Knights hold on, earn win over Eagles

PALMER – During the first two weeks of the season, the Colony Knights used fourth-quarter rallies to grab back-to-back victories.

But it was a bit different on Friday. The Knights needed a defensive stand to celebrate victory. Colony senior John Kelsey picked off a West Anchorage pass during the final seconds to help the Knights preserve a 24-19 win over the Eagles at Colony High School.

“I noticed it was a duck in the air, and I said that’s mine,” Kesley said after the win.

Kelsey said the interception left him with a, “humbling,” feeling.

“It’s good to be a part of this team,” Kelsey said.

Colony head coach Fred McKenney praised the work of Kelsey, a first-year varsity player, not only at the end, but throughout the day.

“Last year he was in Hong Kong. This year he’s playing football in Alaska. He’s a great kid,” McKenney said.

Colony held a 21-0 at halftime, but needed Noah Krozel’s 41-yard field goal and defensive plays, such as the Kelsey interception to hold off West, and improve to 4-1 overall.

“When it comes down to toughness, they show up,” McKenney said of his team.

West, which showed multiple looks and used a pair of quarterbacks on offense, jumped back into the game on the back of junior quarterback Bubba Mendoza. The southpaw accounted for all 74 yards, with his arm and legs, during consecutive scoring drives and rushed for a pair of scores to cut Colony’s lead to 21-12. McKenney said West made adjustments early in the third quarter.

“But we made adjustments between the third and four quarters,” McKenney said. “It’s a game of chess.”

The Knights also chewed through time on the clock with a 14-play drive in the fourth that was capped by Krozel’s 41-yard field goal. Julian McPhail (eight yards) and Zane Vrvilo (13 yards) had key receptions on that drive.

Vrvilo and quarterback Eric Christy combined for about 150 yards rushing in the win.

“Vrvilo and Eric ran the ball really hard,” McKenney said.

Christy led Colony with 80 yards rushing, and and Vrvilo added 69.

Ridge Raval also enjoyed a monster first half, accounting for all three of Colony’s touchdowns. Ravel gave the Knights their first lead with a 1-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter. The junior pushed the lead to 21-0 with a pair of scores during an 18-second span. Raval grabbed an 18-yard Christy touchdown pass with 25 seconds left. With seven seconds left in the half, Raval returned a fumble 25 yards to the end zone.

“Glad to have him as a teammate,” Kelsey said.

Contact Frontiersman editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

Colony 24, West Anchorage 19

Friday, Colony High School

First quarter:

No scoring

Second quarter:

Colony — Raval 1 run (Krozel kick) 9:01

Colony — Raval 14 pass from Christy (Krozel kick) 0:25

Colony — Raval 15 fumble return (Krozel kick) 0:07

Third quarter:

West — Mendoza 1 run (kick failed) 7:17

West — Mendoza 4 run (pass failed) 6:05

Fourth quarter:

Colony — Krozel 41 field goal, 2:55

West — Montalbo 24 pass from Mendoza (kick good) 0:49

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — West: Mendoza 20-58, Martinez 4-7, Malala 1-20; Colony: Christy 20-80, Vrvilo 15-69, McPhail 8, Jimenez 4-5, Raval 1-(-2).

PASSING — West: Mendoza 14-29-1—170, Stoltz 4-9-0—28; Colony: Christy 5-9-1—55.

RECEIVING — West: Gladney 7-89, Montalbo 3-43, Ortiz 3-14, Cason 2-13, Malala 1-12, Laborde 1-11, Martinez 1-5; Colony: Raval 2-22, Vrvilo 1-13, McPhail 1-8, Sasser 1-6.