ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Soldotna’s Lokeni Wong helped the stars avenge their upset in the First National Bowl after losses to the Lathrop Malamutes both as a freshman and sophomore.

Playing in the final game of his high school career, Wong stepped onto the starting line and stepped up when it mattered most. He helped the Stars to a 49-28 victory and secured the team’s second state football championship in as many years.

“I’ve been with these guys since sixth grade, since Pop Warner,” Wong said. “We knew we could make it happen because of the chemistry we had.”

The Soldotna team, known for its use of the wishbone offense, turned to Wong after another player was injured.

“We lost one of our halfbacks pretty early with a twisted knee and Lokeni Wong came in and played really well,” Stars Head Coach Galen Brantley said.

But Wong did more than just fill a spot on the field. The senior two-way player was an x-factor on both sides of the ball. Scoring two goals on offense and breaking up multiple passes as a defender.

“We ran these games with the scout team all weekend,” Wong said. “We know the routes and that helped us a lot.”

Saturday’s championship game overshadows Wong’s time with the Stars. His first two years with the program saw this team fall twice to Lathrop in the championship game. Now he leaves the field as a back-to-back champion.

“It was very difficult being on this island, watching us lose two games, there were tears everywhere,” he said. “It feels good to finish with a bang.”

Wong plans to pursue his future studies at the university level, although he is not sure where yet.

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