Knights move up in poll after win over North Pole

PALMER — There’s a new team at the top of the Alaska Sports Broadcasting Network 4A Prep Football Poll, thanks to the Colony Knights.

On Saturday, Colony knocked off the formerly top-ranked North Pole Patriots 17-7 at Colony High School. Now North Pole is out of the media list’s top-five, and Colony has moved up from fifth to second.

Bartlett is now the No. 1 4A team according to the media. The Golden Bears opened the season with a 39-0 win over Wasilla at Wasilla High School.

Service, Juneau-Douglas and Chugiak round out the top five.

The Palmer Moose, who scored twice during the final four minutes during a come-from-behind win over Dimond at Machetanz Field, did receive votes in the poll, but are still outside of the top-five.

There is also a new No. 1 team at the 3A level. Soldotna, which had its 29-game winning streak snapped with a nonconference loss to 4A West Anchorage on Saturday, slipped from first to fourth.

The Kenai Kardinals, who opened the season with an impressive 47-0 win over 4A Lathrop, is now at the head of the small schools class.

Eielson is now second, Kodiak is third and Homer is fifth. Skyview also received votes.

A pair of Friday night games in the Valley highlight the second week of prep football action. Palmer hosts Lathrop at 7 p.m., and Juneau-Douglas hits Wasilla at 7 p.m.

Juneau-Douglas is 1-0 after a shutout victory over West Valley in Juneau on Saturday.

Houston and Colony are both on the road this weekend. The Hawks will play top-ranked Kenai, and the Knights will hit Kodiak Island to play the third-ranked Bears.

Both games are Saturday afternoon.

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