AOTW: Seward duo combine for 4 touchdowns in Seahawks’ 9-man state title victory over Nikiski

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - Heading into the 9-man state championship game in Soldotna, the Seward Seahawks had yet to lose a single game since 2023.

This weekend, a pair of Seahawks ensured that streak stayed alive.

Senior running back Ronan Bickling and junior wide receiver Emerson Cross scored two touchdowns each in the Seahawks' victory over the Nikiski Bulldogs on Friday, helping secure Seward’s second-straight state title with a 36-6 win.

“I‘m ecstatic,” Cross said after the game. “My emotions are everywhere right now.

“I had to step out of my normal position and play a different position,” he continued, “and we ended up coming home with the victory.”

Bickling said he’s “over the moon” with the result and another state title under his belt.

“To be able to do it again is insane,” he said, “and I’m just so proud of our boys.”

Cross‘ start to what would be a day for the scoreboard operator began with the Seahawks’ second touchdown of the afternoon, when he took a 25-yard pass from quarterback Brett Gilmore to the house.

His second score came with just three minutes remaining in the third quarter. Cross juked and spun past two separate defenders on the way to the end zone.

“The first one, ball was perfect, thanks to our quarterback – I just caught it, and took it right to the house,” Cross said. “On the second one, the entire defense bit, I got the ball, and just made something happen.”

For Bickling, his touches came a bit later. Up 22-6 with three minutes left in the first half, Bickling took a simple hand-off from mid-field all the way down for six points, cutting back inside and forcing two defenders into each other before scampering untouched for the score.

He followed things up with the final touchdown of the ball game, trotting down the left field line for a 24-yard score.

“Ronan’s a great runner; he’s fast as heck,” Seahawks Head Coach Tyler Mallory said. “Emerson played great on D-line. He stepped up a tight end for us, too, and that’s not his normal position. I’m super proud of them.”

Closing out the final game of his high school career, Bickling said the moment wasn’t something he initially expected.

“I wasn’t even starting running back last year,” he said. “I didn’t get any first team, second team awards or nothing last year, and it just all came together this year.”

Bickling was later named the Alaska 9-man offensive player of the year.

“I was able to put the work in, and play the way I wanted to,” he said, “and I’m so grateful for all my teammates to be able to do this with them.”

The duo are a part of the last remnants of 11-man football on the Seahawks team. The 2024 Seward 9-man squad consisted of 14 upperclassman, a core that witnessed the program transition into the new style of play.

“It was definitely hard to adjust having those, like, tackles or tight ends being eligible receivers, and figuring out different blocking assignments,” Bickling said. “But it’s a lot more open space. I’m pretty fast, and so it kind of suits my playing style.”

Cross added that he wasn’t sure what to think about the change until he got on the field.

“It just felt great,” he said. “I love it.”

Although his current focus is on running at the Division II level in track after high school, Bickling said he may look into furthering his career on the gridiron. Cross, meanwhile, will head into his final year of high school with his sights set on a third trophy.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” Cross said. “A lot of challenges to overcome, just like we did this year. It should be fun.”

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