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The Wasilla Warriors have enjoyed a big start during the first two weeks of the 2025 girls flag football season, jumping to 5-0 record while outscoring opponents 205-2.
Wasilla started fast again on Tuesday, building a 14-0 lead. But rival Colony found a way to hand the Warriors their first loss of the year.
The Knights scored 20 unanswered points, and held on for a 20-14 victory over their rival at Wasilla’s Veterans Memorial Field.
“It’s never where you want to be,” Colony head coach Amy Fischer said of the 14-0 early deficit. “We talked to the girls beforehand. We believe in you, we believe in your skill. We believe in the preparation that you’ve put into this game. We told them, every single play they need to be playing 100 percent of the time like it’s a scoreless game.”
Colony’s big-play connection of quarterback Bri Parrent and Ella Richardson helped the Knights storm back into the game.
Arguably the biggest play of the night came right after Wasilla took a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter. On the first play of Colony’s ensuing offensive drive, Richardson caught a Parrent pass and raced 80 yards for the score. Late in the third, the Parrent and Richardson connected on a 68-yard catch and run to tie the score at 14.
“They tend to have connections, and when it matters the most,” Fischer said of the duo.
Colony scored its final two touchdowns during a span of 2 minutes, 26 seconds in the third quarter. Jalina Fryer rushed for an 8-yard touchdown with 1:42 left.
Fischer said Colony graduated eight seniors from the co-op team with Palmer last year, and have two seniors on the playing roster this season. But they are integral.
“Our senior leadership is huge,” Fischer said.
Colony and Palmer have separate squads this year, and Fischer said participation has been good.
The Knights improved to 3-1 overall, and also have wins over Redington (59-0) and Chugiak (14-6). Service edged Colony 14-13 on Aug. 23.
Wasilla quarterback Katie Jackson threw a pair of touchdown passes to help the Warriors build a 14-0 lead. Jackson connected with Daphnie Olsen on a 25-yard strike with just more than three minutes left in the opening quarter. Early in the second quarter, Jackson found Claire Bredberg over the middle, who went 47 yards for the score.
The Warriors became the first Valley team to advance to an ASAA sanctioned flag football state tournament last year. Wasilla has seven seniors on the squad, including standout Savannah Kroon, who missed Tuesday’s game due to injury.
Prior to the loss Tuesday, Wasilla had scored wins over Redington (60-2), Palmer (57-0), Lathrop (28-0), West Valley (52-0) and North Pole (8-0).
The Warriors and Knights will meet again Sept. 23 at 6:30 p.m. at Colony High School.
Contact managing editor Jeremiah Bartz at editor@frontiersman.com.
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