High School Sports

Eielson Ravens shut out Barrow to capture 6th state football title

Eielson claimed its fifth football crown since 2012 and its sixth in school history with a 36-0 win over defending champion Barrow in the ASAA/First National Bowl Division III Championship Saturday at Machetanz Field in Palmer.

The Ravens led 7-0 at halftime, then extended their lead to 15-0 when Ryan Armour blocked a Barrow field goal attempt and returned the ball 84 yards for a touchdown.

Armour continued to punish Barrow, getting a short touchdown run early in the fourth quarter and a 15-yarder midway through to put the game out of reach. Jaydenn Manibusan's long touchdown run late provided the final margin.

The win capped a dominant season for Eielson, which finished 9-1 and ended the season on an eight-game winning streak.

The Ravens also won a small-schools title in 2012 and three straight from 2014-16. They won their first title in 1992, when all of Alaska's teams played in a single division.

Barrow finished 5-5 in its second straight championship game. The Whalers won their first state title last season.

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