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Ravens clinch Greatland Conference crown with win over Whalers

September 28th 4:03 pm | Tommy Wells Print this article   Email this article   Create a Shortlink for this article

The Barrow Whalers knew heading into their game with the Eielson Ravens on Saturday that two things were hanging in the balance. Eielson's hopes of clinching the Greatland Conference championship and the overall seeding for the 2012 Small-School playoffs.

The question of seeding still lives on.

Eielson, led by sophomore running back Anthony Griffith, clinched the Greatland Conference crown by grinding out an impressive 53-0 win over Barrow at Buck Nystrom Field. The win earned the Ravens the conference title for a seventh time and, more importantly, gave Eielson the No. 1 seed in the playoffs, which will begin Oct. 5.

With the loss, Barrow will head into this Friday's regular-season finale against Nikiski looking to finish either third or fourth in the four-team playoff race. A win over Nikiski would give Barrow the third-place seed and set up a rematch with Nikiski the following week. A loss will send the Whalers into a rematch with Eielson.

Barrow struggled to gets its offense in gear against the Ravens. Playing much of the game without starting quarterback Adison Itta, the Whalers amassed just 77 total yards, including just 17 via the passing game.

Itta suffered a separated shoulder early in the contest. His availability for the Whalers' final game was unknown as of press time.

Eielson, now 7-0, didn't waste any time in getting its offense in motion. After taking the opening kick at their own 35, the Ravens gave the ball to Griffith on first down. The sophomore speedster raced 65 yards on the play and staked Eielson to a lead just 19 seconds into the matchup.

Eielson added 27-yard scoring run by Jovante Kincade midway through the first and took a 12-0 lead into the second quarter.

The Ravens blew the game open in the second. Eielson scored three times in the quarter, netting TDs on runs of 2, 12 and 24 yards.

Eielson tacked on a 9-yard run by Griffith in the third, and a pair of scored in the fourth to close out the contest.

Griffith finished the game with 192 yards and three touchdowns on just 10 carries.

 

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