Knights open football season with a win over South

The Colony Knights graduated a number of key seniors from a 2021 squad that advanced to the postseason, including the bulk of their offensive backfield.

With needs at the quarterback position and in the running game, the Knights turned to a converted wide receiver. And Jack Nash stepped up big in his first career varsity start at quarterback.

Nash, a junior, threw a touchdown pass and ran for another while leading the Knights to a 43-6 win over South Anchorage Friday night at Colony High School during the opening week of the 2022 Alaska prep football season.

“We were scrambling after losing Harvey last year,” Colony head coach Robbie Nash said after the win of the graduation of Harvey Pullen, the Knights’ starting signal caller in 2021. “We are going to put one of our most dynamic kids out there.”

Jack Nash completed nine passes for 98 yards and a touchdown, and ran for 126 yards on 22 carries and another score. Nash led a Colony offense that has a new emphasis.

Tempo.

“We’ve tried something new with the tempo,” Robbie Nash said. “We’ve been really working on the tempo, focused on getting these kids in shape. We’ve got pretty decent speed.”

Colony rushed for nearly 200 yards in the win, and three different runners found the end zone. Nash broke multiple tackles during a 9-yard scoring run. Shayne Holladay and Cole Hamilton also rushed for scores.

Nash opened the Colony scoring with a 25-yard strike to Jayce Underwood, who finished with six catches for 60 yards.

Colony scored 43 unanswered points in the win. South jumped to an early lead when Wolverines quarterback Falealili Lefona connected with Joe Stahla on an 83-yard scoring pass early in the first quarter. But Colony tied the game less than three minutes later with the Underwood touchdown catch.

“Hate to say this, but I’m glad it happened early,” Robbie Nash said. “We had to bounce back from this. It’s good to see them bounce back.”

Colony backup quarterback Micah Bushey also threw a touchdown pass to Trevor Jamison. Cody Peterson added a 31-yard field goal.

Colony sophomore defensive end Matt Ross recovered a fumble in the end zone for another Knights touchdown.

The Colony defense held South to 144 total yards, 87 passing and 57 rushing. Of that total 123 yards came on three plays, the 83-yard touchdown catch and a pair of 20-yard runs.

Colony was one of three Valley teams to win during the first week of the season. Wasilla beat Redington 38-0 and Houston topped Seward 38-0. Palmer suffered a 24-0 loss at Eagle River.

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

Colony 43, South Anchorage 6

Friday, Colony High School

First quarter

South — Shivers 83 pass from Lefona (kick failed) 9:54

Colony — Underwood 25 pass from Nash (kick failed) 7:22

Second quarter:

Colony — Holladay 4 run (Peterson kick) 9:27

Colony — Nash 9 run (kick blocked) 4:39

Third quarter:

Colony — Peterson 31 field goal, 7:32

Colony — Hamilton 1 run (Peterson kick) 1:10

Fourth quarter:

Colony — Jamison 21 pass from Bushey (Peterson kick) 10:44

Colony — Ross recovered fumble in end zone (Peterson kick) 10:36

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — South: Concepcion 6-43, Lefona 14-(-25), Bridges 7-17, Coleman 7-12, Campbell 1-9, Stahla 1-1; Colony: Nash: 22-126, Hamilton 8-25, Holladay 7-26, Morgan 3-2, Bushey 1-(-3)

PASSING — South: Lefona 3-6-0–87; Colony: Nash 9-18-0–98, Bushey 1-1-0–21

RECEIVING — South: Stahla 2-85, Bridges 1-2; Colony: Underwood 6-60, Jamison 2-52, Reynolds 1-7