Moose, Knights meet for rematch

PALMER -- Just three weeks ago, the Colony Knights visited the Palmer Moose at Machetanz Field with bragging rights and a possible conference championship on the line.

Tonight the the crosstown rivals will meet again, with more that just bragging rights at stake.

The Moose (6-2) host the Knights (3-5) in the first round of the 4A Alaska state football playoffs at Machetanz Field at 7 p.m.

Palmer enters the contest as the Northern Railbelt Conference champion, while the Knights is the fourth- seeded team from the NRC.

The Moose earned their conference crown and the right to host a first-round playoff game with an 18-15 win over North Pole two weeks ago.

Colony was ensured of a playoff spot before last weekend, but until last Friday night the Knights were unsure of where they would take the field during the first weekend of postseason action.

The Knights traveled to North Pole for the final week of the regular season and a win over the Patriots would have given Colony the dubious honor of the third seed and a trip back to Fairbanks to take on second seeded Lathrop in its postseason opener.

North Pole survived a late Colony comeback, defeated the Knights 46-34 and earned the third seed in the conference and a meeting against North Pole.

Palmer needed a big fourth quarter effort to erase an early deficit and slide past the Knights in their first meeting of the year.

Knight quarterback Rhett Magner ran for a touchdown and threw a score in the first half to help Colony take a 13-6 halftime lead.

The Moose had 199 yards rushing in the first three quarters, but three costly fumbles kept Palmer out of the game. Palmer was able to hold on to the football in the final frame and Palmer quarterback Charlie Bentti and running back Allen Franklin combined for 103 yards rushing in the final period to help the Moose get back into the game.

Franklin scored 4-yard touchdown runs on back-to-back drives late in the fourth quarter to help the Moose seal the win.

Palmer looks to, hold on to the football and chew up the clock, while on offense. After suffering from a case of fumbleitis earlier in the season, the Moose have seemed to find the antidote, and have not turned the ball over in their last two games. Palmer's ground attack has rushed for nearly 2,000 yards this season. The Moose have gained at least 300 yards in six of their eight regular season games.

Franklin, a junior tailback, leads the Moose with 884 yards. Senior Mike Weber has rushed for 728 yards,

Bentti has ran for 660 yards and a team-high 12 touchdowns for the Moose from the quarterback position.

Colony has shown the ability to both run the ball and pass the ball during the season.

Shawn Olivera leads the Knight rushing attack with 699 yards and 10 touchdowns. Magner has thrown for 479 yards and six

touchdowns.