Moose club Warriors

WASILLA -- On Palmer's first four drives, the only thing that stopped the Moose was the back of the end zone.

Palmer scored 35 first-half points, including touchdowns on their first four possessions en route to a 42-0 win over the Wasilla Warriors in the 25th annual Potato Bowl on Friday.

With the win, the Moose not only spoiled the Warrior homecoming, but earned the right to keep the coveted Mayor's Cup Trophy for another season.

Palmer quarterback Charlie Bentti scored a pair of touchdowns, and Zach Fox and Mike Weber each added a scoring run during Palmer's big first half.

The Moose opened the contest, rolling down the field 50 yards on six plays. Fox capped off the two minute and 36 second drive with a 16-yard scoring burst up the middle of the Warrior defense.

Fox, primarily used as a blocker in the Moose offense, hit career highs in rushing yards and carries in the first half.

The senior had 13 carries for 82 yards in the first 24 minutes of play.

"It was a lot of fun," Fox said of his opportunity to run the ball.

Palmer was without the services of leading rusher Allen Franklin in the first half, but that did not faze the Moose running attack.

Bentti had seven carries for 50 yards in the first half and Weber rushed six times for 98 yards in the first two quarters.

The Moose ran for 306 yards in the contest, the sixth time this season that Palmer has eclipsed the 300-yard rushing mark.

"We wanted to play better, fundamental football," Palmer head coach Rod Christiansen said. "We felt we had something to prove to ourselves. We kind of squeaked by last week and we felt we felt we were a better football team than that."

Palmer's lopsided victory over Wasilla, comes after a trio of games in which the Moose have had to come from behind to win.

Wasilla, who finish the 2003 season without a win in Northern Railbelt play, struggled to maintain consistency on offense and was killed by several back-breaking turnovers.

Palmer defensive back Jeremy Weber returned a Danny Ament interception 41 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter to give the Moose a 35-0 advantage.

Fellow Moose defensive back Devon Conroy intercepted a pair of passes in the contest.

Conroy picked off a pass from Warrior reserve quarterback Zack Bennett three yards deep in the end zone and returned the ball 73 yards. The turnover set up Bentti's third touchdown of the game, a 16-yard run early in the fourth quarter.

Conroy also picked off an Ament pass on a late Warrior drive.

Wasilla also fumbled three times, killing three Warrior drives in the first half.

The Wasilla inconsistency and the turnovers helped the Moose accomplish a few team defensive goals.

"We were going for that goose egg," Palmer defensive lineman Justin McCain said.

Random ramblings … Palmer is now 18-7 in 25 Potato Bowls … The Moose keep the Mayor's Cup Trophy for the second season …. The Moose defense has not given up a point in Potato Bowl play since Wasilla's 19-17 win in 2001 … Palmer shutout Wasilla 21-0 last season … Palmer (6-2) will now host Colony in the first round of the state football playoffs. See Tuesday's edition of the Frontiersman for more information.