Anchorage Daily News

The Juneau-Douglas Crimson Bears have owned the top spot in the Alaska Sports Broadcasting Network's football poll since last September.

They won week after week, maintaining the No. 1 rank for the state's large schools, and then punctuated the 2007 season with a championship win and a perfect 11-0 record.

The Crimson Bears extended their winning streak -- and top ranking -- to 13 games this season.

Through it all, the high-scoring Service Cougars have hung tight in the top five, waiting for the day when Juneau -- a program that has taken two of the last three state titles -- would finally slip.

That day came Saturday in the state capital when Juneau lost 27-7 to Blackfoot High of Idaho, helping Service grab the top spot.

"They played a really good team," Service coach Jason Caldarera said. "It's too bad we don't get to see them much this season."

The Cougars (3-0) are on a tear, playing their best football since the late 1990s, when they captured three straight state titles. They beat Dimond 42-12 and booted the Lynx out of the poll a week after being ranked No. 4.

Dimond (2-1) fell victim to Service's suffocating defense and high-scoring offense.

Service has given up an average of just six points a game and has two of the most dangerous players in the state; quarterback Kevin Reilly, who's thrown for 589 yards and seven touchdowns, and running back Leo Aukusitino, who's rushed for five touchdowns and 319 yards.

Service will be fortunate to stay undefeated as it travels to Las Vegas to face Bishop Gorman, a private school that won the 2007 Class 4A state championship, this weekend.

"They have some talented athletes," Caldarera said. "They get the pick of the best athletes from Las Vegas."

Juneau (2-1) dropped to No. 3, losing the top ranking for the first time since Sept. 11, 2007. Blackfoot led 27-0 in the third quarter and didn't give up a touchdown until all-state wide receiver Alex Fagerstrom took over at quarterback.

"There's a different brand of football played in the Lower 48," Juneau coach Bill Chalmers told the Juneau Empire.

Some argued Service (3-0), the No. 2-ranked team all season, should have been ranked No. 1 all along. But it was a moot point until someone dethroned the Crimson Bears.

Blackfoot High was no chump. The Broncos are the defending Class 4A champion and were ranked sixth in the state's preseason football poll.

The Crimson Bears should get back on their feet Friday when they travel here to face Palmer, a team they have beaten 12 of the last 13 meetings.

These Railbelt Conference teams have some history: Juneau beat Palmer 49-29 in the 2005 state title game and 23-13 in last year's championship.

South (3-0), which crushed Bartlett 42-14 and moved up one spot to No. 2, faces West this weekend. The Wolverines have to wait two more weeks until they face south-side rival Service, a game that could be one of the best this season.

Also making a strong move were the Barrow Whalers, who jumped to the No. 2 spot -- their highest rank since becoming a varsity program last season. Barrow's 32-28 victory bumped Eielson to No. 5.

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

PREP POLL

Alaska Sports Broadcasting Network Football Poll

Through Week 3

LARGE SCHOOLS

TeamRecord

1) Service3-0

2) South3-0

3) Juneau-Douglas2-1

4) North Pole2-1

5) Palmer2-1

SMALL SCHOOLS

TeamRecord

1) Soldotna2-0

2) Barrow3-0

3) Kodiak3-0

4) Houston3-0

5) Eielson2-1

Friday's Games

Service at Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), 6 p.m.

Valdez at Barrow, 5 p.m.

North Pole at Eielson, 6 p.m.

Eagle River at Skyview, 6:30 p.m.

Juneau-Douglas at Palmer, 7 p.m.

Bartlett at Chugiak, 7 p.m.

Saturday's Games

Ketchikan at Houston, 1 p.m.

Nikiski at Monore Catholic, 2 p.m.

Delta Junction at Seward, 2 p.m.

Lathrop at Dimond, 2 p.m.

Soldotna at Homer, 3 p.m.

Kodiak at Kenai, 3 p.m.

South vs. West, 7 p.m., Anchorage Football Stadium

East at Colony, 7 p.m.

Wasilla at West Valley, 7 p.m.

ADVERTISEMENT