to Service -- and a coach who took a brief leave of absence from his military unit.

"Eddie, I own that field," Ilalio laughed. "And I own it from this far away."

A hat for the ages

When Service coach Jason Caldarera picked his attire for the biggest game of his coaching career, he went old school.

The nine-year coach wore a grubby, worn-out Service hat -- so nasty the gold Cougar logo is stained brown.

"This hat is from the very beginning -- a reminder of everything we went through," he said.

Service went from Alaska's powerhouse in the 1990s to the scrubs of the Cook Inlet Conference after Caldarera took over in 2000. But the Cougars are 15-3 in their last two seasons.

Through it all, the old hat witnessed all the heartaches.

"It's survived all the rain and has more metaphors than one," he said. "We keep some things the same on the sidelines, but you gotta keep something old too."

Dueling haka dances

Service and Juneau entertained the estimated crowd of 1,900 with pre-game hakas.

The dance, traditionally performed by warriors before going to war, pumped up both teams. Service went first, then Juneau followed with its own version. But Service senior Kevin Reilly could tell Juneau wasn't on its game.

"I could see they made it up this week," he said. "They played great, but their haka wasn't like their playing."

All-tourney teams

Large Schools

Offense: Colin Graham, South; Marcus Spencer, South; Jackson Collins, North Pole; Lee Jones, North Pole; Joseph Sokimi, Service; Lawrence Fenumiai, Juneau; Alex Fagerstrom, Juneau; Matthew Weedman, Service; Corey Lindamood, Service; Kevin Reilly, Service; Leo Aukusitino, Service; Amanda Dotten, Service.

Defense: Steven Wright, North Pole; Patxi Colbern, South; Jack Perkins, Juneau; Brown Faaaliga, Service; Chance Galletes, Juneau; Zac Carey, Service; Lincoln Maka, Juneau; Matt Higgins, South; Dalton Riggs, Service; Neil Miyaoka, Service; Dane Ebanez, North Pole.

Small Schools

Offense: Anthony Edwards, Barrow; Raphael Matautia, Kodiak; Keifer Kanayurak, Barrow; Kyle Wood, Soldotna; Nathan Strieby, Soldotna; Justin Sanders, Barrow; Colten Growden, Eielson; Alex Woodell, Kodiak; Anthony Griglione, Soldotna; Charles King, Eielson; Sarah Colvin, Eielson.

Defense: Joe Shirley, Soldotna; Robert Vigo, Barrow; Gary Anthony, Kodiak; Sheldon Emmerson, Kodiak; Cody Romine, Barrow; Anthony Griglione, Soldotna; Ross Courtney, Soldotna; Albert Gerke, Barrow; Philip Bennett; Zayan Aberkane, Soldotna; Chris Nolden.

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