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The Lathrop Malemutes snapped Soldotna’s three-year hold on the Division II crown Saturday, routing the Stars 35-14 at Wasilla High School to clinch a perfect season. The win — fueled by a breakout performance from sophomore quarterback Boaz Balash and four touchdown catches by wideout Wilson Lawson — immediately reshapes the state pecking order in Alaska high school football.
Lathrop’s victory is its first state title since 2022 and brings the Fairbanks program level with Soldotna in recent dominance: each school now has three Division II championships over the last six seasons. The Malemutes finished the year a spotless 10-0 and will slide into High School On SI’s Alaska Football Elite 12 at No. 1.
The game was decided through the air. Balash completed five touchdown passes, four of them to Lawson, who repeatedly beat coverage on deep throws and turned big gains into scores. Lathrop converted a pair of costly Soldotna turnovers into points, and a goal-line interception returned to a touchback erased the Stars’ best late opportunity.
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Soldotna, the three-time defending champion, fell to 7-3 — its first three-loss season since 2009 — after miscues at critical moments. The Stars mounted several promising drives but were undone by a mix of penalties, a fumble deep in their own territory, and multiple interceptions in the second half.
Key facts
| Final score | Lathrop 35, Soldotna 14 |
| Records | Lathrop (10-0), Soldotna (7-3) |
| Where | Wasilla High School |
| Standout performers | Boaz Balash — 5 TD passes; Wilson Lawson — 4 TD catches |
Turning points and highlights
- Early bomb: On a third-and-18, Balash hit Lawson for a 63-yard touchdown that opened the scoring and set Lathrop’s tempo.
- Back-to-back turnovers: A Soldotna fumble at its 47 and an end-zone interception late in the fourth made a comeback unlikely for the Stars.
- Big-play connection: Balash’s 47-yard touchdown to Lawson in the third quarter pushed the lead out and deflated Soldotna’s momentum.
- Underclassman breakout: The sophomore quarterback already holds Lathrop’s career passing-yardage record and now has delivered a championship performance on the state stage.
Game flow was uneven. The first quarter closed scoreless before Lathrop found rhythm; penalties and a bobbled PAT kept the scoreboard from growing faster for the Malemutes. Soldotna’s most electric moments came from running back Chase Hall, who produced a long touchdown and a two-point conversion late in the first half to pull the Stars within range.
But Lathrop’s explosive passing attack and opportunistic defense answered repeatedly. A failed fourth-down gamble by Soldotna in the third quarter turned into an interception returned to midfield, and the Malemutes converted those swings into points that kept the lead comfortable.
What this means next
Lathrop leaves Wasilla not just with a trophy but with momentum: an unbeaten season, a top ranking in statewide lists, and a young quarterback who projects as a cornerstone for years to come. For Soldotna, the loss ends a three-title run and raises questions about depth and ball security going forward, even as its long-term dominance across two decades remains undeniable.
Both programs will carry headlines and postseason attention into the offseason — recruiters, regional matchups and next year’s title race will all be framed by Saturday’s result. At minimum, Lathrop’s win signals that the balance of power in Alaska Division II football is far from settled.
