When I sent Soldotna head coach Galen Brantley our 2019 high school football preview form, he was succinct when answering the question of goals for 2019. The longtime Stars coach wrote, ” Win 8th consecutive state championship.”
Related: Soldotna wins 7th straight state title
The defending Division II champs have won 11 overall state titles in the last 13 years and during that stretch, the Stars have only missed the state final in 2011. Look for Soldotna to make another run at gold with the return of eight starters on both sides of the ball. Many of those starters play on both sides of the ball.
Starters returning on Offense (include Pos., Name, Height, Weight & Class)
TE Galen Brantley III 6-1 220 Class of 2020
HB Aaron Faletoi 5-11 230 Class of 2020
TE Zach Hanson 6-2 180 Class of 2020
LG Emmanuel Jennings 6-0 260 Class of 2021
FB Wyatt Medcoff 5-8 160 Class of 2020
HB Hudson Metcalf 6-1 200 Class of 2020
QB Jersey Truesdell 5-11 185 Class of 2020
LT Trent Walden 6-0 245 Class of 2020
Starters returning on Defense (Pos., Name, Height, Weight & Class)
LB Galen Brantley III 6-1 220 Class of 2020
DL Aaron Faletoi 5-11 230 Class of 2020
LB Zach Hanson 6-2 180 Class of 2020
DL Melvin Lloyd 6-3 285 Class of 2020
DB Wyatt Medcoff 5-8 160 Class of 2020
LB Hudson Metcalf 6-1 200 Class of 2020
DB Jersey Truesdell 5-11 185 Class of 2020
DL Zach Zeigler 6-2 185 Class of 2020
Brantley’s son Galen Brantley III, Aaron Faletoi and Jersey Truesdell lead the group. All three players were named to the Division II All-State team on both sides of the ball. Truesdell was named as the Division II Offensive Player of the Year. Other returning all-state players are Zach Hanson (utility player) and Hudson Metcalf (linebacker).
Brantley says the biggest challenge is to replace three offensive lineman for his run-first offense.
Below are the team’s top newcomers (Pos., Name, Height, Weight & Class):
DL Jacob Cooper 6-1 280 Class of 2020
OL Braden Lemm 6-3 275 Class of 2020
DB Tyler Morrison 6-1 175 Class of 2020
DB Josh Pieh 6-1 175 Class of 2021
OL Justice Roy 5-10 265 Class of 2020
LB Jordan Spies 5-10 170 Class of 2021
Sodotna opens up the regular season on August 17 against Division I runner-up West. The Alaska-power will also test itself with a trip to California this year. The Stars will play Christian High School from El Cajon, California on September 6.
