Fagerstrom upholds JDHS family tradition
ANCHORAGE - Alex Fagerstrom fulfilled a dream in more ways than one Saturday when the Juneau-Douglas football team beat South in the large-schools state semifinals.
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Not only did the 31-14 victory at Anchorage Football Stadium get the No. 1-ranked and undefeated Crimson Bears into the state championship game, Fagerstrom completed a key third-down pass to his younger brother Eric that kept a Juneau scoring drive alive.
"I've always wanted to throw a pass to my little brother (in the state playoffs)," said Fagerstrom, a junior.
"My big brother (Ryan) used to play for the Bears. Now my little brother is playing with me. It's pretty cool."
Fagerstrom, who alternated with starting quarterback Bubba Larson, completed an 18-yard pass to Eric on a pivotal third-and-11 situation near midfield, despite being hit while throwing.
Three plays later, Alex Fagerstrom caught a 34-yard pass from Larson that helped put Juneau ahead 24-0 just before halftime.
Both of Larson's touchdown passes were hauled in by Alex Fagerstrom, with the first going 31 yards.
On the season, Alex Fagerstrom was Larson's favorite target, catching 22 of his 49 completions and eight of his 12 touchdowns.
"He's the best receiver in the state," Larson said. "He's fast, he's got the best hands in the state. He helps me out a lot."
Alex Fagerstrom's second touchdown catch carried special significance because it was set up by a catch his freshman brother made.
Most of the plays on the scoring drive featured Alex Fagerstrom running the ball out of the shotgun formation. But when his team desperately needed a first down, he threw it to a sibling he grew up practicing with in the family yard.
"I haven't thrown the ball (much) this year," he said. "I guess they weren't expecting it. I dropped back and saw him, barely, and I threw it hoping he would catch it."
Just like they had practiced for years in preparation for a memorable moment like Saturday's playoff game.
Earlier this season, Alex Fagerstrom threw a 19-yard pass to brother Eric on fourth-and-8 against Palmer, his only other completion of the season.
Alex Fagerstrom's fingerprints were all over Saturday's victory. The do-everything player caught two touchdown passes at receiver, completed one pass at quarterback and made multiple tackles at defensive back.
Eric had a 32-yard touchdown run and recovered an onside kickoff to deny a South comeback attempt.
In 2005, Ryan - the oldest of the three Fagerstrom boys - was an all-tournament defensive pick when Juneau beat Palmer 49-29 for the state title.
"The talk around town is that we're trying to get the family to have more kids," quipped Juneau offensive coordinator Rich Sjoroos.
"There's Alex and there's Eric, and then the pipeline is dry. We got to do something about that."
Behind his versatility and playmaking ability, Alex Fagerstrom asserts himself like an upperclassman, leading by example, both teammates and Sjoroos said.
"It's all about business for Alex," Larson said. "He gets on everybody at practice and in games. When they're doing something wrong, he'll help them out. If they're messing around, he'll get on them."
Basically, Sjoroos said, Juneau wouldn't be playing for a state title if not for Alex Fagerstrom's all-around ability.
"He's obviously the glue that holds our offense together. He makes big plays all over the place," the coach said. "Defensively, he makes interceptions, he bats the ball down, he covers (the other team's) best guy.
"He can take a kid out of the game, and he can enhance the play of our guys. He really raises the level of our play."
• Find assistant sports editor Van Williams online at adn.com/contact/vwilliams or call 257-4335.