Redington hands Monroe football its first loss of the season

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - Heading into week four of the high school football season, opponents could hardly get into reach of the Monroe Catholic Rams or Redington Huskies, as each program’s average margin of victory was over 20 points. The Rams were recognized for their dominant wins over Seward, Nikiski and Eielson with a number one ranking in the Division II/III ASBN polls, while Redington was still unranked after convincing wins over Barrow and Valdez.

With the #1 tag as a target - and Redington not receiving any love in the polls - the Huskies came to Fairbanks Friday night hungry. Actually starving, in a 42-20 upset victory over Monroe.

After forcing a three-and-out on their first defensive possession, Redington took the ball right down the field for six, as Wayde Bowman threw a strike to Bryce Murdock in the end zone.

The Rams, who averaged 50 points per game during the first three weeks, were not able to move the chains until the second quarter. Late in that quarter, the Rams were stopped short of the goal line on fourth down, handing the ball back to the Huskies.

In a favorable spot, Monroe had Redington pinned deep on third down, but Bowman seemed to be able to get the Huskies out of any circumstance, finding Logan Seymore for a 50-yard bomb to keep the drive alive. On the next play, the senior quarterback scrambled for 30 yards, setting the Huskies up to score just before the half to make it 12-0.

The final two possessions of first half and the first three of the second defined the game. After the Rams forced fourth down on the first possession of the second half, Redington’s snap sailed over the punter’s head, giving Monroe the ball at the five-yard line and a chance to make it a one score game.

Monroe quarterback Robert McGee was stuffed on three straight rushing attempts before an incomplete pass gave the ball back to Redington and another opportunity was squandered.

Needing to go the length of the field, the Huskies gained most of that yardage on one play; a 74-yard pitch-and-catch score from Bowman to Jayden Spaulding, making it a three possession game in a blink. The Rams only got three plays off before having to send it back into the possession of the Huskies - who in two plays - broke the game open with a 50+ yard dash from Spaulding.

Bowman was responsible for five touchdowns, while Monroe got on the board with six minutes remaining after McGee punched in a touchdown that was set up from a long play by Tyler Moore, but the Huskies responded with another score. In a case of ‘too little too late’, the Rams scored again before recovering an onside kick that set up another Monroe touchdown. The Rams recovered the ensuing onside kick once again, but the clock struck zeroes at 42-20.

In the most recent ASBN poll, Redington (3-0) jumped to the number three spot, taking on the Kenai Kardinals in week five, while Monroe slid to No. 4 and will have a bye week to regroup before visiting the Barrow Whalers September 18.