Like the rain that poured in Homer Friday, the Mariner football team seemed to run downhill to win their second game of the year. Homer racked up 270 total rushing yards and dominated the visiting Nikiski Bulldogs 25-0.
The Mariners opened the floodgates early. Running behind an offensive line that often opened holes the size of Buicks, Ethan Parker scored a touchdown from five yards out with six minutes remaining in the first quarter to give Homer a 6-0 lead.
The showers before the game turned into a deluge midway through the first quarter. Playing in their second-straight game in such conditions, the Mariners held on to the slippery ball well and played a turnover-free game. Nikiski, on the other hand, struggled, fumbling the ball six times. Their second turnover in the first quarter led to a three-yard touchdown run by Noah McWilliams to stretch the Mariner lead to 12-0.
In the second quarter, Mariner quarterback Taylor Layland found a streaking tight end, Justin Frink, for a nine-yard touchdown pass. Layland then ran the ball in from five yards out in the third quarter to complete the rout. "I feel like we dominated the line and we were able to move the ball," said Head Football Coach Kelly Blake. "We pretty much had the ability to do whatever we needed to do."
Usually after a big home victory, the Mariners meet at midfield for a pep talk and team cheer. But on Friday, Blake, wearing shorts and no hat, quickly told his muddy players "good job" and led them off the field.
Blake said playing in the rain is "getting a little old," but should prepare the kids for their next two games in Ketchikan and Seward.
"I guess the upside is that we'll be used to playing in it," he said. The Mariner defense held Nikiski to just 118 yards. Besides three Nikiski lost fumbles, the Mariners also capitalized on an interception by Frink and a blocked punt.
Nikiski crossed the midfield line just once in the second half. McWilliams ran for 90 yards and a touchdown to lead the Mariners. Ethan Parker ran for 87 yards and a score and Collin Hagen ran for 74 yards. On the downside for Homer, they'll play in Ketchikan Saturday without Parker who will have to sit out after being ejected from the game on Friday. Parker was penalized for taunting after his touchdown run in the first quarter and then kicked out of the game after a hit while playing defense in the third quarter.
Ben Stuart can be reached at ben.stuart@homernews.com.
25 0
Nikiski 0 0 0 0
0
Homer 12 7 6 0
25
First Quarter: Hom, Ethan Parker 5 yd run, Hom, Noah McWilliams 3 yd. run
Second Quarter: Hom, Taylor Layland 9 yd pass to Justin Frink (Hagen kick)
Third Quarter: Taylor Layland 5 yd run.
Rushing:
Mariners Bulldogs
Individual statistics
Team statistics
Nikiski Homer
First downs 5 17
Rushes - yards 27-70 50-270
Passing yards 48 36
Comp-att-int 5-12-1 3-6-0
Return yards 15 38
Punts-average 4-20 2-23
Fumbles-lost 6-3 2-0
Penalties-yards 6-40 12-95
Nikiski:
Beau Calderwood, 12-44,
Tyler Payment 7-16,
Corey Smith 7-10,
Josh Vance 1-0.
Homer:
Noah McWilliams 15-90,
Ethan Parker 11-87,
Collin Hagen 12-74,
Taylor Layland 11-17,
Gordon Parker 1-2.
Passing:
Nikiski:
Corey Smith 5-12-1-48.
Homer:
Taylor Laylandd 3-6-0-38.
Receiving:
Nikiski:
Evan Holloway 3-39,
Jason Moore 1-6,
Josh Vance 1-3.
Homer:
Collin Hagen 1-20,
Matt Kinney 1-9,
Justin Frink 1-9.
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