Balanced attack leads T-birds over Colony

ANCHORAGE -- Word around the Alaska high school football scene is East High School has a pretty potent passing game.

With the Thunderbirds returning two of the state's top offensive weapons, Derek Laws and Casey Flair, the defensive backfields of East High opponents normally prepare for a long afternoon.

On Saturday it was not just the potent air East air attack that defeated the Colony Knights. The Thunderbirds threw a balanced attack at Colony and gained more than 300 yards in total offense en route to a 28-17 win over the Knights at Anchorage Football Stadium.

The game marked the season opener for both squads.

Though most opposing defensive coordinators worry about Laws and Flair, it was East tailback Ryan Stickler who did the most damage against Colony.

Stickler rushed for a pair of second half touchdowns, including a 37-yard romp in the third quarter to lead the Thunderbirds.

Stickler rushed for a game-high 165 yards in the contest.

East was about as balanced as could be, rushing for 179 yards and throwing for 177.

"They've got so many athletes, they can do what they want," Colony head coach Randy Magner said. "Run, pass or kick."

Laws started the contest for East at quarterback, completing 12 of 17 passes for 151 yards in the first half. Laws did throw three interceptions.

Thunderbird backup signal caller Chad Neding took the snaps in the second half and completed 3 of 8 passes.

Defensively, Magner said the Knights aimed to stop Flair. The talented wide out who already owns the state single season receiving records in several categories, caught four balls for 56 yards against the Knights.

Magner added that Colony did not change its defensive scheme, but the focus was on preventing Flair from getting down the sidelines.

Colony was able to take a 10-7 lead in the first half. After East's Hunter Joy plunged into the end zone from one yard out to give the Thunderbirds a 7-0 lead, Colony running back Shawn Olivera scored the first of his two touchdowns to tie the score a 7-7.

The Knights booted a 20-yard field goal with 46 seconds in the first half to take the 10-7 lead.

The Knights held the lead until midway through the third quarter when Neding scored a 1-yard touchdown.

Colony, who are looking to defend its Northern Railbelt Conference title, showed several positives, despite the loss.

Wide receiver and defensive back Justin Schwartzbauer was a hawk around the ball, intercepting two passes on defense and catching three balls for 46 yards on the offensive side.

Magner said that the Colony coaching staff anticipated that Schwartzbauer would emerge as a threat.

"We have been to three camps this year and he is getting better and better," Magner said. "The quarterbacks look to him because he can make big plays."

Olivera, a hard-nosed newcomer to the Knight varsity backfield, rushed for 35 yards and two touchdowns.

"We did not do a good job blocking," Magner said. "Shawn emerged as a tough inside runner with speed."

Oivera, in his first varsity action, averaged more than three yards per carry in the contest, running between the tackles.

"We have a stable of running backs that we would like to see get the ball," Magner said.

Several Colony running backs saw action in the Knight backfield Saturday.

Kyle Coffman, Billy Collins, Rondell Harvey and Billy Collins also had carries.

The Knights are currently without their top returner from the backfield, fullback David Craig.

The senior is academically ineligible.

Magner said Craig took summer correspondence courses and the paperwork has not gone through the system. As soon as the paperwork is processed, Craig will be eligible to play.

Rhett Magner, in his first start as the Colony quarterback, completed 8 of 10 passes for 120 yards.

"I was pleased," Magner said of the play of his son Rhett. "He played hard, not just at quarterback."

Rhett Magner is also the team's starting free safety.

"Our emphasis is a quarterback who can run the ball," Magner said.

Magner added that there has been a battle for the Colony quarterback position and the decision to start Rhett was left up to quarterbacks coach Mike Boyd.

"I do not want to get involved with personnel decisions involving my son," Magner said.

Colony tight end Nick Simpson caught three passes for a team high 62 yards.