Big plays push Knights past Palmer

PALMER — Colony, the state’s top-ranked Division I squad, needed a burst late in the first half and a big third quarter to shake off upset-minded Palmer. The Knights scored 31 unanswered points to grab a 39-8 victory over the rival Moose Friday night at Palmer High School.

“You’ve got to tip your hat to Palmer, they made it interesting,” Colony head coach Rhett Magner said after the win.

Division II Palmer, which dropped to 0-3 with the loss, forced a pair of Colony turnovers, and junior quarterback Luke Guggenmos plunged into the end zone from a yard out early in the second quarter to tie the game at 8.

“Got to give Palmer credit. They capitalized on our mistakes and it almost cost us the game,” Magner said.

But the Knights created some separation late in the first half, and scored 17 third-quarter points.

“Kind of the emphasis at halftime, we had to win the third quarter,” Magner said. “In order to do that we had to punch one in. It was important we scored on that drive.”

Kaiden Jimenez capped Colony’s opening drive of the third quarter with one of his two 1-yard touchdown runs in the game. The score was set up by one of several big plays, which came courtesy of senior Jon Pomrenke.

Pomrenke, who finished with 174 yards rushing on 10 carries and two catches for 101 yards, broke away for a 70-yard reception that opened the third quarter. Pomrenke also had a 29-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and broke free for a 56-yard scoring run late in the second.

“Jon Pomrenke is a big play waiting to happen,” Magner said.

Jimenez scored with 10:34 left in the third to give the Knights the 29-8 lead. On the ensuing Palmer drive, Colony senior Parker Kizer picked off a Moose pass. On the next play, Kizer connected with senior Jarek Schultz on a 19-yard touchdown that gave Colony a 36-9 lead.

Colony added a Noah Krozel 22-yard field goal later in the quarter.

The Knights took an early 2-0 lead, getting a safety with a sack in the end zone.

Twenty-three seconds later, Pomrenke scored the first of his two touchdowns to give the Knights the 8-0 lead.

Pomrenke led the Knights with 275 total yards on offense and Jimenez added 58 yards on 14 carries. Senior Larry Cutsforth led Palmer with 62 yards on 21 carries.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

Colony 39, Palmer 8

Friday, Colony High School

First quarter:

Colony — Safety, 7:18.

Colony — Pomrenke 29 run (pass failed) 6:55.

Second quarter:

Palmer — Guggenmos 1 run (Guggenmos run) 10:30.

Colony — Pomrenke 56 run (Krozel kick) 3:06.

Colony — Jimenez 1 run (Krozel kick) 1:14.

Third quarter:

Colony — Jimenez 1 run (Krozel kick) 10:34.

Colony — Schultz 19 pass from Kizer (Krozel kick) 9:38.

Colony — Krozel 22 field goal, 2:57.

Fourth quarter:

No scoring

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Palmer: Cutsforth 21-62, Glenn 6-29, Oviok 6-15, Guggenmos 5-(-31), Farris 3-17, Corbin 3-9, Daniels 1-(-2); Colony: Jimenez 14-58, Pomrenke 10-174, Kizer 4-11, Leavitt 3-18, Hessinger 2-(-3), Rival 1-6, Gamble 1-5, Christy 1-(-2).

PASSING — Palmer: Guggenmos 3-9-1—18; Colony: Kizer 7-9-1—156.

RECEIVING — Palmer: Farris 1-11, Daniels 1-4, Oviok 1-3; Colony: Pomrenke 2-101, Schultz 1-18, McPhail 2-17, Hessinger 1-10.