Moose score first varsity football win over Colony in a decade

Before this season, the last time Palmer scored a varsity victory over Colony the majority of the current Moose upperclassmen were in elementary school.

But after a decade, Palmer earned that elusive win over its crosstown rival.

The Moose notched a 47-23 win over the Knights Friday night a Machetanz Field in Palmer.

“We’ve been really looking forward to this game,” Palmer head coach Tim Popowski said after the win. “It’s something we had circled. We wanted to get back at Colony. It’s been a long time.”

Before Friday, Palmer’s last victory over the Knights came in September of 2014.

“First message we gave them, it’s been a long time guys,” Popowski said. “It’s coming. It’s here. Ten years. It’s time to change it.”

This is also Popowski’s first win against the Knights as a head coach.

“That was a good win for him. That was for him,” Palmer junior quarterback Nolan Garner said.

Palmer, which improved to 2-1 overall, amassed 426 yards in the victory on offense, and picked off three passes on defense. Junior Jayden Hartman returned an interception 56 yards for a score early in the third quarter.

“We knew they wanted to throw the ball. We knew we’d have some opportunities to make plays,” Popowski said of his defense.

Junior running back Corbin Gerkin enjoyed a career night in the win for the Moose, rushing for 243 yards on 26 carries and four touchdowns.

“That’s what he can do,” Popowski said of Gerkin. “The guys up front did a really good job for him too.”

Gerkin plunged in from 1 and 3 yards in the first half, but broke free for a pair of back-breaking touchdown runs in the fourth quarter. Early in the fourth, Gerkin hit the left sideline for an 80-yard touchdown run. Late in the game, Gerkin punched through the right side for a 39-yard score.

“Corbin gave a really good effort. Our (offensive line) blocked very well,” Garner said. “They all gave 100 percent effort, and the result is a ‘w’”

Garner also had an efficient night throwing the ball, completing 12 of 17 passes for 156 yards and two scores. The junior had a highlight-reel effort late in the first that resulted in a 26-yard KJ Henry touchdown catch on what could have been a broken play.

With the Moose facing 3rd-and-2 at the 26, Garner was flushed to his left, threw across his body and found Henry near the front corner of the end zone.

“I was trying to make a play, not give up yards,” Garner said. “I looked up and he was wide open. Good catch by him. Good catch on the sidelines. Good awareness.”

Garner also connected with Reed Craner on a 14-yard scoring pass in the fourth quarter.

Colony dropped to 0-3 with the loss. Sophomore Thomas Vito completed 16 of 25 passes for 233 yards and a touchdown. In the first quarter, Vito hit senior Ridge Spencer for a 30-yard touchdown to tie the score at 7.

Kodiak Fieser ran for two touchdowns. Johnny Figgens also kicked a 26-yard field goal for the Knights as time expired in the first half.

Contact Frontiersman managing editor Jeremiah Bartz at editor@frontiersman.com.