Moose mentor reaches milestone; Longtime head coach now in a tie for most wins in Alaska history

EAGLE RIVER — Buck Nystrom now has some company at the top of the Alaska prep football coaching ladder.

With Palmer’s 35-8 victory over Eagle River Saturday afternoon at Eagle River High School, longtime Moose mentor Rod Christiansen earned his 150th career victory. Christiansen is now tied with Nystrom at 150 wins, the most by a prep football head coach in the 49th state.

“We’ve been pushing for that all season,” Palmer junior quarterback Luke Guggenmos said after the win. “We’re really glad we were able to do that for him. It feels awesome. He works his butt off every single week for us.”

Christiansen, in his 27th season as head coach at Palmer High, said, “it’s relieving,” to hit the coaching milestone. A modest person by nature, Christiansen said he has thought about the milestone more this season than ever.

“Because everybody keeps reminding me about it,” Christiansen said with a laugh as he stood outside the team bus following the game.

Christiansen said he is honored to be listed alongside Nystrom, who won 150 games during a combined 31 years at Eielson and North Pole before his death in 2006.

“Buck was a special guy, special coach,” Christiansen said. “We enjoyed coaching against each other for a few years there. He was well respected in the coaching community, and always had great teams at small schools at Eielson and North Pole. It’s neat to be in the same sentence.”

The Moose used 359 yards rushing to help their coach grab his 150th career win. Palmer had two running backs top the 100-yard mark, and three ran for scores of 72 yards or more. Senior Larry Cutsforth sparked the Moose with an 80-yard touchdown run midway through the first quarter. Senior Jared Oviok broke away for a 72-yard score later in the first. Senior Jeff Glynn added a 75-yard touchdown run late in the first half.

“The running game is amazing,” Guggenmos said. “They run downhill like they’re taught to do. It’s all up front on (the offensive line). They give us the holes. They give us the time.”

Oviok led Palmer with 145 yards on 13 carries. Cutsforth added 112 on 10 tries.

The long scoring runs helped Palmer overcome a sluggish start.

“We came out sloppy,” Guggenmos said. “I’m not gonna lie.”

Guggenmos also tossed a pair of touchdown passes in the second half of the victory. The junior hit Levi Farris for a 5-yard score in the third, and connected with Matt Daniels on a 17-yard touchdown pass in the fourth.

Christiansen also praised the work of Palmer’s defense, which allowed only 92 total yards, 61 on the ground and 31 through the air.

“The kids were really prepared for what they were doing. We played very well on the defensive side,” Christiansen said.

With the win, Palmer improved to 2-4 overall, but more importantly, 2-1 in Northern Lights Conference play. Palmer can clinch a playoff spot with a win at Kenai Central Saturday.

“We have everything in our own control,” Christiansen said.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

Palmer 35, Eagle River 8

Saturday, Eagle River

First quarter:

Palmer — Cutsforth 80 run (Cutsforth kick) 5:42.

Palmer — Oviok 72 run (Cutsforth kick) 1:56.

Second quarter:

Palmer — Glynn 75 run (Cutsforth kick) 0:46.

Third quarter:

Palmer — Farris 5 pass from Guggenmos (Cutsforth kick) 6:26.

Fourth quarter:

Eagle River — Heagy 1 run (pass failed) 11:15.

Palmer — Daniels 17 pass from Guggenmos (Cutsforth kick) 8:04.

Eagle River — Safety, Caple tackled in end zone, 0:28.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Palmer: Oviok 13-145, Cutsforth 10-112, Glynn 3-81, Caple 3-9, Farris 3-5, Corbin 2-5, Guggenmos 1-2; Eagle River: Adkins 12-6, Heagy 7-21, Burningham 7-18, Williams 5-11, Caywood 2-5.

PASSING — Palmer: Guggenmos 4-8-0—21; Eagle River: Adkins 5-8-0—9, Heagy 3-5-1—22.

RECEIVING — Palmer: Daniels 2-12, Farris 1-5, Hale 1-4.