CLIMBING HIGH

WASILLA — The Wasilla Warriors are riding a four-game winning streak up the Alaska prep football ladder.

Wasilla, which won its fourth straight with a 42-7 victory over Colony last Friday, is now ranked third in the latest Alaska Sports Broadcasting Network Prep Football Poll, released Monday afternoon.

It’s the highest position on the large schools list for the Warriors, who cracked the top 5 for the first time after their 55-33 upset of Juneau-Douglas during Week 5.

Wasilla played a tight first two quarters with rival Colony, but during halftime first-year head coach Kent Rilatos said the Wasilla coaches urged their athletes to embrace the step forward the program is taking.

“We said this is a new (era). We need to come out and show our crown that’s been backing us so much that we are here, really here to stay,” he said.

Wasilla is one of three Railbelt teams ranked in the top 5. West Valley, which blasted Lathrop 60-0, held onto its No. 2 spot. The Wolfpack (5-1) also clinched a playoff spot with the win over the Malemutes.

Juneau-Douglas (5-1) returned to the top 5 after a 39-13 nonconference win over Notre Dame, a prep team from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The Crimson Bears were tied for first in the poll three weeks ago, but were temporarily knocked out of the top 5 after the loss to Wasilla.

Service (5-0-1) retained its top spot after beating previously ranked South Anchorage 48-13. West Anchorage moved back into the top-5 after a 47-21. The Eagles (4-2) are fifth.

Soldotna, the only team in Alaska with six wins, is once again ranked first in the small schools poll. The Stars (6-0) scored a lopsided win over Kodiak.

Homer, which improved to 5-1 with a win over Skyview, is ranked second. Kenai (4-2) and Nikiski (5-1) are ranked third and fourth. Eielson (3-3) and Barrow (4-1) are locked in a tie for fifth.

Three of the games on the Railbelt Conference schedule should help clear up the conference’s playoff picture this weekend. Second-ranked West Valley travels to Juneau to face the Crimson Bears. Third-ranked Wasilla is also on the road, heading north to play North Pole (2-4). Palmer, which also received votes in the poll and was left out of the top 5, hosts winless Colony.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com and follow him at twitter.com/matsu_sports.

ASBN Prep Football Poll

Large schools:

1. Service (5-0-1); 2. West Valley (5-1); 3. Wasilla (4-2); 4. Juneau-Douglas (5-1); 5. West Anchorage (4-2). Also receiving votes: Palmer, Dimond, South.

Small schools:

1. Soldotna (6-0); 2. Homer (5-1); 3. Kenai (4-2); 4. Nikiski (5-1); 5. (tie) Barrow (4-1) and Eielson (3-3).