Family rivalry part of semifinal festivities

PALMER — When it comes to Valley athletics, the name Christiansen is synonymous with Palmer High football. But as it turns out, the Christiansen family has spread beyond its PHS roots. That has one local grandfather wondering where exactly he’s going to sit tonight when the top-ranked Palmer Moose face the South Anchorage Wolverines during the ASAA/First National Bowl large-school semifinals at Chugiak High School’s Tom Huffer Sr. Field.

Carol Christiansen has been involved with Palmer football in some capacity for decades. Christiansen was an assistant coach during the program’s early years. Each of his four sons are Palmer football alumni, and he’s spent the last 22 years watching one of his sons, Rod, lead the Moose football program as head coach.

A new generation has given Christiansen a fresh crop of Moose to follow. Three of his grandchildren have worn the Palmer blue. Collin played four years before graduating in 2011. This year Cameron (a senior) and Adam (a sophomore) are both on the team.

But not all of Christiansen’s grandchildren wear blue.

South Anchorage senior tight end Louis Page — son of Christiansen’s daughter, Bejean — is also linked to the Christiansen clan.

Thursday night, as Christiansen tried to figure out the best way to represent the Palmer blue and South black and gold come game day, he said he’s tried to catch as many games of all his grandchildren.

“It’s challenging with the scheduling, slowly moving everything to Friday night lights,” Christiansen said. “We had to pick some games for Louie, try and see when Palmer was out of it. It took some arranging, but we got to see Louie.”

With family on both sides, Christiansen is looking forward to the game.

“Having been an assistant coach in the youth leagues so much, I like looking down on the game,” Christiansen said. “Get a good seat, high enough to look down on all the plays, and be happy when everybody gets up. Nobody gets hurt. In my mind, that’s a big deal.”

Tonight’s matchup has also set up a friendly family rivalry for the grandsons. Cameron, Palmer’s starting quarterback, and Page, an All-CIC tight end, are both seniors. Only six weeks separate the cousins, who have both been playing football since at least the third grade, said Cameron’s mom, Temple Christiansen.

Since their days in youth football, the cousins have met twice in a state championship game. In 2004, as fourth-graders, Cameron’s Palmer team faced Page and his Service squad. In 2006, with each in the sixth grade, Cameron faced his cousin again when Palmer faced South.

So far, Page is 2-0 against Cameron Christiansen. But today, Christiansen is hoping the third time is the charm.

It’s not something they talk about a ton, but tonight’s outcome might add extra banter at the Thanksgiving dinner table.

“We kind of joked about it, meet in the state championship game as juniors or seniors,” Cameron Christiansen said. “But we really didn’t talk about it much.”

Christiansen said, overall, the focus has been on the South Anchorage football as a whole, but facing his cousin on the semifinal stage will provide a good family memory.

“Once the helmet goes on, it’s all about the game,” Christiansen said. “But definitely after the game, you’ll be thinking about it.”

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com, follow him @matsu_sports and find him by searching Valley Sports Huddle on Facebook.