Moose to battle Bears at AFS

PALMER -- The Palmer football squad has at least one more game in their 2002 season.

With a 15-8 win over Valley foe Wasilla in the first round of the playoffs last week, the Moose earned a spot in the 4A state semifinals.

The victory guaranteed Palmer a spot amongst the top four large school squads in the state and a match against the lone unbeaten team in the Alaska, the Bartlett Golden Bears.

The Moose and the Bears will clash tonight at 6 p.m. at the Anchorage Football Stadium.

Bartlett cruised to a 55-12 win over West in their playoff opener.

The Moose and the Bears will face-off for the second consecutive season. Bartlett defeated Palmer 44-26 last season at Machetanz Field.

The Moose will certainly have their hands full against Bartlett. The Golden Bears have scored 317 points en route to their 8-0 season. The Bartlett defense has posted three shutouts, blanking Colony, West and Juneau-Douglas.

Bartlett is led by quarterback Pierce Blewett, running back Boaz Gionson and all-purpose threat Zach Bowman.

Blewett has been arguably the most efficient quarterback in the state completing 33 of 53 passes for 741 yards.

The statistic that stands out the most is the fact he has thrown 11 touchdown passes and only one interception.

Like Palmer, Bartlett has more than one weapon that can do serious damage. Gionson has hurt teams by running between the tackles and catching the ball out of the backfield.

Bowman has simply done everything for Bartlett on both sides of the ball.

The Golden Bears have a variety of running backs to use in a variety of situations.

Palmer and Bartlett square off in the first of a pair of semifinal games at AFS. Chugiak will meet Lathrop, Saturday at noon.