The Toa Samoa era under center for the East High football team started with a thud and ended with a dub.

A near fumble on the first play of the game almost resulted in disaster, but Samoa quickly settled things down and led the T-birds to touchdowns on their first two drives to key Saturday’s 22-6 victory over visiting Juneau-Douglas.

This was the 78th career for 14-year East coach Jeff Trotter, who ranks eighth in Cook Inlet Conference history, one behind former Bartlett bench boss Bob Swatosch.

Samoa threw for 230 yards and one score in his first game at quarterback in addition to rushing for 36 yards and one score (along with a two-point conversion). He also booted a 62-yard punt into the end zone, very nearly pinning Juneau at the goal line.

His favorite receiver was all-conference wideout Brandon Young, who hauled in nine receptions for 181 yards and a TD. He ran precise routes and was strong with the ball in a crowd, outleaping Juneau defensive backs on a couple of catches.

East’s passing game made up for a lackluster rushing attack that managed just 38 yards on 28 carries.

Credit Juneau’s defense. The Crimson Bears furnished with only tackle for loss but had 12 other stops of 1 yard or zero.

East’s defensive front was equally effective at times, although Juneau did crack the century mark in rushing yards (108) on 28 carries behind a run-first attacked led by quarterback Noah Ault.

Where the T-birds made the biggest difference was in the defensive backfield, where they shadowed Juneau playmaker Jayden Johnson. A big-play magnet, Johnson was quiet until the fourth quarter when he converted a 74-yard catch-and-run TD.

CIC Football
Week 1
Saturday
East 22, Juneau 6
Service 32, South 7
Friday
West 33, Colony 0
Dimond 35, Bartlett 30

Ault just missed Johnson on a long toss in the first quarter and later East DBs broke up two passes in the end zone intended for Johnson. Pat Lomings also made a red-zone interception for the T-birds.

East’s passing game was crisp for a season opener. Samoa completed 15-of-22 attempts and hooked up with Young for four plays of 25 yards or more.

Samoa found Young on a 26-yard pass on the second play of the game. They later connected for a 37-yard pass play on the same drive.

In the first quarter, Young Mossed a DB in the corner for an 8-yard TD catch. In the second quarter, he pulled down a 40-yard grab in traffic.

In the third quarter, Samoa accounted for 36 of 46 yards during a scoring drive capped by his 1-yard touchdown plunge that pushed the T-birds’ lead to 22-0.

Juneau 0 0 0 6 – 6
East 16 0 6 0 – 22
FIRST QUARTER
East – Olaes 1 run (Lotu-Musaava run)
East – Young 8 pass from Samoa (Samoa run)
THIRD QUARTER
East – Samoa 1 run (kick blocked)
FOURTH QUARTER
Juneau – Johnson 74 pass from Ault (run stopped)