On the ninth day of September, the funk-a-rific Earth, Wind and Fire classic commemorating the month played loud and proud during pregame warmups at West Anchorage Alumni Stadium.
Seemed about right. As the early Friday evening’s breeze stiffened, sending rain drops sideways, members of both the Dimond High and West High flag football squads loosened up with an imaginative display of dance moves. The only ones not grooving were Brian Hosken, Eddie Maeder and the rest of the officiating crew.
“A lot of times we have nerves, so we use the music to get (them) out of our heads,” West senior Karsen Beagley said. “But sometimes maybe we get too into it, and it gets a little silly.”
Unfortunately for Beagley and the Eagles, returning All-Cook Inlet Conference first team running back Mai Mateaki simply got down like no one else. A junior, Mateaki accounted for 159 rushing yards, two interceptions and three touchdowns in Dimond’s 27-0 triumph.
Dimond’s Mai Mateaki runs in open space. Photo by Bryan Boyett/Alaska Sports Report
“Mai’s a beast,” Dimond senior Ellie Cunningham said. “There’s no other Mai.”
The rain subsided near halftime, but the wind never quit. Neither did Mateaki, who scored on a 40-yard run with nine seconds remaining in the second quarter. Her first score came roughly eight minutes after Cunningham and senior quarterback Kali Hibbert connected on a 14-yard passing touchdown.
Mateaki scampered 42 yards for a touchdown with 3:56 remaining in the fourth. The game ended on the next play from scrimmage – mercy rule – when Mateaki grabbed her second interception, returning the ball 24 yards for a score.
“Too many highlights for her,” Cunningham said. “I can’t keep up with all of them.”
A receiver on offense, Cunningham made a living in the right flat. She finished with five receptions for 42 yards and the second-quarter touchdown. Junior Maile Wilcox turned in eight pulls on defense.
Dimond’s Kali Hibbert passes under pressure. Photo by Bryan Boyett/Alaska Sports Report
In its 17th season, CIC flag football and a flair for deception makes for an interesting watch. Dimond doesn’t differentiate formations or plays too often. Mixed in with finding Cunningham in the flat or the classic toss left to Mateaki, Hibbert used misdirection and fake wraparound draws to keep West’s defense honest.
Dimond has won nine of the conference’s 16 titles to date. Friday, it bounced back from a 21-19 loss to South earlier in the week to match the Wolverines’ 7-1 record with six games to play. The rivals conclude the regular season Oct. 1 at South.
The CIC playoffs begin Oct. 6, and the league championship gets decided on Oct. 13.
West fell to 5-3. It lost 35-6 to Dimond on Aug. 20. Quarterback Ariel Mesa rushed for a team-high 39 yards. Nay Nay Wyche totaled 57 yards of total offense and paced the defense with six pulls.
The Eagles believe they can compete for the CIC title. Last season, West finished second for the sixth straight time and eighth overall.
“You just have to keep pushing,” said Beagley, who finished with two receptions for seven yards.
West’s Ariel Mesa stretches for extra yards. Photo by Bryan Boyett/Alaska Sports Report