Moose mash Wasilla

PALMER -- A sequel to a critically acclaimed movie is often in demand.

Why shouldn't it be any different in sports.

Alaska's most storied high school football rivalry has produced its own sequel, thanks in part to Ali Larijani.

The senior fullback rumbled for 241 yards and three touchdowns as the Palmer Moose drubbed the Wasilla Warriors 21-0 in the 24th annual Potato Bowl at Machetanz Field Friday.

The win gave Palmer a share of the Northern Railbelt Conference title, and the right to host a first round playoff game next week. And that contest will be against Wasilla.

"I came into the game prepared for it to be my last on this field," Larijani said. "Turns out I will have another one."

Going into the game, there were a myriad of playoff possibilities with the Potato Bowl the deciding factor. Colony, Palmer and Wasilla were still in line for at least a piece of the conference title and the playoff seeds were still in doubt. Wasilla was the only team to control their own destiny. With a win they had the title outright and a first round postseason game at home.

With a Palmer win, the teams would be deadlocked at 5-1 and tiebreakers would settle the case.

Palmer prevailed and the tiebreakers did settle the case.

Now, Larijani and the Moose should deffinately be on Colony's Christmas list.

Due to the 21-point decision, Colony was awarded the top playoff seed in the Northern Railbet by virtue of allowing the fewest points in conference games this season. The Knights have allowed only 71, while Wasilla has given up 78 and Palmer has allowed 99.

Palmer notched the second seed in the tourney with the win, due to the head-to-head factor.

Palmer, Colony and Wasilla will all be co-champions of the conference, each with a 5-1 record.

The first seed could have been decided by a coin toss. Palmer led 14-0 into the final minute of the game. If that score had remained, Colony and Wasilla would have each allowed 71 conference points. The coin toss would have been the tiebreaker.

Larijani eliminated the need to flip the coin.

Jeremy Copeland recovered a Cody Schierman fumble for Palmer with just over a minute left in regulation. As the Moose were running off the clock, Larijani ran away with his third touchdown in the contest. Larijani ran off the right side of the Moose line, broke a pair of tackles and scampered for a 45-yard score, sealing not only the game for Palmer but the conference standings.

The Moose got ahead early and stayed ahead, behind the running of their senior workhorse. Larijani carried the ball 28 times en route to his season-high 241 yard performance.

Palmer received the opening kickoff and marched down for the score. Larijani touched the ball seven times on the drive, gaining 73 yards. Larijani rushed for more yards on Palmer's opening drive than Wasilla did the entire game. On the first play from scrimmage Larijani rumbled for a 42-yard gain. That should have been the sign of things to come.

Larijani capped off the drive with a 6-yard run right up the gut of the Wasilla defense.

The Moose offensive lineman kept the Warriors moving backwards throughout the game. Guards Junior Aumavae and Nick Pilch and center Andy Luebke won the battle over Wasilla's heralded interior line tandem of Sam Widmer and Josh Nelson.

"We feel like we had great play from our offensive line," Palmer head coach Rod Christiansen said. "We have two of the best guards in the conference."

"We worked on this all week," Larijani added. "We felt like we could run on Wasilla sucessfully."

The Palmer defensive line was able to stop an extremely potent Wasilla running attack. Warrior senior halfback Abe Salmon came into the contest among the state's leaders in rushing with 961 yards. Palmer held Salmon to only 35 yards, leaving him just four yards shy of the 1,000 yard mark.

News and Notes: The Moose are now 17-7 against Wasilla in the Potato Bowl … Palmer also celebrated their homecoming and senior night Friday, saying goodbye to 18 senior athletes … Moose quarterback Charlie Bentti was a perfect 2-2 passing the ball … The Moose ran the ball 52 times, gaining 319 yards … Cody Schierman grabbed a season high seven receptions for 92 yards … Abe Salmon failed to reach the end zone for the first time this season.