Game rekindles old rivalries

Saturday afternoon, the Palmer Moose and Chugiak Mustangs will play for a spot in the 2009 large-schools state championship game.

It may have been a decade since these programs have met. But the series is not lacking history. And those leading these teams are not without familiarity.

More than 20 years ago, Palmer head coach Rod Christiansen and Chugiak head coach Duncan Shackelford were teammates on the Palmer-Wasilla Falcons, an unified team of Mat-Su prep football players. Palmer assistants Brad Hanson, Keith Armstrong and Andy Corbin were on that team too.

Actually, Christiansen and Shackelford graduated together in Palmer’s class of 1978.

So will there be a little added sentiment once the Palmer coaches step on to the turf at Anchorage Football Stadium and see an old classmate and teammate standing on the other sideline?

“That’s more for the coaches and the history,” Christiansen said. “It’s really about the here and now. These athletes, their opportunity here. That’s more for the coaches.”

But speaking of history, Saturday’s semifinal game renews a playoff rivalry from the mid-1990’s. For four consecutive seasons, Christiansen’s Moose played Chugiak in the playoffs.

In 1994, the year of Christiansen’s first of 15 career trips to the postseason, the Mustangs beat Palmer in the state semifinals.

The following season, Palmer edged Chugiak 12-7 to win the first state championship in its program history.

In 1996, the Moose and Mustangs met for the title once again. This time, Chugiak was able to hold on for the 24-19 victory.

In 1998, Chugiak beat Palmer in the semis once again.

Palmer and Chugiak are two of the most consistent teams in the Alaska large-schools class when it comes to post season play. Palmer has advanced to the postseason in 15 of the past 16 years.

Chugiak has missed the postseason only twice since 1993.

Since its first ASAA playoff win in 1994, a 27-6 victory over Lathrop, Palmer is 12-13 in 25 playoff games. The Moose have advanced to four championship games, and captured the title in 1995.

Chugiak is 15-12 in 27 postseason games. The Mustangs have one state title to their credit and have finished as the runner-up four times.

Only Service has more Alaska playoff wins Chugiak. The Mustangs have 18 postseason wins and five state titles.

— Jeremiah Bartz