Moose Get Rude Awakening

Aug. 12, 2007

By MATT TUNSETH/Frontiersman

ANCHORAGE - Palmer got an early wake-up call Saturday afternoon in the team's first game of the 2007 season courtesy of Dimond High's Rylan Whilden.

Whilden hauled in eight catches for 234 yards and two touchdowns, and the Lynx held off a late Palmer rally to earn a 19-14 victory over the Moose, who entered the game as the state's third-ranked team in the pre season media poll.

Palmer quarterback Conrad Smith admitted the high early season praise may have hurt the Moose, which turned the ball over four times and gave up a blocked punt in the game, which drew a heavy contingent of statewide media members to Anchorage Football Stadium.

&#8220Part of our problem was we got a little hyped up on the pre season poll,” Smith said.

Early on, Palmer looked plenty deserving of its high ranking, as Smith connected with Mitch Swetzof for a 41-yard bomb on the first possession of the game.

Then Whilden took the field.

The 6-foot-4 senior wideout took control of the game early, hooking up with quarterback Nate Jaworski on a 73-yard score less than two minutes after Palmer's score. The Moose had no answer for the Dimond passing game, with Whilden racking up over 200 receiving yards in the first half alone.

Following the game, Whilden - also a standout on the Lynx basketball team - said Dimond wanted to send a message in its first outing of the year.

&#8220This was definitely a statement game,” Whilden said.

And that statement?

&#8220We can play with anybody.”

A Palmer fumble deep in Dimond territory set up the second Lynx touchdown of the game. With the Moose driving, running back Shannon Sawyer lost the ball, which was recovered on the Lynx 30-yard-line as time expired in the first quarter.

Dimond quickly capitalized on the turnover, marching 70 yards on just six plays - including a 62-yard pass to Whilden - and capping the drive with a two yard Jaworski sneak.

Palmer coach Rod Christiansen said the Dimond passing game was the difference in a game that saw the Moose outgain the Lynx on the ground.

&#8220We had hoped to stop the pass a little better,” Christiansen said.

Palmer handed things at the line of scrimmage, allowing just 71 rushing yards on 30 carries.

&#8220We did a good job stopping the run,” Christiansen said.

Dimond pushed its lead to 19-7 on Whilden's second touchdown of the game, a 24-yard catch in double coverage.

Dimond coach Derek Brewer said Saturday's game should serve notice that his star receiver will be a force to be reckoned with this season.

&#8220He's going to be really good,” Brewer said.

Despite being down two scores going into the fourth quarter, Palmer didn't fold, picking up a 12-yard Devin Konkler score with 4:12 left in the game to cut the Dimond lead to 19-14.

After holding the Lynx on a critical fourth down late in the game, the Moose got one last chance to win beginning at their won 38-yard line.

Keyed by a big 12-yard scramble by Smith, Palmer got as far as the Dimond 47 before Smith was picked off by Jameson Murphy with 1:21 left to ice the game.

Brewer said the win over Palmer was big not just for his team but for himself. The coach said he believes Christiansen to be one of the best coaches in state history, and admitted that picking up a win against the longtime Palmer coach was special.

&#8220I just have the ultimate respect for him,” Brewer said. &#8220On a personal note it meant a lot to me.”

Christainsen now has his work cut out for him, as he'll be tasked with regrouping in time for a showdown next week with small schools power Soldotna, which opened its season with a 62-42 win over Palmer's Railbelt Conference rival North Pole.

&#8220We've got a lot of work to do,” Christiansen said.

If Palmer was guilty of being overconfident heading into Saturday's opener, quarterback Conrad Smith said there's no chance of that happening again this season.

&#8220For some key players - including myself - it was a wake-up call,” Smith said. &#8220We weren't ready to play.”

Palmer lineman Everest Moore said he's expecting an intense week of practice as the Moose try to get on the winning track.

&#8220We need a couple leaders to step up and say, ‘We're not going to take any more of this.'”

Contact Matt Tunseth at 352-2265 or matt.tunseth@

frontiersman.com

LYNX 19, MOOSE 12

Dimond 7 6 6 0 - 19

Palmer 7 0 0 7 - 14

First Quarter

Pal - Swetzof 41 pass from Smith (Ott kick), 9:59

Dim - Whilden 73 pass from Jaworski (kick good), 8:16

Second Quarter

Dim - Jaworski 2 run (try failed), 9:37

Third Quarter

Dim - Whilden 24 pass from Jaworski (try failed), 2:57

Fourth Quarter

Pal - Konkler 12 run (Ott kick), 4:12

Pal Dim

First downs 13 15

Rushes-yards 20-103 30-71

Passing yards 166 250

Comp-att-int 9-19-2 11-16-1

Fumbles-lost 2-2 3-1

Punts 2-34.0 2-25.5

Penalties-yards 9-80 6-40

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing - Palmer: Smith 7-50, Konkler 7-22, Sawyer 4-21, Bohman 2-10. Dimond: Jaworski 8-27, Tutor 11-17, G. Scanlan 5-15, Sturgeon 6-12.

PASSING - Palmer: Smith 9-19-2-166. Dimond: Jaworski 11-16-1-250.

RECEIVING - Palmer: Draughon 6-72, Mitchell 1-46, Swetzof 1-41, Konkler 1-6. Dimond: Whilden 8-234, Holta 3-16.