Dual-threat terror Cayden Pili has 26 TDs this year (13 passing, 13 rushing). Photo by Stephanie Burgoon/Alaska Sports Report
Saturday’s clash between the last two unbeaten football teams in the Cook Inlet Conference wasn’t a battle for very long.
The Dimond Lynx seized control almost immediately and dominated in every aspect as they devoured the T-birds 35-12 at East High School.
On offense, dual-threat quarterback Cayden Pili accounted for 235 yards and four touchdowns – two passing, two rushing.
On defense, Caleb Cooke had two interceptions and Alex Borke had one pick while Lamarr Heanu-Williams and Abraham Tauannu each had a sack.
On special teams, pressure from Josiah James and Tauannu forced a 2-yard punt.
At 6-0 in the CIC, coach Brian Yim’s team has wrapped up the league title going into the regular season finale Saturday. Dimond will also be the No. 1 seed for the ASAA Division I First National Bowl playoffs starting the following week and earned home-field advantage throughout the postseason until to the state title game, which will be played at Colony High School in the Valley.
East has already clinched the No. 2 seed by virtue of its victories over Bartlett and West, which are tied for third place and will face off in Saturday’s regular-season finale at West High School.
CIC Football Standings
| TEAM | CONF | OVERALL |
| Dimond | 6-0 | 7-0 |
| East | 5-1 | 5-2 |
| West | 4-2 | 5-2 |
| Bartlett | 4-2 | 5-2 |
| Service | 2-4 | 3-4 |
| South | 2-4 | 3-4 |
| Juneau | 1-5 | 2-5 |
| Colony | 0-6 | 0-7 |
WEEK 7
Dimond 35, East 12
Bartlett 34, Juneau 20
South 28, Colony 21
West 28, Service 7
WEEK 8
Juneau at Colony
East at South
Dimond at Service
Bartlett at West
END REGULAR SEASON
Pili completed 8-of-17 passes for 179 yards and two TDs, both to Borke. On the first score, Pili used play action and then looked like he was going to run before throwing at the last moment and finding a wide open Borke from 9 yards out. The second TD was a 60-yard bomb that was deflected by East defensive back Marad Wright, who looked like he might make an interception before the ball bounced off his hands and right to Borke.
As a passer, Pili was good but not great. He was picked off three times and nearly a fourth.
Pili also carried the ball seven times for 56 yards and a pair of 1-yard TDs. Dimond saw 10 different dudes carry the ball as the Lynx totaled 134 yards on the ground. Pili had half of the team’s four runs of 10 yards or more, including a beautiful 17-yard sprint where he deked and ducked would-be tacklers.
Dimond’s Alex Borke keeps his eye on the ball after it was deflected by East’s Marad Wright. Photo by Stephanie Burgoon/Alaska Sports Report
It’s easy for any of the Dimond players to get overshadowed by the electrifying Pili. Borke is one of the unsung heroes.
He hauled in three catches for 70 yards and two TDs. He made a fourth-down tackle for loss. He also made his fifth interception of the season, which is tied with teammate Cooke for the most in the CIC.
James caught five passes for 109 yards, highlighted by his 67-yard catch-and-run reception he took to the 1-yard line.
Buoyed by linemen Jermiah Seve, Heanu-Williams and Tauannu, Dimond’s 3-4 defense held East to just 175 yards of total offense and forced the T-birds to try a different QB by the second quarter.
East’s Darian Igwacho on the run. Photo by Stephanie Burgoon/Alaska Sports Report
East managed just 29 yards and zero points on its first six drives before coach Jeff Trotter called on Adonis Mamea, the third player to go under center in the last three weeks.
Mamea provided a much-needed shot in the arm, boosting the offense with a team-high 64 rushing yards and completing a 24-yard pass on fourth down to move the chains.
Mamea orchestrated two scoring drives in the fourth quarter of 61 and 63 yards. The first drive was set up by his 24-yard pass to Pusa Lilo on 4th-and-5. The second drive was keyed by Darian Igwacho’s 21-yard run.
Defensively, East got interceptions from Aaron Lotu-Musava, Prince Sillato and Brandon Young while George Lane registered a sack and two tackles for loss.
Dimond 14 7 7 7 – 35
East 0 0 0 12 – 12
FIRST QUARTER
Dimond – Borke 9 pass from Pili (kick missed) 6:52
Dimond – Pili 1 run (James run) 0:45
SECOND QUARTER
Dimond – Robinson 4 run (Lajoie kick) 2:19
THIRD QUARTER
Dimond – Pili 1 run (Lajoie kick) 1:03
FOURTH QUARTER
East – Mamea 1 run (run failed) 9:57
Dimond – Borke 60 pass from Pili (Lajoie kick) 6:58
East – Mamea 8 run (pass failed) 0:43
Baby T-birds sneak a glance to make sure they are in step with the East High cheerleaders. Photo by Stephanie Burgoon/Alaska Sports Report
