Lynx rally to beat Wasilla

WASILLA — A young Wasilla Warriors squad enjoyed a great start, but it was a deeper Dimond team that prevailed.

The Lynx scored 35 unanswered points to post a 35-21 win over the Warriors Saturday afternoon at Dimond High School in Anchorage.

“Our numbers, depth showed a little bit toward the end of the game,” Wasilla head coach Will Stout said by cell phone. “Dimond has a big offensive line. They were big, physical and had depth.”

After graduating more than 20 seniors after the 2017 season, Wasilla has spent the first two weeks of practice inserting new players into new roles. After building the three-score lead, Stout said Dimond made adjustments and made things difficult for the young Wasilla defense.

“(Our defense) had trouble getting off the field,” Stout said.

Wasilla had only about four offensive plays total in the second quarter, and just a handful in the third.

“They kept our offense off the field,” Stout said.

Stout said he is happy with the work of the offense during the first game of the season. The Warriors averaged 5.1 yards per carry. Jordan Quenga led the Warriors with 121 yards on 19 carries. Quenga scored twice.

“Some of our base plays were working well, the bread and butter of our offense,” Stout said of Wasilla’s double wing attack.

Quenga scored on runs of 32 and 30 yards in the first quarter. Quenga scored on two of Wasilla’s first seven rushing plays. Wasilla’s Riley Fuller also returned a fumble 70 yards for a touchdown.

Overall, Stout said he saw some good things, but also things he said the Warriors need to work on.

The Warriors now look forward to their first home game of the seasons. Wasilla hosts Kodiak in a nonconference game Friday at 7 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Field. It is also the team’s Veterans Night. All veterans and military personnel are admitted free, and there will be a presentation at halftime.

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