When Valley City State of Valley City, North Dakota, defeated host Presentation College in Aberdeen, South Dakota, by the score of 49-21 in NAIA football Saturday, Alaskans played a major role in the outcome.
Two of those Alaskans come from Kenai Peninsula football programs — Tyler Howell of Soldotna and Michael Swoboda of Homer.
Howell, playing for Valley City, had two catches for a season-high 69 yards. That included a 36-yard pass that he took to the 1-yard line, just missing a first career touchdown. Howell, 5-foot-11, 174 pounds, has 34 catches for 348 yards in 15 career games. He also has rushed five times for 43 yards.
Swoboda, playing for Presentation, blocked a punt and recovered the ball in the first quarter. This came on the heels of being named the team’s special teams player of the week the week before.
There were 17 total Alaskans on the roster of both teams.
