Knights sprint to win over Palmer

PALMER — Last week, during its 35-19 nonconference win over Lathrop, Palmer scored a long touchdown on its first offensive play of the game. Friday, the table was turned, and it was the Moose who watched their opponent strike quickly.

Colony senior quarterback Steven Bilafer scampered for a 60-yard touchdown on the Knights first play from scrimmage sparking the Knights in a 24-0 win over the Moose at Machetanz Field.

“It set the tone for the game,” Colony head coach Rhett Magner said after the win. “It kind of kicked them back on their heels a little bit. It’s hard to gauge these rivalry games in the first quarter. You can tell it shifted a bit right after that. You could tell, our sideline, we were ready to go full throttle after that.”

Bilafer rushed for more than 100 yards and three touchdowns in the first half to help Colony (1-2) win its first game of the season. The Knights defense allowed less than 200 yards of total offense, and the Knights recorded their first varsity football shutout over Palmer in school history.

“We played great. The defense really stepped up,” Magner said. “We had a good scheme going in, and they executed.”

The win was not only the first of the season, but also for Magner, Colony’s first-year head coach.

“It feels great to get a win, especially against a Valley rival,” Bilafer said.

On Colony’s first play, Bilafer took the ball from the shotgun snap, swept to the outside, and followed his blockers as he sprinted down the sideline. Bilafer praised his blockers after the win.

“Without my blockers, without my teammates, I wouldn’t be the player I am,” Bilafer said.

Bilafer added two more scores in the first half, both coming within a three-minute span late in the second quarter. Bilafer hit the edge for a 16-yard score with 3:59 left in the first half. Bilafer struck again with less than two minutes remaining in the first half, scoring on a 35-yard run.

Tyler Boyer also kicked a 26-yard field goal in the win.

Bilafer finished with a game-high 163 yards rushing, on only 11 carries. He also threw for 63 yards. Jon Pomrenke led Colony with four catches for 55 yards.

Palmer had 15 more offensive plays than Palmer in the game, but the Knights averaged 7.4 yards per play. The Knights defense held Palmer to 127 yards rushing, 56 yards passing and 3.3 yards per play.

The Knights also forced a pair of first-half turnovers. Cade Havel picked off a Palmer pass early in the first. That turnover helped set up the Boyer field goal. Boyer also recovered a fumble in the first half.

The Palmer Moose took another early hit in the game. After consecutive 3-yard carries on Palmer’s first offensive series of the game, Palmer all-state running back Chase Ferris, who had five rushing touchdowns in the first two weeks of the season, hobbled off the field and did not return.

“That was unfortunate. We were looking forward to playing against him. He’s a great running back. I hope he’s OK,” Magner said of Ferris, who led the state in rushing as a junior.

Jeff Glynn led the Moose with 79 yards on 23 carries. Brady Southwick had three catches for 48 yards.

The contest marked the first nonconference game in Palmer-Colony series history. Prior to the season, Palmer moved into the medium schools Northern Lights Conference. Colony remains a member of the large schools Railbelt Conference. Palmer, which opened the season with wins over Chugiak and Lathrop, dropped to 2-1. Both teams open their conference schedules next week. Palmer plays at Eagle River Thursday at 6 p.m. Colony hosts Lathrop Friday at 7 p.m.

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

Colony 24, Palmer 0

Aug. 28, Palmer High School

First quarter:

Colony — Bilafer 60 run (Boyer kick) 9:06.

Colony — Boyer 26 field goal, 4:29.

Second quarter:

Colony — Bilafer 16 run (Boyer pass from Bilafer) 3:59.

Colony — Bilafer 35 run (pass failed) 1:29.

Third quarter:

No scoring.

Fourth quarter:

No scoring.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS:

RUSHING — Colony: Bilafer 11-163, Nero 8-32, Havel 2-1, Kizer 1-2, Hessinger 1-(-3); Palmer: Glynn 23-79, Mose 8-26, Witz 7-9, Ferris 2-6, Daniels 2-5, Yannayon 2-3, Roth 1-0.

PASSING — Colony: Bilafer 5-10-0—63; Palmer: Witz 4-10-1—56.

RECEIVING — Colony: Pomrenke 4-55, Walling 1-8; Palmer: Southwick 3-48, Hershman 1-8.