Moose run past Falcons, earn spot in state title game for second straight year

PALMER — During the first week of the season, Palmer built a 19-0 lead only to watch it disappear in the fourth quarter of a 20-19 loss to North Pole.

Fast-forward to Saturday, and the first week of the postseason.

Palmer built a 21-0 first-half lead, but Thunder Mountain struck on its opening drive of the third quarter.

Rather than letting Thunder Mountain follow North Pole’s lead, the Moose didn’t let history repeat itself. The Moose defense got a key stop on 4th-and-goal, and Palmer used a late score to cement a 28-7 victory over the Falcons during the Division II semifinals Saturday afternoon at Palmer High School.

“You’ve always got to bounce back. Things happen,” Palmer lineman Jacob White said after the win. “We had that first game against North Pole. We remembered that. We dug deep.”

Thunder Mountain used a trick play to spark its offense early in the third. Receiver Hansel Hinckle took a lateral from quarterback Owen Mendoza, and connected with Jacob Tapia on a 41-yard pass. Thunder Mountain capped the drive with Mendoza’s 16-yard touchdown pass to Tapia.

“We knew we had to kick off to them. We knew we had to make a stop, and we didn’t,” Palmer head coach Rod Christiansen said of the open of the second half. “High school football, momentum happens.”

But the Moose bounced back, and didn’t give up the momentum.

“It was a little rough, but we pulled it together in the fourth quarter,” Palmer lineman Lucas Santana said.

Senior Jeff Glynn scored Palmer’s fourth rushing touchdown of the game late in the fourth to help set up a rematch with five-time defending state champion Soldotna in the Division II title game, slated for Saturday at 3 p.m. at Palmer High.

“I’m excited,” White said. “We can celebrate. There’s a 24-hour rule win or lose. But we’ll come back Monday ready to go.”

Palmer’s biggest defensive stop came in the fourth quarter. The Falcons marched inside the 10, but Palmer, leading 21-7 at that point, was able to get the stop, preventing Thunder Mountain to cut the margin to a score.

“That was big, really big. The guys stepped up,” Christiansen said. “Hats off to Thunder Mountain. They made some adjustments in the second half. They new a couple of things that were going to work against us.”

After the defensive stop, White said the offense focused on getting first downs.

“It’s never over till it’s over. Get firsts, keep moving the ball, take down the clock,” White said.

Palmer used a dominant effort in the first half to help set up its second straight trip to a state title game and sixth since 1995. The Moose scored on their first three drives of the game and didn’t allow a Thunder Mountain first down during the first two quarters.

“Our offense, I thought, played near perfect offense in that first half, and the defense did the same,” Christiansen said.

Junior quarterback Luke Guggenmos, and senior running backs Larry Cutsforth and Jared Oviok each capped long drives with touchdown runs in the first half. The Moose gained 173 of their 281 yards rushing in the first half. Oviok rushed for 71 of his 95 during the first two quarters. Guggenmos was 8 of 9 passing for 111 yards in the first half.

“I thought our offense was quite efficient in the first half,” Christiansen said.

Cutsforth led the Moose with 96 yards on 13 carries in the win. Glynn added 66.

Senior Skyler Hale led Palmer with 71 yards receiving on three catches. Senior Matt Daniels also had three catches for 27 yards.

It’s the second straight year Palmer beat Thunder Mountain in the postseason. Last year, the Moose edged the Falcons 28-26 in the semifinals. Soldotna topped Palmer in the state title game last year.

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

Palmer 28, Thunder Mountain 7

Division II semifinals

Saturday, Palmer High School

First quarter:

Palmer — Guggenmos 1 run (Cutsforth kick)

Second quarter:

Palmer — Cutsforth 7 run (Cutsforth kick)

Palmer — Oviok 8 run (Cutsforth kick)

Third quarter:

No scoring

Fourth quarter:

Thunder Mountain — Tapia 16 pass from Mendoza (kick good)

Palmer — Glynn 4 run (Cutsforth kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS:

RUSHING — Thunder Mountain: Tupou 6-45, Mendoza 4-(-1), Frenette 2-2, No. 14 1-(-2); Palmer: Oviok 16-95, Glynn 16-66, Cutsforth 13-96, Guggenmos 6-26, Daniels 1-(-2).

PASSING — Thunder Mountain: Mendoza 6-12-0—26, Hinckle 1-1-0—41; Palmer: Guggenmos 10-11-0—126.

RECEIVING — Thunder Mountain: Tapia 4-62, Hinckle 2-25, Tupou 1-(-4); Palmer: Hale 3-71, Daniels 3-27, Mumma 2-25, Farris 1-4, Corbin 1-3.