Homer high’s football team suffered a loss in the first home game of the season, ending their battle against Kenai Central High School 58-6.

Junior Noah Fisk was still out due to an injury in the season’s first game, and several other players came off the field throughout the game to ice various injuries as the Kardinals advanced down the field time and time again.

The Kardinals improved to 1-1 overall. They led the Mariners 30-0 after the first quarter and 44-6 at halftime.

Homer’s one touchdown was scored by sophomore Cade Hrenchir, who caught a pass from junior quarterback Anthony Kalugin for a 53 yard gain.

Kenai rushed for 458 yards.

Kenai’s Zach Burnett scored a 21-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, followed by Titus Riddall with scoring runs of 26, 46 and 33 yards to close out the quarter.

Justin Anderson of Kenai had touchdown runs of 4 and 24 yards in the second quarter. That’s when Homer got its solitary touchdown from Hrenchir on the board. In the third quarter, when the game went to a running clock, the Kardinals finished with touchdowns from Burnett and Tucker Vann.

Homer fell to 0-2 for the season, after a 36-6 loss in Kodiak earlier this month. Head Coach Walter Love previously told the Homer News that he is heavy on young players this year after the departure of eight powerhouse seniors who filled many of the team’s specialty positions.

This season is about going back to the fundamentals of football, he said.

The Mariners will face off against Monroe Catholic High School at 2 p.m. this Saturday at the home field at Homer High School.

Reach Megan Pacer at mpacer@homernews.com.

Head Mariners football coach Walter Love talks to his players during a timeout at their Friday, Aug. 17, 2018 game against Kenai Central High School at the home football field in Homer, Alaska. The Kardinals trounced the Mariners 58-6. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)