Moose flex muscle in rout

PALMER — West Valley came to Palmer’s Machetanz Field bearing gifts.

The Wolfpack fumbled on their first two plays of the game Friday to spot the Moose 13-0 before holding the ball for more than 10 seconds. Coupled with a third first-quarter fumble, and West Valley’s seven first-quarter plays couldn’t provide enough offense to overcome the head start Palmer would ride to a 38-21 victory.

“That seems to be our M.O. the last couple of games,” West Valley head coach Daniel Esparza said.

The fumbles and subsequent Palmer touchdown conversions meant West Valley couldn’t stick to its grind-it-out gameplan, the coach said.

“All three (first-half) turnovers led to touchdowns,” Esparza said, noting Palmer’s 19-0 halftime lead. A fired-up Wolfpack tried to mount a comeback, scoring on its first possession of the second half to cut the lead to 19-7, but Palmer came through in the clutch, answering with two more scores to put the game out of reach.

Although Friday’s win was the ninth straight over West Valley for the Moose, Palmer head coach Rod Christiansen said he was impressed with the ‘Pack.

“We knew they were going to be tough, and really, at halftime we thought we could’ve had a bigger lead,” he said. “You’re always concerned when you get those chances and don’t take (full) advantage.”

While the Palmer defense stuffed the West Valley running attack much of the game, the Moose offense still took plenty of advantage on the ground, pounding out 352 yards. The one-two punch of Ian Ahrens, who finished with 114 yards on 23 carries, and David Clement (14-106) wore down the West Valley defense. Senior Jim McCall made the longest play of the day, a 73-yard run off left tackle to open the fourth quarter and put the game out of reach at 38-13.

West Valley would answer McCall’s big play with its best drive of the game, 15 plays that took more than four minutes off the clock and culminated in a 10-yard Lorenzo Graham touchdown run.

But it was too little, too late for the Wolfpack. Palmer got the ball back and ran out the final 7:13 of the game.

The loss drops West Valley to 3-3 overall, 2-2 in conference play, while Palmer improves to 4-1, 3-1. For the ‘Pack, the loss means a tough road to the playoffs, even if they win out.

“We still have Wasilla next week, and it’s going to be a showdown,” Esparza said. “We’ve got to beat them, or we’re going to be watching (the playoffs) from the stands in October. We have to cut down on those mistakes, hold onto the ball.”

For Christiansen, Friday’s win was a strong defensive showing that sets up the Moose for a playoff run with Valley rivals Colony and Wasilla still on the schedule.

“Our defense, especially in the first half, really stuffed the run,” he said. “The didn’t get a first down until halfway through the second quarter.”

The win left Christiansen smiling, but not satisfied. Colony, 20-17 winners over Wasilla on Friday, is next for the Moose.

“They can beat up each other all they want,” the coach joked. “Now we have Colony, then Wasilla, and they’re both tough. There is no week off.”

Contact Greg Johnson at greg.johnson@frontiersman.com or 352-2269.

Palmer 38, West Valley 21

Friday, Machetanz Field

First Quarter

Palmer — Buresh 7 run (Merritt kick) 9:19

Palmer — McCall 12 pass from Buresh (kick failed) 5:46

Second Quarter

Palmer — Clement 1 run (2-point failed) 5:11

Third Quarter

West Valley — Graham 12 run (Davis kick) 8:30

Palmer — Clement 7 run (2-point failed) 5:28

Palmer — Buresh 5 run (kick failed) 3:10

West Valley — Graham 6 run (2-point failed) 0:00

Fourth Quarter

Palmer — McCall 73 run (Merritt kick) 11:51

West Valley — Graham 10 run (2-point) 7:13

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing — Palmer: Ahrens 23-114, Clement 14-106, Chadwick 3-3, McCall 3-89, Buresh 5-41. West Valley: Plass 7-25, Vealy 13-79, Davis 8-39, Comeau 6-14, Graham 14-68.

Passing — Palmer: Buresh 1-11-12-1. West Valley: Plass 6-14-79-0.

Receiving — Palmer: McCall 1-12. West Valley: Vinton 1-20, Vealy 3-31, Nuttall 2-28.