Knights storm past South in DI quarterfinals

PALMER — For the first three years of their career Eric Christy and his fellow seniors were forced watch their opponent walk off Colony High School’s Pride Field with a victory in the first round of the Division I playoffs.

But Friday, Christy and the Knights earned their chance to celebrate.

Colony drilled South Anchorage 47-0 during the Division I quarterfinals at Colony High.

“Words can’t explain how good it feels right now,” Christy said after the win. “We wanted to get that monkey off our back, and we did it tonight.”

Colony hosted a quarterfinal playoff game for the fourth straight year, but finally scored that elusive postseason win at home after falling 2015, 206 and 2017. Colony’s quarterfinal win Friday was also its first since 2010 and just second since 2006.

Another senior, Zane Vrvilo, also found himself speechless as he celebrated with teammates.

“I can’t describe it,” Vrvilo said. “Amazing feeling.”

Colony head coach Fred McKenney said the team didn’t dwell on past struggles in the first round, and focused on what the Knights needed to do to beat South.

“Business as usual,” McKenney said. “They wanted it very badly.”

Christy threw for 152 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and rushed for another score. Julian McPhail scored on a 29-yard run and returned the opening kickoff of the second half 95 yards for a score. Dominic Freeman and John Kelsey caught the Christy touchdown passes. Vrvilo scored on a short touchdown. Noah Krozel added a pair of field goals for the Knights, including a 42-yarder.

“Forty-seven points. That’s pretty good against a very quality South team,” McKenney said.

It’s the second time this season the Knights have faced South. During the opening week of the season, Colony needed a late touchdown by Christy to sneak past the Wolverines 27-26.

“This is a great bunch of kids,” McKenney said. “They play for each other. I’m proud of them.”

Colony, the No. 2 seed from the Chugach Conference, improved to 8-1 this season. South, the No. 3 seed from the Cook Inlet, ended its season with a 4-5 mark.

Colony scored on every offensive drive in the game, other than its final series in which the Knights ran out the clock. After recovering an early South Anchorage fumble, the Knights struck with a Vrvilo 2-yard touchdown run about five minutes into play. The Knights built a 20-0 lead with a touchdown on the first play of the second quarter.

“We never looked back,” Vrvilo said.

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

Colony 47, South Anchorage 0

ASAA Division I quarterfinals

Friday, Colony High

First quarter:

Colony — Vrvilo 2 run (Krozel kick) 6:58.

Colony — McPhail 29 run (Krozel kick) 1:18.

Second quarter:

Colony — Freeman 12 pass from Christy (kick blocked) 11:50

Colony — Christy 2 run (Krozel kick) 8:26

Colony — Krozel 42 field goal, 0:32.7.

Third quarter:

Colony — McPhail 95 kickoff return (Krozel kick) 11:45

Colony — Kelsey 31 pass from Christy (Krozel kick) 8:47

Fourth quarter:

Colony — Krozel 19 field goal, 9:24.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — South Anchorage: Martin 12-44, Weber-Thomas 7-40, Maltby 3-7, Harmon 1-3; Colony: Christy 19-91, Vrvilo 15-57, Jimenez 7-48, Rival 4-13, McPhail 1-29, Ehmann 1-4, Gideon 1-0.

PASSING — South Anchorage: Martin 11-27-1—140, Colony: Christy 7-12-0—152.

RECEIVING — South Anchorage: Allen 5-43, Yarer 4-63, Omberg 2-24, Lowe 1-6; Colony: Rival 2-57, McPhail 1-31, Kelsey 1-31, Vrvilo 2-21, Freeman 1-12.