By Jeremiah Bartz

Frontiersman.com

Game-changing plays on fourth down helped Kenai Central earn a shot to win a second straight state crown.

Within a five-play stretch early in the fourth quarter, Kenai stopped Redington on fourth down in the Huskies’ end. Four plays later, with the Kards on fourth down, senior Bobby Hayes scored the go-ahead touchdown to lead the defending state champs to a 27-20 win over Redington in the Division III semifinals Saturday night at Redington Jr/Sr High School in Wasilla.

“They just believe in each other and never quit,” Kenai head coach Jake Brand said of his players in crucial situations.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, with the Huskies facing fourth-and-one at their own 34-yard line, Redington opted to go for it. The Kenai defense stopped the Huskies for no gain.

Four plays later, with the Kenai offense facing fourth-and-five, Hayes broke free for a 29-yard touchdown to help give the Kards a 21-20 advantage.

“Bobby Hayes, playing with a lot of pride,” Brand said. “His leg’s bothering him. He just kept going, He knew his teammates needed him and he answered the bell.”

The Kenai defense stopped Redington on fourth down three times in the fourth quarter and also recovered a fumble during the final frame.

With just less than three minutes remaining in the game, with Redington facing fourth-and-16, the Kards stopped the Huskies 4 yards shy of a first down. Two plays later, Aasen Campanella rushed for a 14-yard touchdown run to push Kenai’s lead to 27-20.

Redington had one more shot late, but was stopped at fourth-and-seven at the Kenai 35.

“They just never stopped,” Brand said of his team.

The Kards, who move on to play Kenai Peninsula rival Homer on Oct. 19 in the Division III state title game at 1:30 p.m. at Wasilla High School, have now won three straight, Their last loss came at Redington on Sept. 20. The Huskies won 20-6.

Kenai, the No. 3 seed in the playoffs, is now 5-4 overall.

Hayes led the Kards with 12 carries for 110 yards and a touchdown. Campanella had 12 carries for 71 yards and a score. Garrett McCanna added a 6-yard touchdown run early in the second half.

Kenai quarterback Tony Perez also connected with receiver Sawyer Vann on a 19-yard touchdown catch.

Redington senior quarterback Christian Ingraham accounted for more than 300 yards of total offense in his final game with the Huskies. Brand said the Kards definitely game-planned for dual-purpose threat.

“Absolutely,” Brand said. “Although he’s such a dynamic kid, if you put everything toward him you’re going to leave other people open. We’re going to let (Ingraham) do what (Ingraham) does and hope he doesn’t kill us. We had just enough rope not to hang ourselves.”

Brand said the Kards did put an emphasis on stopping Redington receiver Kaedon Saxton, who had a huge junior season.

“We really focused on No. 2. He’s a great receiver,” Brand said of Saxton. “He makes those circus catches. We were really game-planning against No. 2.”

Kenai held Saxton to a pair of catches for 27 yards.

Ingraham rushed for 141 yards on 18 carries, and three touchdowns. He also completed 11 of 22 passes for 163 yards.

Ingraham scored on a 46-yard run in the first quarter to give Redington an early lead. He added rushing touchdowns of 7 and 4 yards. Ingraham had a potential fourth rushing touchdown, a 1-yarder, negated by a penalty in the second quarter. The Huskies were unable to score on that drive.

Redington, the No. 2 seed in the postseason, ended its season 5-3 overall.

Contact Frontiersman managing editor Jeremiah Bartz at editor@frontiersman.com.

Kenai 27, Redington 20

Saturday, Redington

First quarter

Redington — Ingraham 46 run (Swalling run) 3:29

Second quarter

Kenai — Vann 19 pass from Perez (Hayes run) 1:07

Redington — Ingraham 7 run (run failed) 0.09

Third quarter

Kenai — McCanna 6 run (Vann kick) 10:13

Redington — Ingraham 4 run (run failed) 4:50

Fourth quarter

Kenai — Hayes 29 run (kick failed) 10:08

Kenai — Campanella 14 run (kick failed) 1:51

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Kenai: Hayes 7-110, Campanella 12-71, McCanna 6-6, Perez 4-(-1); Redington: Ingraham 18-141, Marquez-Hopson 12-27, Swalling 11-36, Flores 2-14.

PASSING — Kenai: Perez 1-6-2–19; Redington: Ingraham 11-22-1-163.

RECEIVING — Kenai: Vann 1-19; Redington: Murdock 4-99, Saxton 2-27, Swalling 2-13, Kearney 2-5, Flores 1-19.

Kenai’s Bobby Hayes tackles Redington’s Christian Ingraham during a playoff win over Redington on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024 at Redington Jr/Sr High School in Wasilla, Alaska. (Photo by Bruce Eggleston/matsusports.net)