Knights cruise past Cougars

PALMER — Colony head coach Rhett Magner admitted he wasn’t quite sure what to expect when his Knights hit the Anchorage hillside to open their season at Service.

But his Knights impressed, rolling to a 38-0 nonconference win over the Cougars Saturday.

“First week, you never really know,” Magner said by cellphone. “It’s difficult to prepare going in, but we felt like we had a pretty good game plan.”

Colony jumped to a 31-0 first-half lead and the defense pitched the shutout to help the Knights open the season with the lopsided victory.

“(Service is) athletic as usual. It was a little nerve-racking going in,” Magner said. “We executed the game plan pretty well on defense and the offense definitely did their job.”

Senior quarterback Parker Kizer, a first-team all-state selection last year, rushed for more than 100 yards and a pair of touchdowns during the first quarter alone.

“He made all the right decisions,” Magner said of his signal caller. “It’s funny. He fumbled on the first play of the game, and a couple of plays later he had a 60-yard run and almost scored a touchdown.”

Seniors Cody Gamble and Jake Hessinger also scored for the Knights.

Kizer led the Knights with 126 yards on 11 carries. Kaden Jimenez added 101 yards. The Knights rushed for 389 yards in the game.

Kizer was one of a pair of players named first-team all-state at quarterback last season, along with Service standout Xavier Harris. But Saturday Harris lined up at wide receiver, Magner said, and that changed the Knights game plan.

“Keeping a guy like that contained is super important playing Service,” Magner said. “He’s probably one of the best athletes in the state.”

Overall, Magner said containing Service’s top athletes, such as Harris, and taking advantage of early momentum were key in the win.

“We had big plays early that kind of carried us throughout the game, and we played well on defense,” Magner said.

Colony faces another Anchorage opponent during the second week of the season, hosting Bartlett Friday at 7 p.m. at Colony High. Bartlett (1-0) opened its season with a 42-20 victory over Wasilla.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.