Moose run past Juneau

PALMER — As the Palmer Moose prepared for the start of the 2018 season, a priority was figuring out how to replace the three-headed monster that dominated on the ground in 2017. Graduated seniors Larry Cutsforth, Jared Oviok and Jeff Glynn combined to rush for more than 2,400 total yards last season as the trio helped guide the Moose to the Division II state title game for the second straight year.

Enter Chase Bruesch, Jayden Christiansen and Lavar Marshall.

The three running backs combined for 237 yards rushing and helped lead the Moose to a 31-8 win over Juneau Saturday at Machetanz Field in Palmer.

“They’re inexperienced, but they really showed on the field how mature they are,” Palmer senior quarterback Luke Guggenmos said after the win.

Bruesch led Palmer with 165 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Christiansen chipped in 47 yards. Marshall added 25 yards and a score.

“They’re really talented,” Guggenmos said. “They have a great coach in (Ali Larijani). He’s taught them really well.”

Guggenmos threw for a pair of touchdowns, connecting with Leif Mumma and Dawson VanTassel on scores. The senior was 9 of 17 for 90 yards.

“I like that our coordinator has changed our offense a little bit, using the passing game more,” Guggenmos said. “It’s good that the coaches have confidence in me.”

While he’s excited to throw the ball more, Guggenmos said the Moose know how important it is to have a balanced attack.

“We don’t want to pass every down, our running game’s doing really well,” Guggenmos said.

Once Palmer built the big lead, Guggenmos said the Moose looked to their running game.

“Once we were up, we kind of ran it down their throats,” Guggenmos said. “Our lineman did really well today.”

Bruesch notched the first of his two scores late in the first to give Palmer a 6-0 lead. Mumma extended his team’s lead to a dozen with a 4-yard touchdown catch midway through the second. Marshall plunged in from two yards out late in the first half, and Palmer took an 18-0 lead into the break.

Guggenmos and Bruesch added a second score of the day each in the second half.

Palmer was three seconds shy of a shutout. Daniel Isaak caught a 17-yard touchdown pass on the final play from scrimmage of the game. The Moose defense held Juneau to 33 yards rushing in the game.

Juneau is a new co-op team that includes athletes who played for both Juneau-Douglas and Thunder Mountain last season. During the offseason, ASAA approved the request from the Juneau School District to combine the two former capital city programs, and feature a unified prep football program. The team still does not have a nickname. The squad was originally tabbed the Thunder Bears, which would have combined parts of each name of the old teams. But that idea was scrapped after Juneau School District school officials were made aware of a negative connotation associated with the name on the website urbandictionary.com.

Guggenmos said the Moose knew very little about the new Juneau program, which was placed in Alaska’s Division I level during the offseason.

“We watched the Thunder Mountain film from the last playoff game,” Guggenmos said.

Palmer beat Thunder Mountain in the Division II semifinals in both 2016 and 2017. The new Juneau team is led by former Falcons head coach Randy Quinto.

“We thought maybe they’d run that defense, and they showed it on the field today,” Guggenmos said. “They switched up some fronts, but our linemen were able to adjust.”

Guggenmos also praised the work of Palmer’s defense.

“Our defense did amazing. Coach C prepared them really well, even though we had no film on them,” Guggenmos said of Palmer head coach Rod Christiansen.

Palmer’s homestand continues with a nonconference game against Valley rival Colony Friday at 7 p.m.

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

Palmer 31, Juneau 8

Saturday, Palmer High School

First quarter:

Palmer — Bruesch 7 run (kick failed) 2:28.

Second quarter:

Palmer — Mumma 4 pass from Guggenmos (kick failed) 7:00.

Palmer — L. Marshall 2 run (run failed) 0:34.

Third quarter:

Palmer — VanTassel 9 pass from Guggenmos (kick failed) 5:17.

Fourth quarter:

Palmer — Bruesch 2 run (Knittle kick) 9:08.

Juneau — Isaak 17 pass from Kriegmont (Batec pass from Kriegmont) 00:03.

Individual statistics:

Rushing — Juneau: Willhoite 6-(-12), Traxier 6-25, Soto-Sanchez 17, Hinckle 1-3, Batec 1-0; Palmer: Bruesch 20-165, Christiansen 10-47, L. Marshall 7-25, Guggenmos 5-5, Knittle 1-1, VanTassel 1-0, Moody 1-(-1).

Passing — Willhoite 12-18-2—77, Kriegmont 4-7-0—68; Palmer: Guggenmos 9-17-0—90.

Receiving — Medina-Mojica 6-29, Isaak 2-50, Hinckle 2-31, Batec 2-16, Traxier 2-0, Wheat 1-16, Morehouse 1-3; Palmer: VanTassel 4-45, Corbin 2-23, Knittle 1-12, Hamilton 1-6, Mumma 1-4.