Prep pigskin playoffs start this weekend and the path is clear for the Thunder Mountain Falcons (6-2) football team to break into the medium school state championships for the first time in school history. They secured the Southeast Conference’s No. 1 seed with a Glacier Bowl win last weekend, allowing them to avoid playing four-time defending state champions Soldotna and instead face a 4-4 Palmer High School in the state semifinals Saturday at 4 p.m. at Palmer.

The Falcons went undefeated in the SEC this year in a confidence-building campaign that saw them dispatch Conference rivals North Pole, JDHS and Ketchikan. Though Palmer finished with as many losses as wins this season, the Moose suffered three of their four losses to large school opponents in early-season non-conference matchups.

Since then, they’ve gone 3-1, losing only to Soldotna 41-21 in that stretch. The Falcons and Moose haven’t faced one another this year but have shared common opponents. Both teams played Kenai Central High School, and if the comparison between those two games holds any merit, Thunder Mountain will have their hands full Saturday: Palmer dispatched Kenai 21-7 two weeks ago while Thunder Mountain fell to Kenai at home 23-12 on Aug. 26.

Thunder Mountain quarterback Cale Jenkins and starting wideout Riley Olson will both be active for Saturday’s game. The Falcons lost to Soldotna in the semis last year 49-13. If they can make it past Palmer, Thunder Mountain will play in the First National Bowl Medium Schools Championship Game on Saturday, Oct. 15 at 12:30 p.m. in Palmer.

Volleyball

Thunder Mountain (2-2), Ketchikan (2-2); Juneau-Douglas (2-2), Ketchikan (2-2)

Kayhi’s spikers make the trip to the capital city for four conference games this weekend, two against Thunder Mountain and two against Juneau-Douglas. Juneau-Douglas plays host for games Thursday at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 1:30 p.m.; Thunder Mountain will get their shot at the Kings Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m.

The Southeast Conference is currently knotted at two wins and two losses for each of its three teams. All three teams have split games against their Conference opponents. Falcons head coach Arnold Ibias said this weekend will be “crucial” for seeding at the Region V tournament Nov. 4 and 5 in Sitka.

Swimming

Juneau-Douglas swim and dive heads to the Bartlett Swim Invite this weekend. Look for team leaders Mia Ruffin and Gabi Kito to build on state-leading times in the 200-yard medley relay, 200 freestyle, 200 individual medley and the 100 butterfly.

Results will be posted online at juneauempire.com.

• Contact Sports reporter Kevin Gullufsen at 523-2228 or kevin.gullufsen@juneauempire.com.