Moose fall in Fairbanks

The Lathrop Malemutes weren’t looking ahead to the annual Dog Bowl against West Valley. Their combined attention was on the Palmer Moose in Saturday night’s Railbelt Conference at Lathrop High School.

Lathrop’s focus was evident in a 64-21 homecoming win over the Moose.

“Coach (head coach Luke Balash) told us keep your heads positive and keep thinking. He said this will work out the way you want it to go if you stay strong and play as a team,” said Andre’ Williams, a Malemutes sophomore running and defensive back whose contributions Saturday included a 45-yard interception return for a touchdown at the end of the first quarter and a 71-yard kickoff return with 9:45 left in the third quarter.

Lathrop and West Valley, who meet at 5 p.m. Saturday at Lathrop, are both 2-0 in the Railbelt and have assured themselves of berths in the Division II state semifinals on Oct. 12. The Division II state championship game is scheduled for Oct. 19 at the Anchorage Football Stadium.

“It’s a big deal for us. We had prepared for this moment, playing every team to get better and better,” Williams said.

Palmer finished Railbelt play at 1-2 and ends the regular season with Saturday’s annual Potato Bowl against the Wasilla Warriors.

“They just played harder than us,” Lavar Marshall, a senior running back and defensive back who scored twice for Palmer, said of Lathrop.

Quarterback Jace Henry accounted for Lathrop’s seven other touchdowns — and nearly had 500 yards in total offense — either with his throwing arm or his legs.

The 6-foot-3, 240-pound senior rushed 20 times for 272 yards and four touchdowns. He passed for 210 yards on 10 of 16 attempts with three touchdowns and two interceptions.

“It’s amazing how my o-line (offensive line) blocked so well that I had time in the pocket to make reads from high to low and get the ball to our receivers,” Henry said.

Jhon Rones was the recipient of Henry’s first TD pass, a 24-yard delivery to help Lathrop lead 7-0 with 4:07 left in the first. Rones, a senior, also corralled a 16-yard scoring to help Lathrop go ahead 50-21 with 3:09 left in the third.

Jamaal Blanchard-Davis, another Malemutes senior, turned around to collect a 50-yard pass and back into the end zone for a 56-21 lead with 9:50 left in the fourth.

Finn Hill caught a pair of two-point conversion passes from Henry in the second and third quarters, and Jarren Littell made four point-after kicks.

Rushingwise, Henry scored in each quarter — 80 yards in the first quarter, five yards in the second, six yards in the third and 10 in the fourth.

Marshall intercepted Henry in the third quarter and quickly capitalized on it.

He returned the interception 48 yards and then on the Moose’ first play from scrimmage, scored on a 22-yard run with 9:56 left to make it 28-14.

“My coach told me to keep my eyes on my guy (wide receiver he’s covering),” Marshall said.

Marshall also dashed into the end zone from 22 yards out with 7:30 left in the second quarter for Palmer’s first touchdown. He finished with 105 yards on 23 carries.

Fellow senior Jayden Christensen had 10 carries for a team-best 115 yards, all in the second half, and he scored the Moose on a 42-yard burst with 8:37 left in the third to make it 35-21.

Catherine Uschmann converted the point-after kick on each Palmer touchdown.

Contact News-Miner sports editor Danny Martin at 459-7586. Follow him on Twitter:@newsminersports.