Colony a win away from title game

PALMER — When Brian McIntosh was asked about the Service Cougars earlier this week, the Colony head coach needed only one word to summarize his team’s opponent in the semifinal round.

“Speed,” McIntosh said, before listing the jersey numbers of Service players. “24, 15, 33. They have a lot of athletes.”

Michael McCrae, La’Michael Fernandez and Amu Aukusitino, respectively, are the owners of those jersey numbers, digits that have probably been tattooed into the brains of McIntosh and his fellow Colony coaches.

“They just have so much skill,” McIntosh said.

Tonight the Knights (7-2) will try to neutralize that speed and score a spot in the large-school state title game for the third time in school history when the Railbelt Conference champions face Service (8-1) at 7:30 p.m. at Anchorage Football Stadium.

With those aforementioned athletes, Service has used multiple offensive looks to win eight straight games and coast into the postseason as the No. 2 seed in the Cook Inlet Conference.

Service has sported its version of the Wildcat offense, with Fernandez in charge. The Cougars have been a pass-happy offense with quarterback J.J. Christy lined up in a shotgun set. Last weekend, the Cougars set up in a more basic I formation and rode McCrae and his 199 yards to a 31-21 quarterfinal win over Palmer.

“They pretty much walked down the field against Palmer,” McIntosh said. “That’s something else to look at it.”

McIntosh said the Knights have been busy preparing for whatever the Cougars might show tonight. But regardless of the offensive scheme, the first-year head coach knows there are a few basic things his players will have to do well.

“We’re going to have to tackle,” McIntosh said. “Tackle well.”

Service entered the playoffs as the highest scoring team in the large-schools class, and through the first round, the Cougars are averaging 36 points per game. But the Knights have the second-best defense in the Railbelt, allowing just more than 16 per game.

Colony has allowed more than 20 points only twice this season.

The Knights have also shown the ability to put points on the scoreboard. Led by a rushing game, that produced a 367-yard effort during a 27-14 win quarterfinal win over Dimond last week, Colony is averaging about 24 points per game.

Senior Skye Rench, the Railbelt Offensive Player of the Year, rushed for 134 yards against Dimond, topping the 100-yard mark for the fifth straight week and seventh time in nine games. Senior quarterback Anthony Bricker, who saw his first action since suffering a broken collarbone during a Week 6 win over Wasilla, scrambled for 105 yards on only five carries. Another quarterback, senior Payton McCann, rushed for 105 yards on only five carries.

McIntosh said the Knights are feeling confident about what they’ve been able to do, and are simply working to improve their game. The key, McIntosh said, is staying away from costly turnovers that have hurt the Knights this season.

“We need to try to eliminate that this week,” McIntosh said.

Colony is in the postseason for the 14th straight year, but tonight the Knights will play in the semifinals for the first time since 2006. That season, the Knights advanced to the large-schools state title game, but suffered a 26-16 loss to South Anchorage.

Colony advanced to its first state title game in school history in 2000.

Bears, Eagles also meet in playoffs

The Juneau-Douglas Crimson Bears and West Anchorage Eagles will also meet in the large-schools semifinals, taking the field Saturday at 1 p.m. at AFS.

With a win, Juneau (7-2) would advance to the state title game for the fifth time since 2003. The Bears won a pair of championships during that time, posting a state title in 2005 and 2007.

West (9-0), the Cook Inlet Conference champion and lone undefeated team in the large-schools ranks, is in search of a spot in the title game for the first time since 2004.

Soldotna, Eielson, Kenai and Homer are playing for spots in the small-schools championship game.

Northern Lights Conference champion Soldotna (9-0) meets Eielson (7-2) today at 4 p.m. Defending small-schools state champion Kenai (6-3) meets Homer (5-4) Saturday at 4:30 p.m.

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