Juneau’s Cooper Kriegmont runs against Bartlett at Chugiak High School in Anchorage on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018. Bartlett, who won 65-12, comes to Juneau on Saturday for a rematch. (Michael Dinneen | For the Juneau Empire)

Juneau’s Cooper Kriegmont runs against Bartlett at Chugiak High School in Anchorage on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018. Bartlett, who won 65-12, comes to Juneau on Saturday for a rematch. (Michael Dinneen | For the Juneau Empire)

The Huskies are playing Bartlett on Saturday. Here’s what’s on the line.

Slowing Golden Bears’ rushing will be key to success

As a wingback for the Juneau Huskies, junior Cooper Kriegmont did a little bit of everything: run the ball, catch the ball, block, etc.

On Saturday night against the Bartlett Golden Bears (7 p.m. kickoff at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park), Kriegmont will now take an even more central role in the Huskies’ offense. With sophomore quarterback Noah Chambers out indefinitely with a lower leg injury and Kriegmont tabbed as his replacement, the 6-foot-2, 210-pounder will be orchestrating the offense.

“I don’t have the accuracy that Noah has but I think I can run most of the same plays, we can do most of the same stuff,” Kriegmont said in an interview Wednesday with the Empire. “I played quarterback last year so I feel confident that I will be able to do my job.”

The Huskies have lost two of their last three games, but their Sept. 20 win over Chugiak kept a conference championship in play for this weekend. With a win over Bartlett (2-5, 2-1 Chugach), Juneau (4-3, 2-1 Chugach) can capture the Chugach Conference championship and begin the playoffs at home against the No. 4 seed in the Cook Inlet Conference. A loss to the Golden Bears and Juneau starts the playoffs on the road against the No. 1 seed in the CIC.

“We are taking it like every other game, but then again, we do take every game very seriously as if it was the state championship,” junior defensive end Jake Ferster said. “We could be playing some team from anywhere and we always take it seriously. So it’s always very serious and very anticipated, and we always think it’ll be a tough game no matter who we’re playing.”

The Golden Bears’ offense is led by senior Elijah Lilio. The 6-foot, 205-pounder has rushed for 830 yards and 10 touchdowns this season for a Golden Bears team that averages over 300 rushing yards a game.

“They’ve found a system that’s worked for them for 20 years and they’ve got a lot of different kids they can plug in there,” Juneau coach Rich Sjoroos said. “Last week they ran for 648 yards against Wasilla. … They probably had the ice bath going after that game. That’s a lot of running up and down the field.”

Juneau’s Ali Beya has also been doing a lot of running up and down the field this season. Through the end of last week, Beya has accumulated close to 700 yards on the ground and scored nine touchdowns.

Sjoroos said even with the change at quarterback, the Huskies’ playbook won’t change.

“I think we’ve kind of established our identity for the season, and it’s an identity that you never can have just one person that can run it,” Sjoroos said. “I think that’s a mistake if you make an offense around only one guy that can do it, then if that guy’s not there, then you leave yourself kind of scratching your head at what you’re going to do.”

Tale of the Tape

Bartlett (2-5)

Conference Record 2-1

Lost to Chugiak 34-20

Defeated Colony 36-8

Defeated Wasilla 58-35

Season scoring average – 22.6

Season points allowed — 34.5

Conference scoring average – 38.0

Conference points allowed – 25.7

Rushing YPG – 343.1

Rushing YPC – 6.4

Passing YPG – 33.0

Juneau (4-3)

Conference Record 2-1

Defeated Wasilla 63-0

Defeated Chugiak 21-7

Lost to Colony 28-20

Season scoring average – 39.3

Season points allowed – 24.3

Conference scoring average – 34.7

Conference points allowed – 11.7

Rushing YPG – 247.2

Rushing YPC – 6.2

Passing YPG – 110.1


•Contact sports reporter Nolin Ainsworth at 523-2272 or nainsworth@juneauempire.com.


More in Sports

TMHS senior Mallory Welling, running for team North/Southeast, competes in the 100 hurdles at the Brian Young Invitational on Saturday in Kodiak. (Photo courtesy Brandi Adams)
Local athletes qualify for Junior Olympics

Southeast track stars impress at Kodiak’s Brian Young Invitational

JDHS senior Mariah Schauwecker, junior Mila Hargrave and senior Anna Dale were selected to the All-State Tournament team Saturday at the ASAA Division II State Softball Championship at Anchorage’s Cartee Fields. (Courtesy Photo /JDHS Softball)
JDHS softball nips Sitka for state title

Dale walk-off single sends JDHS to trophy case, the mall, dinner and Cold Stone

Sitka Wolves sophomore pitcher Bryce Calhoun delivers against the Eagle River Wolves during Sitka’s 6-3 loss Saturday in the 4th/6th place game of the ASAA Division I State Baseball Championships on Sitka’s Moller Field. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Sitka falls to Eagle River for fourth place in state baseball tournament

Two packs of Wolves collided in the ASAA Division I State Baseball… Continue reading

Miller, Dunivin top Cameron Clark race

Memorial run brings more than 40 participants to the course

JDHS pitcher Eli Crupi prepares to deliver against Eagle River during the Crimson Bears 2-1 loss to the Wolves in an elimination game Friday at the ASAA Division I State Baseball Championships on Sitka’s Moller Field. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Crimson Bears end season nipped by Wolves

JDHS eliminated by Eagle River from state baseball tournament

Photo Courtesy JDHS Softball
JDHS freshman Gwen Nizich slides into home plate against Kodiak during the Crimson Bears 9-1 win over the Bears on Thursday in the ASAA Division II State Softball Tournament at Anchorage’s Cartee Fields.
JDHS splits first steps of state softball marathon

Crimson Bears girls open tournament with win over Kodiak, loss to North Pole

JDHS senior third baseman Kaleb Campbell tags out Colony freshman Kaesen Buzby on a steal attempt during the Crimson Bears 9-1 loss to the Knights on Thursday in the opening round of the ASAA Division I State Baseball Championships at Sitka’s Moller Field. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
JDHS baseball boys open state with loss

Crimson Bears jousted by Colony Knights 9-1

Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire
Sitka senior pitcher Ben Turner delivers against Service during the Wolves 8-7 loss to the Cougars on Thursday in the opening round of the ASAA Division I State Baseball Championships at Sitka’s Moller Field.
Sitka stunned by Service in state tournament at Moller Field

The Sitka High School baseball team fell to the Service Cougars, 8-7,… Continue reading

Thunder Mountain High School recent graduate Mallory Welling, shown at last weekend’s ASAA state track and field meet, will compete at the Brian Young Invitational, Friday and Saturday, in Kodiak. (Jeff Helminiak / Peninsula Clarion)
Southeast track stars to challenge records

One final hurdle for athletes at Kodiak’s Brian Young Invitational

Most Read