High School Sports

For the East T-birds, a wet and wonderful finish to the football season

On a night when the Anchorage Football Stadium turf better resembled a Slip 'N Slide, East High's Daryl Delaguiron enjoyed a memorable spill at a most opportune time.

Still soaking wet in Friday's steady rainfall a few hours later, Delaguiron and the rest of the Thunderbirds stood tall as First National Bowl Division I state champions.

Delaguiron, a senior defensive lineman, keyed a 21-point second quarter with a blocked punt that was returned for a touchdown by Hale Siulua in top-ranked East's 35-6 victory over the West Eagles.

The Thunderbirds earned their second state crown in three seasons and capped an impressive 10-1 run. They went undefeated against Alaska opponents — their  only loss came in the second game of the season to visiting Cesar Chavez of Phoenix, Arizona.

"Winning tonight, winning a state championship, we really put our mark on this program," Delaguiron said. "We showed a lot of people that we're capable."

In the 10 games against teams from the 907, East's defense allowed an average of 9.2 points.

"Dominant, really the entire year," East coach Jeff Trotter said. "As a program, we made a decision to focus heavily on defense a few years ago.

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"We don't mind winning 2-0 if that's the way it goes. But luckily today, the offense came to play as well."

Staked to a 7-0 lead midway through the second quarter after East quarterback Kapono Medeiros' first of two rushing touchdowns, the defense asserted itself on Delaguiron's blocked punt and Siulua's return.

Delaguiron really used his head.

"I went through the hole and I honestly thought (the West punter) kicked me in the side of the helmet," he said. "I was like, 'What was that, did I block it?' "

The ball hit him and spun wildly downfield. Siulua, one of East's defensive stalwarts, scooped it up for the score — a play Delaguiron didn't see in its entirety. When he hit the wet turf, his weight spun him around to his backside. For a moment, he faced the end zone opposite the one Siulua was speeding into.

"But when I jumped up and saw Hale had the ball, I knew I'd actually blocked it," Delaguiron said. "The play got us hyped, a real pivotal moment in the game."

On top of the blocked punt, East's defense recorded two interceptions and a fumble recovery and stopped West for no gain or negative yards on six of the Eagles' 22 running plays. A big chunk of West's 237 total offensive yards came on Jonah Gladney's 48-yard touchdown reception from Josh Stoltz during running-clock time in the fourth quarter.

"Defensively, each one of us goes out there and plays like one, like a unit," said East junior defensive lineman Kymani VaiVai, one of numerous Thunderbirds to make big stops. "No one goes solo or is just one person.

"Family is the No. 1 thing about this team. We treat each other as brothers."

Between the inclement weather and East's swarming defense, West (6-5 record) never really found its rhythm despite outgaining the Thunderbirds by 31 total offensive yards.

Yet what the Eagles have accomplished this decade — and this season — is admirable.

Coach Tim Davis led West to its sixth consecutive title game in a season that at one point saw the Eagles lose four of five games. They knocked off Wasilla and Bartlett in the playoffs before falling in the title game for the third straight season.

"We're a very well-coached program that does all the little things well," said West senior receiver David Cason, who finished with a team-high six receptions for 36 yards. "Tonight, we didn't meet our standards. But nothing is going to change about what West football does.

"We're always going to play together as a team."

Medeiros sandwiched a 1-yard scoring run and a 2-yard scoring run around the blocked punt. The senior left-hander passed for two scores in the third quarter, finding Eli Turvey for 7 yards and Aiden Williams for 5. Senior Jason Jenn-Lundfeldt led the offense with 77 rushing yards on seven carries.

As the final seconds ticked away, some of the T-birds climbed on top of the benches and joyously pointed to friends and family. Junior Jeremyah Rollins, all 5-feet-10, 310 pounds of him, performed a number of front handsprings and front flips to the amazement of his teammates.

The evening belonged to East.

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"It's been a while since a state champion has dominated in the fashion this team was able to," Trotter said. "The guys set out to create a legacy at East, and I think that's exactly what they accomplished."

Championship night notes

— The stands on both sidelines were mostly packed and spectators lined the areas near the east end zone, closest to neighboring Mulcahy Stadium's outfield wall.

— During the second half, fans from both schools busted out school-colored beach balls and knocked them around.

— A few hours after he suspended his re-election campaign, Gov. Bill Walker was part of a large ensemble of state and local politicians on hand for the pregame coin toss at midfield.

— The Colony High marching band, Thee Northern Sound, put on a memorable halftime performance.

— With the win, East extended its lead over West to 41-32 in the all-time series between Anchorage's first two high schools. East-West is the oldest football rivalry in Alaska, dating back to 1961, the year East High opened. West won the first official game between the teams, 14-2.

Matt Nevala

Matt Nevala co-hosts “The Sports Guys” radio show, Saturdays at 11 a.m. on KHAR AM 590 and FM 96.7 (@cbssports590). Find him on social media at @MNevala9.

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