Lathrop uses big third quarter to beat Wasilla

What a difference a quarter can make.

Wasilla used a score late in the first half to tie the game. But with a huge third quarter, Lathrop turned a close contest into one with a running clock.

The defending Division II state champion Malemutes scored 35 unanswered points during the second half, and posted a 49-14 win over the Warriors Saturday afternoon at Veterans Memorial Field in Wasilla.

Lathrop quarterback Solomon Wade threw for three touchdowns during the final two quarters to help the Malemutes improve to 4-2 overall and 4-1 in Division II play. Wasilla dropped to 2-4 overall and in the conference.

Wasilla quarterback Isaiah Smith snuck in from a yard out, and hit Grayson McDowell on a pass on the ensuing two-point conversion, to tie the score at 14 with 19 seconds left in the first half.

Warriors defensive lineman Laim Brown put Wasilla on the scoreboard on the first play of the second quarter. Brown returned a fumble 45 yards for a touchdown.

The Wasilla defense forced three turnovers in the first half. Smith and Ayden Stickle intercepted Lathrop passes. Smith picked off a pass in the end zone early in the first quarter that stopped a Lathrop 12-play drive.

Smith rushed for 85 yard for the Warriors, and added six completions for 57 yards.

Wade completed three passes in the game, but all were for touchdowns. Wade connected with Luke Skinner twice, for scores of 27 and 29 yards. He hit Jewitt Hill on a 67-yard catch and run for a touchdown.

Skinner also returned an interception 45 yards for a touchdown in the second half.

Jenner Webb led Lathrop with 168 yards on 25 carries, and three touchdowns.

In other action, Trevor Jamison used a pair of touchdowns to lead Colony to a 19-6 win at Juneau. The Knights improved to 3-3. Houston beat Homer 13-6 in Homer. The Hawks are 5-1. Kenai beat Redington 84-0 in Kenai.

Contact the Frontiersman at sports@frontiersman.com.