Knights crush Dimond

PALMER — With 192 yards in the first half, the Dimond passing game appeared to be what could decide the outcome of Dimond’s nonconference contest at Colony.

As it turned out, the Dimond passing game did help decide the outcome. But that wasn’t a good thing for the Lynx.

Colony junior Jake Hessinger intercepted a Kyle Henrickson pass early in the fourth quarter and returned it about 20 yards for the score to help spark the Knights during Colony’s 43-14 win over the Lynx at Colony High School.

“It changed the game,” Colony head coach Rhett Magner said after the win. “It changed the momentum of the game.”

After entering halftime tied at 14, Colony held a slim 20-14 lead before Hessinger’s interception return for a score. The defensive touchdown was part of 29 unanswered points for the Knights, and 23 in the fourth quarter.

“I think it was definitely a turning point of the game,” Hessinger said. “We rallied behind that.”

With the Lynx facing 1st-and-15 at their own 15-yard line, Henrickson dropped back to pass, looked toward his left before releasing the throw. The only player in that direction was Hessinger.

“I dropped back into coverage, and it came right to me,” Hessinger said. “It was that simple.”

The Hessinger score was one of two during a three-minute span early in the fourth, and one of three in the final quarter that helped Colony improve to 3-1 overall, and avenge its 36-24 loss to the Lynx in the 2015 large-schools quarterfinals.

“It’s a huge statement for us,” Hessinger said. “It’s a huge confidence-booster for us.”

After Henrickson completed nine passes for 192 yards in the first half, Colony held the Lynx to only 22 yards passing in the second half. The Lynx used three signal callers during the final two quarters. Henrickson, Dylan Tufaga and Zach Knightes were a combined 3 for 13 with two interceptions in the second half.

Dimond’s success with its passing game was a focal point in conversation for the Knights during halftime, but Magner said no major changes were made on defense.

“That was the same game plan in the second half that we had in the first,” Magner said. “We just executed better. We did everything we were supposed to do. We didn’t make any adjustments.”

Colony also used a dominant pass rush to slow the Dimond passing game.

“He’s such a good passer. The only chance you are going to have is if you get some pressure,” Magner said of Henrickson.

With players such as Cooper Sant, Jarek Schultz and Isaiah Christy, the Knights defensive front was able to control the line of scrimmage. Magner also credited a newcomer to the group, sophomore Zane Vrvilo.

“We’ve been tinkering with him trying to figure out where we can stick him to help us out the most,” Magner said of Vrvilo. “We put him on the edge and said, Zane, quarterback, go.”

The Knights defense was also helped by the Colony special teams’ ability to consistently pin Dimond deep. Parker Kizer, who adds punting to his quarterback duties, had three punts that left the Lynx to start inside their own 10-yard line. Dimond’s average field position to start a drive in the game was as its own 18-yard line. Dimond’s average field position to start a drive during the first three quarters was at its 14-yard line. Dimond started 10 of its 12 offensive possessions inside its own 23. Meanwhile, Colony’s average field position started at the Dimond 44-yard line. Colony started in Dimond territory on seven of its 11 offensive possessions.

On offense, the Kizer-led attack amassed 310 yards on the ground, including a team-best 125 from fullback Cade Havel.

Havel also scored three times in the victory, and now has 425 yards and 10 touchdowns during the first four weeks of the season. Havel scored a 9-yard touchdown to cap Colony’s first offensive possession early in the game. That score game Colony a 7-0. After Dimond scored a pair of touchdowns to take the 14-7 lead, Havel plunged into the end zone from a yard out to tie the score with 2:08 left in the first half.

Havel gave the Knights a 20-14 lead with a 2-yard score early in the third.

Kizer scampered for 43 yard run in the fourth quarter. Cameron Pead scored a 32-yard run also in the fourth.

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

Colony 43, Dimond 14

Friday, Colony High School

First quarter:

Colony — Havel 9 run (Krozel kick) 9:27.

Dimond — Tufaga 6 pass from Henrickson (Lyons kick) 5:30.

Second quarter:

Dimond — Henrickson 1 run (Lyons kick) 5:19.

Colony — Havel 1 run (Krozel kick) 2:08.

Third quarter:

Colony — Havel 2 run (kick blocked) 7:04.

Fourth quarter:

Colony — Hessinger 20 interception return (Krozel kick) 11:28.

Colony — C. Pead 32 run (Kizer run) 8:28.

Colony — Kizer 43 run (Havel run) 5:21.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS:

RUSHING — Dimond: Ward 11-31, Henrickson 9-(-23), Tufaga 7-26, Sablan 3-34, Vreeland 3-21, Vanderwood 3-21; Colony: Havel 24-125, Kizer 12-59, Hessinger 6-19, C. Pead 4-58, Pomrenke 2-39, No. 26 1-(-8).

PASSING — Dimond: Henrickson 10-19-1—193, Tufaga 2-7-1—20, Knightes 0-1-0—0; Colony: Kizer 1-5-1—22.

RECEIVING — Dimond: Tufaga 5-70, Knightes 3-11, Maisy 2-52, Ward 2-30, Kwon 1-65.