CHS stays perfect

FAIRBANKS — Spectacular plays weren’t enough for the West Valley Wolfpack to keep pace with the state’s No. 2-ranked high school football team.

The Colony Knights shut out the Wolfpack after halftime to earn a 42-13 win on Friday night in a Railbelt Conference game at West Valley.

“They still need a little work, both mentally to put games away and physically — we’re going to need more time in the weight room,” Wolfpack coach Ben Johnson said.

Colony quarterback Matt Jaronik seemingly never left the field as he threw for two touchdowns and 76 yards, rushed for 54 yards, returned two punts for 63 combined yards and got an interception as a cornerback.

“We just like to be versatile,” Jaronik said. “I like to be able to play anywhere. It adds a lot of depth when our guys can do that.”

With several defensive starters sidelined by sickness, they needed all the depth they could get.

“We had some backup guys step up and play great for us tonight,” said Jaronik, who also caught a 12-yard pass.

Colony (7-0, 5-0 Railbelt) certainly wasn’t short on quality running backs, though, as Tyler Jimanez rushed for 92 yards and Skye Rench compiled 70 — and each scored two touchdowns.

The Wolfpack (1-6, 1-5) stayed within eight points at halftime with two eye-popping plays.

Ty Davis scampered from sideline to sideline, avoiding tackles with unpredictable swerves and spins, racing 44 yards to the end zone in the second quarter.

“He’s new enough to football not to know better,” Johnson said, adding later: “He’s kind of this backyard player. He doesn’t know he’s out of angles to take, so he just makes his own angle.”

West Valley wide receiver Willie Clark sent the Wolfpack into halftime on a high note with an acrobatic touchdown catch with 40 seconds remaining in the second quarter.

The cornerback covering Clark tipped Sam McKinstry’s pass, and Clark twisted, juggled the ball in mid-stride, secured the catch and tiptoed into the left corner of the end zone.

“(Clark and Davis) just have deceptive strides, and you don’t think they’re that fast,” Johnson said. “Before you know it, they’re off to the races.”

While the 21-13 score was a sign of hope for West Valley, it served as motivation for the Knights’ dominant second half.

“We were all pissed off at halftime, definitely,” Jaronik said. “Thirteen points is too much for anyone to score in the first half. Our defense has been playing too well this season.”

Colony held West Valley to just four first downs in the second half. It also recovered a fumble at the Wolfpack’s 3-yard line to set up a touchdown pass to Cole Hintz, his second receiving score of the night.

Wolfpack running back Brandon Comeau (14 rushes, 57 yards) wasn’t disheartened by the loss. He said the Wolfpack have the ability to challenge the state’s top teams.

“I know we’re a strong team,” he said.

Colony 42, West Valley 13

Friday, West Valley High School

First quarter

Colony —Jimanez 5 run (Weihs kick), 3:26.

Second Quarter

Colony —Rench 3 run (Weihs kick), 8:56.

West Valley— Davis 44 run (Davis kick), 6:21.

Colony — Rench 1 run (Weihs kick), 2:10.

West Valley — Clark 33 pass from Sam McKinstry (kick failed), :40.

Third Quarter

Colony — Fan 25 pass from Jaronik, (Weihs kick), 4:55.

Colony — Hintz 3 pass from Jaronik, (Weihs kick) 4:10.

Fourth Quarter

Colony — Jimanez 15 run (Weihs kick), 11:29.

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

RUSHING—Colony: Jimanez 13-92, Rench 10-70, Jaronik 12-54, Jones 5-15, Vanvliet 1-11, Slater 2-10. West Valley: Comeau 14-57, Davis 2-35, McKinstry 8-24, Isberg 2-15, Cogley 1-10, Agae 1-(-2).

PASSING—Colony: Jaronik 6-11-0-52, Slater 2-5-0-21. West Valley: McKinstry 7-19-1-89, Plass 2-6-0-12.

RECEIVING—Colony: Fan 2-45, Hintz 3-27, Jaronik 1-12, Vanvliet 1-9, Lowery 1-4. West Valley: Clark 3-53, Agae 4-36, Harrington 1-7, Stephens 1-5.