Cougars end Palmer’s season

ANCHORAGE — During the 2010 season, the Service Cougars have shown a number of looks on offense and lined up multiple signal callers behind center.

Service has beaten teams with the La’Michael Fernandez-led Wildcat offense or the long bombs off strong-armed quarterback J.J. Christy. But on Saturday, all the Cougars seemed to need was Michael McCrae.

The Service running back rushed for a game-high 199 yards and three touchdowns to pull the Cougars to a 31-21 win over Palmer during the large-schools quarterfinals at Dimond Alumni Field in Anchorage.

“We weren’t able to stop the run,” Palmer head coach Rod Christiansen said after a loss that ended his team’s 2010 campaign. “He’s tremendous, but we’ve got to be better.”

McCrae hit 100 yards in the first half, and rushed for touchdowns in the first, second and fourth quarters to help Service (8-1) move into a semifinal round match against Colony.

Palmer took an early lead with David Sorenson’s 6-yard touchdown run on the game’s opening drive. But McCrae answered with a touchdown four minutes later.

Sorenson, who led the Moose with 59 yards rushing and two scores, added a 14-yard touchdown in the second to put his team back on top. But Amanda Dotten booted a 35-yard field goal to give the Cougars the 16-14 halftime lead.

Jackson Buresh added a 3-yard touchdown in the final quarter.

Palmer had as many first downs as Service, 19, and nearly 300 yards of total offense, but the Moose turned the ball over three times.

“They stopped us, but we also stopped ourselves,” Christiansen said.

Senior Kris Merritt led the Moose with four catches for 57 yards and made key catches in the second half as Palmer tried to rally.

With the Moose facing 4th-and-9 and trailing by 17 points late in the fourth, Merritt went across the middle to snag a 16-yard catch. That play set up the Buresh touchdown.

On Palmer’s final offensive possession, Merritt caught a pass, broke A tackle and ran for a 30-yard gain to give the Moose 1st-and-goal at the 6. But on the following play, Service forced a fumble to end the Palmer drive.

Palmer, the Railbelt Conference No. 3 seed, finishes the 2010 season 5-4 overall.

“I’m proud of the guys,” Christiansen said. “They were playing to win until the end.”

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

Service 31, Palmer 21

Saturday, Dimond High School

First quarter

Palmer — Sorenson 6 run (Merritt kick) 6:50.

Service — McCrae 4 run (Dotten kick) 2:13.

Second quarter

Service — McCrae 15 run (kick failed) 11:51.

Palmer — Sorenson 14 run (Merritt kick) 6:57.

Service — Dotton 35 field goal, 0:00.

Third quarter

Service — Aukusitino 1 run (Bomar kick) 9:15.

Fourth quarter

Service — McCrae 1 run (Fernandez run) 10:27.

Palmer — Buresh 3 run (Merritt kick) 4:03.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Palmer: Ahrens 14-53, Buresh 14-40, Sorenson 7-59, McCall 2-15, Clement 2-10, Chadwick 2-4; Service: McCrae 30-199, Aukusitino 5-41, Christy 1-5, Ellis 1-0.

PASSING — Palmer: Buresh 9-16-2—121; Service: Aukusitino 9-14-0—112, Fernandez 0-1-0—0.

RECEIVING — Palmer: Merritt 4-57, McCall 3-31, Sorenson 1-24, Christiansen 1-9; Service: Fernandez 5-80, Illalio 2-33, Escalante 1-6, McCrae 1-3.