Hurrican Monzulla blows through CHS

PALMER -- A contest dubbed as the battle of the titans turned out to be more like David versus Goliath. Colony and the state's top defense proved to be no match for North Pole and the state's top rushing offense as the Patriots rushed past the Knights 58-21 at Colony High School Saturday.

North Pole earned the 2004 Railbelt Conference title outright, and the conference's first seed in the state tournament.

As a cold, bitter wind blew across Colony High School field, North Pole running back Perry Monzulla blew through the center of the Colony defense, creating a bitter first loss for the, now 7-1, Knights.

Monzulla rushed for 346 yards on 42 carries and six touchdowns in the win.

"We don't really care that Perry's getting all the yardage," Jamie Hurlburt, Monzulla's lead blocker, said. "We're working for one goal. It's just amazing how we came out as a team here."

With 1,818 yards going into the contest, Monzulla surpassed the 2,000-yard mark with a 22-yard scamper on his first carry of the second half. The senior now has 2,164 yards and 33 touchdowns this season. Monzulla is now third all-time on the single season rushing chart, four yards behind former Palmer High back Brandon Buckley and 77 yards short of record-holder Brandon Drumm.

Monzulla rumbled through a Colony defense that had only given up more than 200 total rushing yards only once this season -- 204 to Palmer two weeks ago. The Knights had allowed just more than 700 total rushing yards this season and opponents had averaged a mere 2.6 yards rushing against the stellar Knight unit. But behind a mammoth offensive line that stood in control for the entire contest, Monzulla averaged more than eight yards per rush.

"Our offensive line is so smart," Hurlburt said. "They're all working together."

Hurlburt also averaged more than eight yards per carry with 83 yards on 10 tries.

The senior fullback said the Patriots were well aware of the reputation Colony's defense had earned this season, and his team's work prior to showdown was the first step toward the victory.

"Preparation," Hurlburt said. "I honestly don't think there is any defense Colony could have put up that could have stopped us.

"We were prepared for anything," Hurlburt added. "Our coaches were up all night. They presented every idea they possibly could think of."

Colony head coach Randy Magner said the lack of physical play hurt the Knights.

"I thought our defense would play better," Magner said. "We didn't play physical."

Monzulla put the Patriots on the scoreboard early in the first quarter with a 34-yard touchdown run. Following a fumble on the first play of the ensuing Colony drive, Monzulla added a 2-yard score.

Late in the second quarter, North Pole scored its first of two special teams touchdowns as Monzulla took the long snap in punt formation and sprinted to the outside and 36 yards for the touchdown.

Monzulla added touchdown runs of 4,6 and 52-yards in the second half.

Prior to the contest, Magner said in order for his team to win, the Knights would have to place an emphasis on efficiency on offense.

"That didn't happen," Magner said.

Heavy winds in Palmer made it nearly impossible for Colony to throw the ball, especially early, and the Knights knew they needed success with the passing game.

"We had to throw the ball to win," Magner said. "I thought if we had a chance, it was going to have to be a shoot-out -- just like last year."

North Pole topped Colony last season in a 36-34 thriller at Patriot Pride Field.

With the less than ideal conditions, Colony's big play offense was grounded for most of the contest as senior quarterback Rhett Magner threw the ball just 13 times. He finished the game completing seven passes for just 92 yards.

"We were scrambling on offense," Magner said. "We have a system in place to take care of the blitz they were doing -- sending everybody -- by filling up the holes, but that involves the passing game. We weren't very effective with the passing game."

The Knights also had trouble holding onto the football, losing five of nine fumbles. Colony dropped four kickoffs, losing one, and Patriot junior Jacob Borkovec recovered a blocked punt and returned it 24 yards for a score. The Patriot defense also recovered a pair of fumbles following sacks of Rhett Magner.

Rhett Magner put the Knights on the scoreboard early in the third quarter with a 16-yard run up the middle of the North Pole defense.

Shawn Olivera added two scores late for the Knights, a 4-yard run and 17-yard touchdown catch.

With the win, North Pole will host Palmer, the fourth-seed of the Railbelt Conference in the first round of the playoffs Saturday at Patriot Pride Field. Colony, the conference's second seed, will host third-seed Lathrop, Friday at CHS.