The Bears defense held Seward in check all day. (Jay Barrett/KMXT photo) 

This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  

            The Kodiak High School Bears football team wasted no time in establishing themselves in the opening game of their 2008 season Saturday. Nick Van Matre took the opening kick off from the visiting Seward Seahawks and ran it back 83-yards for a touchdown before 20 seconds had run off the clock.

          The Seahawks were the very first team Kodiak hosted at Baranov Park in 2002, and lost to them 33-to-zero. With more than five minutes remaining in the first half, the Bears had turned that around and were leading Seward by the identical score.

          The Bears went on to add 20 more points, while holding the Seahawks scoreless, winning 53-to-nothing.

            Kodiak racked up 364 total yards and five touchdowns. Zach Bailor and Kevin Lepola shared quarterbacking duties. Bailor threw one TD pass while Lepola ran for another. Anthony Atonio rushed for a pair of touchdowns.

            The next opponent for the Bears will be a visit from the Homer Mariners, who beat Monroe Catholic School of Fairbanks 52-to-26. Homer is led offensively by Dean DeVaney, who threw for one touchdown, rushed for another and caught two more. The Mariners' defense did allow Monroe rusher Isaiah Weeks to run for 257 yards and two scores. The Bears and the Mariners face off Saturday at Joe Floyd Field.

                                    ###