Moose earn key conference win over North Pole

PALMER — Palmer’s entire Railbelt Conference schedule is contained to a three-week stretch that includes a lone home game against North Pole before back-to-back trips north to face West Valley and Lathrop.

Palmer took care of business at home, scoring a 45-20 win over North Pole Friday night at Machetanz Field in Palmer.

“Getting the first conference win is huge, absolutely huge,” Palmer head coach Tim Popowski said after the victory.

Lavar Marshall and Jayden Christiansen each rushed for more than 100 yards, Ben Simmerman and Dawson VanTassel connected on a pair of scoring strikes, and Dae Osiensky scored on both offense and defense to help Palmer improve to 1-0 in the Railbelt and 3-2 overall.

“We were able to run the ball again, with a lot of guys in the box. The guys up front did a good job,” Popowski said. “Ben and the receivers did a really good job making some plays.”

Marshall rushed for a game-best 139 yards on 18 carries. Christiansen added 123 yards on only eight tries. Simmerman hit VanTassel for a 34-yard touchdown late in the first half. The duo hooked up again for 26 yards in the second half. VanTassel finished with three catches for 73 yards. Simmerman threw for 108 yards in the win.

“He had a great week of practice and he got the nod this week. We kind of want to open it up a little bit,” Popowski said of the sophomore. “He’s doing what he’s supposed to be doing as far as the timing goes.”

The Moose also put Osiesnky behind center in a wildcat look, and the senior cashed in on a 6-yard scoring run in the first half. Osiensky also returned a fumble 42 yards for a score.

Osiensky’s touchdown was part of a key third quarter for the Moose. North Pole grabbed some potential momentum with a touchdown during the final moments of the first half. But Palmer pulled it back in the third. The Moose opened the second half with touchdowns on back-to-back drives, and North Pole’s following offensive possession. Christiansen weaved through the defense for a 26-yard score, VanTassel caught the second of his two Simmerman touchdown tosses and Osiensky danced through the North Pole defense en route to a long fumble recovery for a score.

Isaiah Perkins added a late touchdown run for Palmer.

North Pole quarterback Chris Lovett helped give the Patriots some new life late in the first half. Lovett connected with Riley Walters on a 16-yard touchdown with four seconds left in the second quarter to put North Pole on the scoreboard. Lovett finished with 236 yards passing and three touchdowns in the loss. He was 6 of 9 for 170 yards and a score during the first two quarters.

North Pole had four pass plays of 26 or more yards. Three of those went to Alex Garcia. The junior had 52- and 53-yard catches in the first half, and grabbed a 40-yard scoring pass with four seconds left in the game.

Skyler Denny also had a 26-yard touchdown catch earlier in the fourth quarter.

The Moose defense held North Pole to only 51 yards rushing.

Popowski said the Palmer defense had players in the right position during North Pole’s big plays.

“There are a couple of things we need to clean up. The kids were there to make plays. They’re there, they just need to make the play,” Popowski said.

But the Moose defense gave the North Pole option attack and running game little room. Of North Pole’s 51 rushing yards, 27 came on one play during the final drive of the game.

Popowski also praised his special teams. Kicker Catherine Uschmann opened the scoring with a 21-yard field goal in the first quarter. She also converted four extra points. Popowski said he was also pleased with his kickers and coverage on the kicking team.

Palmer now looks ahead to consecutive weeks on the road. The Moose are at West Valley on Friday and return to Fairbanks to play Lathrop Sept. 28.

“We’ve got a long two weeks. The kids are ready for it,” Popowski said. “It’s going to be a business trip, but we’re going to enjoy it.”

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