The Wiz of Odds

Barrow Can't Get Started in a 48-13 Loss

Three games, three losses. Barrow High played host to the Eielson Ravens on Saturday, but it was more of the same for the Whalers, who were saddled with a 48-13 loss.

Budd Goodyear, our man in Barrow, once again sent us a photo package, including the image above of Raven running back Zech Ellingson avoiding two Whaler defenders during the second half.

Cold, Hard Fact: Barrow Is 0-2 After Loss to Nikiski

A season that started with much promise has quickly become a test of character for the Barrow High Whalers, who were humbled by the Nikiski Bulldogs, 27-2, on Saturday at Cathy Parker Field.

Barrow resident Budd Goodyear once again sent us a photo package, including the top image of three Whalers wrestling Nikiski running back Brando Wik to the blue turf.

Football From the Top of the World

Barrow, Alaska was the place to be Saturday if you couldn't wait another day for a football fix. The hometown Whalers opened the season by playing host to the Kodiak Bears on the blue turf 340 miles north of the Arctic Circle. Kodiak won, 21-7, in a rematch of last season's Alaska small schools state semifinals. The Bears won that game, 19-13, in Anchorage.

A big thank you to Barrow resident Budd Goodyear for sending this photo package, including the shot above of Barrow quarterback Albert Gerke getting crunched by two Kodiak tacklers.

Are You Ready for Some Football?

While sizzling summer heat grips much of the Lower 48, officials in Alaska are getting ready to tee it up for the start of prep football. Our favorite Alaska team, the Barrow Whalers, will be playing host to the dreaded Kodiak Bears on Saturday in a rematch of last season's small schools state semifinals, won by Kodiak, 19-13.

This site first chronicled the story of the Whalers in 2006, when officials in Alaska's northernmost city — located 340 miles north of the Arctic Circle — decided to field a football team. ESPN sent writer Wayne Drehs and videographer Nik Kleinberg to Barrow to cover the first game and they produced an award-winning two-part series you can view by clicking here and here.

Barrow's Top of the World Victory

The home-field advantage of the Barrow High Whalers is not to be trifled with.

The Whalers started fast and never lifted their foot off the pedal Saturday in a 46-18 victory over the Houston Hawks in a small schools Alaska quarterfinal game at Cathy Parker Field, a stirring victory in the first playoff game above the Arctic Circle.

The victory earned Barrow a trip to the state semifinals later this week at the Anchorage Football Stadium. The opponent is the always tough Kodiak Bears.

With temperatures in the high 20s and a brisk 25-mph wind off the Arctic Ocean whipping up snow, the Whalers turned to their running game, amassing 363 yards and holding the visiting Hawks to only 119.

We thank Eric Engman of the Fairbanks News-Miner for the photo of Barrow coach Mark Ross getting doused with water as time expired, along with newspaper's Danny Martin and James Brooks.

History to Be Made in Icy Barrow

Our favorite high school football team, the Barrow Whalers, have made the Alaska state playoffs and will be playing host to the first playoff game above the Arctic Circle at 1 p.m. (Alaska) on Saturday.

The dreaded Houston Hawks are the opponent in the quarterfinal game and officials were scrambling Friday to get snow, which was up to 18 inches deep, cleared from Cathy Parker Field. Only flurries are expected at kickoff and temperatures are forecast to soar into the 20s.

Whaler players went through their final practice on Friday in 20-degree temperatures that were chilled by a 35 mph wind off the Arctic Ocean. The ocean is less than 100 yards from the field.

Whaler senior nose tackle and offensive guard Zac Rohan, pictured above, practiced in shorts Friday. "It's awesome," he told Danny Martin of the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.

The winner advances to the semifinal round next weekend at the Anchorage Football Stadium. The semifinal winners play for the small schools state title there on Oct. 18.

In the past, KBRW in Barrow has broadcast games. You can click here to listen to KBRW's stream.

Photo by Eric Engman of the News-Miner. Thanks to James Brooks of the News-Miner for his help.