Another stud running back at PHS?

Aug. 18, 2006

By Jeremiah Bartz/ Frontiersman

PALMER - As a junior, Haakan Bohman showed flashes of brilliance last season.

Flashes - literally.

The Palmer running back burned North Pole for an 80-yard touchdown in a 40-21 win over the Patriots last year, and in a clogged backfield, he averaged more than 10 yards per carry.

Heading into the 2006 season, the Moose had some questions to answer - most notably who will carry the load in the Palmer ground attack. The Moose may have an answer to at least part of that question. Bohman proved during Palmer's 40-20 season opening win over West Anchorage, he could provide not just a flash, but a steady burn.

Tonight Bohman will have the chance to add to the 260 yards he gained in week one as the Moose travel to the Kenai Peninsula to take on the small-school power Soldotna Stars.

Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m.

The small, but swift, senior scampered for 260 yards and three touchdowns in the win over West. He sparked Palmer's 20-point win with a 75-yard touchdown run on his team's first play from scrimmage in the third quarter.

&#8220It was a break-out game for him,” Palmer head coach Rod Christiansen said. &#8220It was nice to have that speedy guy out there.”

Bohman added touchdown runs of 9 and 31 yards in the final two quarters. He also posted two key interceptions in the second half on defense.

With a small frame - he's 5-foot-6 and 150 pounds - Bohman squirted through the line of scrimmage, and bounced off West defenders. On many of his longer runs, Bohman would burst to the sideline, and then cut back to the middle of hte field.

&#8220Coach told me to cut back a lot,” Bohman said after the game.

Bohman's elusiveness was almost mind-boggling at points, as he spent about as much time running to the right or left, as he did running forward.

&#8220That's just kind of me,” he said. &#8220I just try to avoid people.”

Bohman is part of potentially a deep backfield for the Moose. Senior Tanner Grover surpassed the 100-yard mark in the second quarter alone. He also caught a Conrad Smith touchdown pass.

Smith, a junior quarterback making his first career start, ran for 66 yards and two touchdowns.

Soldotna (0-1) is facing its second Palmer opponent in as many weeks. Last week the Stars were stomped by Colony 41-6 at CHS.

Soldotna's lone touchdown, a Mike Reed 6-yard run, came with 10 minutes remaining in regulation.

Prep football faithful have touted the Stars as one of the small school programs to watch in 2006, primarily because of the depth they return in the backfield. The stingy Colony defense held Soldotna to just 149 yards.

If recent history is any indication, Wasilla's match with West Valley will end with a 21-20 score. The only question is, who will come out on top?

Last season, West Valley left Wasilla's Veterans Memorial Field with a 21-20 win, matching the Warriors' 21-20 victory over the Wolfpack the season before.

West Valley fullback Dustin Baxter posted the go-ahead score with only 26 seconds left on the clock. That was just icing in the cake for Baxter, who ran for 191 yards against Wasilla.

Baxter is the West Valley go-to guy again this year. He had a game-high 255 yards rushing in a 38-6 win over Eagle River last week.

Other notable returnees include quarterback Duane Aamot and linebacker Jeremy Fulk.

Wasilla scored 24 second-half points, but Kodiak survived to score a 33-27 win over the Warriors last week.

Wasilla trailed 20-6 at the half, but Jeff Champion sparked a comeback. The senior scored twice during a 62-second span. With 3:25 left, Champion returned a kickoff 75 yards for a score. With 2:23 remaining, he hauled in a 36-yard Hunter Scholz touchdown pass.

The Warriors also established a presence on special teams. Kicker Vladimir Dahl booted field goals of 36 and 42 yards.

The Warriors and Wolfpack meet tonight at 7 p.m.

Possibly the biggest game on the Railbelt Conference docket this week pits North Pole against host Colony.

Both schools were winners in their respective season-openers, but 1-0 came much harder for the Patriots.

Todd McCormick scored with 1 minute and 12 seconds remaining to lead North Pole to a 20-14 win over East Anchorage. The junior tailback led the Patriots with a game-high 65 yards on 15 carries.

While North Pole slipped by East, Colony cruised in a win over Soldotna.

Senior Chebon Jimenez enjoyed another stellar performance against the Stars. Last season, in his first career start, Jimenez rumbled for 208 yards and three scores in the 2005 season opener. Last week, Jimenez hit 188 yards and three scores.

And also like last year, Jimenez and the Knights face North Pole in week two. Last year, the CHS running back posted 83 yards and three touchdowns in a win over the Pats.

Colony hosts North Pole tonight at 7 p.m.

In the small school ranks, Houston is looking to improve to 2-0 in Great Land Conference play. After thumping Delta 41-19 in the Interior last week, the Hawks head back out on the road, traveling to Valdez to face the Buccaneers Saturday at 1 p.m.

Houston scored the 22-point victory without the use of five starters for most of the game. Quarterback Ryan Thamm, fullback Israel Morales and receivers Blake Elder and Donovan Parker did not play. Running back Karl Thistle played sparingly.

But with Thistle out, another Houston running back had the chance to shine. Sophomore Kyle Sumner rushed for 283 yards, and scored three times.

Thistle had only two carries, but scored on one of them. Fullback Joel Steed and quarterback Quintin Viet also scored.

Valdez topped the North Pole junior varsity 18-0 last week.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.