Knights clinch conference title

FAIRBANKS — The Colony Knights scored on the first possession on their Railbelt Conference football game on Friday night at West Valley High School.

That would be all they needed — and got — as they claimed the Railbelt regular season title with a 7-0 win over the Wolfpack.

“It feels really good. It was one of our team goals for this season to win the Railbelt Conference,” Knight quarterback Steven Bilafer said. “But the season’s not over yet. we have another conference game next week.”

The Knights (4-2, 2-0 Railbelt) return to the top of the Railbelt standings after going 1-3 in conference play last season and missing out on the playoffs.

Bilafer created the only score of the game, completing a 27 yard pass to Jake Hessinger with 10:25 left in the first quarter.

“Our offense just executed very well, our coaches called good plays,” Bilafer said of the opening drive.

Bilafer ran for 52 yards on 17 carries while also going 5 of 10 passing for 59 yards. He was threw one interception to West Valley’s Josh Cummings in the end zone.

Cade Havel added 89 yards on 13 carries.

“We played great. That was one of the best football games you probably will see in a long time,” West Valley head coach Kyle Allison said. “Both teams were so great tonight. They played excellent. it was just a couple mental mistakes, both sides. It could have swung the pendulum either way.”

Along with throwing for the game’s only score, Bilafer also helped anchor a Knights defense that bent but didn’t break. The Wolfpack (3-3, 1-1 Railbelt) twice were inside the Knights’ 5-yard line but couldn’t score.

The first time was right before halftime. the Wolfpack were driving but the Knights held them off long enough for time to run out in the half and leave the Wolfpack at the 2-yard line.

The Knights had their other defensive stand in the red zone with less than five minutes to play. The Malemutes had a fourth-and-8 from the Knights 9-yard line. Parker Kizer forced an incompletion to get the turnover on downs.

“It wasn’t anything new for us. We’ve been pushed back against the goal line a bunch of times this season,” Bilafer said. “our defense has held strong. we’ve come together, we have great coaching.”

Wolfpack quarter Zach Lester ran for 118 yard on 23 carries while throwing for 148 on 13 of 24 passing, connecting with seven different receivers. The Knights intercepted twice.

“We’ve been having some struggles on offense. our defense has kept us in games,” Bilafer said. “We’re going to figure out offense, score more points in the next game.”

Cummings ran for 79 yards

on 14 carries.

Contact sports reporter Tim O’Donnell at 459-7583. Follow him on Twitter:@FDNMSportsGuy

Colony 7, West Valley 0

Sept. 18, Fairbanks

First Quarter

Colony — Hessinger 27 pass from Bilafer (No. 30 kick) 10:25

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—Colony: Havel 13-89, Bilafer 17-52, Nash 3-20, Nero 5-12, Kizer 1-4. West Valley: Lester 23-118, Cummings 14-79, Ohmnik 1-(-1).

PASSING—Colony: Bilafer 5-10-1—59. West Valley: Lester 13-24-2—148.

RECEIVING—Colony: Pomrenke 3-21, Hessinger 1-27, Nero 1-11. West Valley: Joyner 5-48, Birklid 3-45, Cummings 1-32, Omnik 1-13, Post 1-6, Blackweasel 1-3.