West coach Tim Davis hugs Jordan Muasau before last week’s semifinal win. Photo by Bryan Boyett/Alaska Sports Report
The stars come out when the Eagles take the field.
Loaded with an awesome artillery of weapons, West has blown away Alaska opponents by an average score of 45-12 in nine games.
The Eagles (9-2) have been the state’s top-ranked team all season. With one game left, they just need to land the plane to make it stick.
The season comes down to Saturday night’s state title game against the upstart South Wolverines (5-5) in the ASAA Division I First National Bowl.
“If we can go out there and play the way we know we can play and execute, the trophy is on the other side of that,” West coach Tim Davis said.
On paper, the game looks like a mismatch. South came out of nowhere while West has been out of this world with a star-studded lineup.
THIS SATURDAY!! The 2023 ASAA First National Bowl DI Championship… South Anchorage Wolverines vs. West Anchorage Eagles Saturday, 6:30pm at Service HS.
Purchase tickets before you arrive at https://t.co/Brr9AIwqTt! Same price as at the gate! #FNB23 @FNBAlaska pic.twitter.com/Hpb6TeXbp6— ASAA (@ASAA_org) October 19, 2023
West features player-of-the-year candidate and 2,000-yard passer Azariah Atonio, 1,000-yard rusher Davis Iloilo, Oregon State-bound receiver Aaron Hampton and a host of defensive stars led by Jordan Muasau, Christian Faletoi and Mason Tanoa in addition to special teams specialist Aarion Alexander.
Still, nothing is for certain, and Davis cautioned anybody foolish enough to overlook the Wolverines.
“Nobody is sleeping on South,” he said.
The longtime West coach was quick to point out that the Eagles only led 21-14 going into the fourth quarter in the first meeting between the teams in Week 2 of the regular season, a game West won 42-14.
“The score got a little out of hand but that’s not the story of the game,” Davis said.
The Eagles pulled away late, much like they did against East and Lathrop. Even in the team’s lone loss on the field to Aiea (HI), they were strong down the stretch. (The Eagles’ other loss was a 1-0 forfeit to Dimond.)
West breaks your heart at the end – and sometimes at the beginning. Atonio threw for 323 yards and six touchdowns in the first half against Juneau in Week 8. And the Eagles led Service 37-0 at halftime in last week’s state semifinal.
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Repetition on the practice field solidified winning habits in games that led to success for West, which carries a six-game winning streak into Saturday’s game.
Davis has kept his team focused week to week while keeping his players engaged.
“You can bring enough variants of the routine to keep guys fascinated,” he said. “You can keep guys locked in with a little bit of fun.”
Davis’ youthful exuberance is one of his trademarks. So is his success at West as his 105 wins rank sixth all-time in Alaska high school football history.
This will be the eighth time he’s led the Eagles to the First National Bowl, winning titles in 2010, 2013 and 2015.
West’s Aaron Hampton visits the end zone. Photo by Bryan Boyett/Alaska Sports Report
Even though he’s focused on winning the big game, Davis is still aware of the big picture.
“We’re going to be done with football on Saturday and that’s when the real coaching starts,” he said. “Is what we teach going to apply in the hallways and at home? That’s what I’m most nervous about. I’m nervous about Monday. Are we going to do it right in the classroom and in our community and for our families. That’s mission No. 1.
“But we do recognize the purpose that we’re here for and we’re excited to go out there and compete and grow and learn.”