Malemutes hand Knights their first loss

FAIRBANKS — Glenn Maiden threw for five touchdowns and ran for another as the Lathrop Malemutes overpowered Colony 49-28 on Friday at Lathrop High School.

Maiden threw touchdown passes of 24, 26, 6, 34 and 26 yard to help the Malemutes, ranked No. 5 in the Alaska Sports Broadcasting Network large schools poll, upset the No. 2 ranked Knights.

"It's a great win for us," Maiden said. "It helps us with out momentum, it helps us with the rest of the season. Helps us build confidence for any other valley team we play."

The Malemutes (4-1, 2-0 Railbelt Conference) next week take on Palmer, who lost to West Valley on Friday. Palmer's loss means that the Malmeutes are the only team in the Railbelt Conference who hasn't lost in conference.

The win also gave the Malemutes sole possession of first place in the Railbelt Conference. The Knights had been undefeated coming in to Friday at 4-0 and 1-0 in conference.

Maiden accounted for all four the Malemutes touchdowns in the first half, throwing for three and running for another, as they built a 28-7 halftime lead.

Maiden twice connected with wide receiver Nathan Barnett for touchdowns in the second quarter. The two hooked up with 8:48 left in the second quarter for a 26-yard score. They ended the quarter by connecting on a 6-yard strike with 23 seconds left before halftime.

"They were giving my wide receivers some space. I just gave it to my wide receivers and let them make a play," Maiden said.

Maiden finished 18 of 25 passing for 246 and the five touchdowns. He also threw one interception on the Malemutes first drive of the game, the first of two turnovers by the Malemutes to start the game.

For the season, Maiden has thrown for 1,329 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Maiden, a junior, got the Malemutes on the board late in the first quarter with a quarterback sneak from just outside the goal line. He threw his first touchdown pass of the game with under a minute left in the first quarter to Sergio Salcido.

Colony quarterback Steven Bilafer accounted for all four of the Knights' touchdowns. Bilafer connected with Robert Nash for a 5-yard touchdown late in the second quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Bilafer threw a 17-yard score to Tucker Looney and ran for a pair of touchdowns.

The two teams combined to score five touchdowns in the fourth quarter.

Bilafer finished 16 of 29 through the air for 106 yards and two touchdowns and an interception. He also ran for 81 yards on 12 carries.

Looney caught six passes for 63 yards and the touchdown.

Travis Phillips led the Malemutes with 186 yards on the ground on 21 carries.

Contact sports reporter Tim O'Donnell at 459-7583. Follow him on Twitter: @FDNMSportsGuy

MALEMUTES 49, KNIGHTS 28

Colony 0 7 0 21 —28

Lathrop 14 14 7 14 —49

First Quarter

Lathrop—Gl. Maiden 1 run (Barnett kick) 2:18

Lathrop—Salcido 24 pass from Gl. Maiden (Barnett kick) :19

Second Quarter

Lathrop—Barnett 26 pass from Gl. Maiden (Barnett kick) 8:48.

Colony—Nash 5 pass from Bilafer (Menard kick) 1:25.

Lathrop—Barnett 6 pass from Gl. Maiden (Barnett kick) :23.

Third Quarter

Lathrop—Perdue 7 pass from Gl. Maiden (Barnett kick) 1:41.

Fourth Quarter

Colony—Looney 17 pass from Bilafer (Menard kick) 11:43.

Colony—Bilafer 4 run (Menard kick) 11:14.

Lathrop—Martin 65 kick return (Barnett kick) 11:06.

Colony—Bilafer 4 run (Menard kick) 9:44.

Lathrop—Smith 26 pass from Gl. Maiden (Barnett kick) 5:50.

C L

First downs 10 20

Rushes-yards 28-132 35-227

Comp-Att-Int 17-30-1 19-26-2

Passing yards 115 249

Return yards 108 104

Punts-averages 5-33.6 3-38.7

Fumbles-lost 0-0 2-1

Penalties-yards 9-70.5 18-144

INDIVIDUAL STASTICS

RUSHING—Colony: Bilafer 12-81, Nash 106, Conway 13-46, Ruffing 1-1, Callahan 1-(-2). Lathrop: Phillips 21-186, Gl. Maiden 10-30, Tookes 2-2, Mckinstry 1-5, Palayo 1-4.

PASSING—Colony: Bilafer 16-29---1181, Conway 1-1-0. Lathrop: Gl. Maiden 18-25-2--258, Smith 1-1-0.

RECEIVING—Colony: Ruffing 4-30, Looney 6-45, Conway 1-1, Nash 2-10, Callahan 2-18, Kolb 2-14. Lathrop: Holtry 4-37, Ga. Maiden 4-40, Salcido 3-36, Barnett 2-32, Perdue 3-48, Whiteside 1-5, Mckinstry 1-31, Chapman 1-3, Smith 1-26.