Moose use big plays to score win over Houston

PALMER — It’s not typical to have a bye during the second week of the prep football season, but for the Palmer Moose it could have been a blessing in disguise.

After suffering a 49-0 loss to Colony during the season opener in late August, Palmer bounced back to grab a 50-14 win over Houston Thursday night at Machetanz Field.

“The bye week was huge,” Palmer head coach Tim Popowski said after the win. “We took advantage of it. A lot of prep, a lot of mental reps.”

Popowski said the Moose, a junior-heavy varsity team, needed the extra 10 days of work.

“You look out there and there are a lot of first-year varsity guys. It was good to see this tonight,” Popowski said.

Junior quarterback Ben Simmerman enjoyed a career night, completing four of nine passes for 132 yards and three touchdowns. Simmerman also rushed for 40 yards and a score.

“Ben looked good,” Simmerman said.

Simmerman connected with receiver Elijah Barnes three times for touchdowns, scores of 56, 52 and 15 yards.

“He’s taken a lot of throwing the ball right now, and it’s showing,” Popowksi said.

Popowski also praised Simmerman for his work in the running game, and decision making.

“He looked really good on a lot of our options as well,” Popowski said.

Lucas Frank and Michael Smith also rushed for touchdowns in the win. Isaiah Perkins returned a fumble 29 yards for a touchdown in the third.

“I couldn’t tell you the last time we had a scoop and score,” Popowski said.

Big plays in the second and third quarters were key in Palmer’s victory. Less than two minutes after Houston cut Palmer’s lead to 15-8, Simmerman connected with Barnes on a 56-yard touchdown pass with 1:02 left in the first half.

Palmer also scored twice within a 20-second pan early in third. The Moose opened the second half with a six-play drive capped by a 15-yard Barnes touchdown catch. On Houston’s ensuing offensive drive, Perkins scooped up a Hawks fumble and returned it for the touchdown.

“Scoring right before the half was huge for us. Coming out in the third quarter and hitting another big play was big for us too,” Popowski said.

Simmerman and Barnes connected for their third score, a 52-yard touchdown pass, with about four minutes left in the third.

Barnes finished with a career-high 123 yards receiving.

Palmer struck early after recovering a loose ball on the opening kickoff. Palmer kicker Catherine Uschmann found a hole in the left side of the Houston kick return team, and Dylan Garretson grabbed the ball. Simmerman used a 2-yard touchdown run to give Palmer the early lead. Later in the quarter, Frank rumbled for a 13-yard touchdown on fourth down to push Palmer’s lead to 15-0.

Houston standout Tolupo Falaniko rushed for a game-high 186 yards and two scores. Falaniko cut Palmer’s lead to 15-8 late in the second quarter with a 27-yard touchdown run, and the ensuing 2-point conversion. He added a 1-yard plunge late.

Houston is the defending Division III state champion, and features a handful of players who were named first-team all-state last season. The list includes junior Kiderro, the 2019 Division III Lineman of the Year.

“We knew they were going to be pretty big for our guys up front, definitely on offense and on the (defensive) line as well,” Popowski said. “The kids prepared for it. We needed that. We needed to see if we could handle some size up front.”

Palmer improved to 1-1 with the win. Houston, which beat Redington 35-14 last week, dropped to 1-2.

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

Palmer 50, Houston 14

Thursday, Machetanz Field

First quarter:

Palmer — Simmerman 2 run (Simmerman run) 10:17

Palmer — Frank 13 run (Uschmann kick) 6:21

Second quarter

Houston — Falaniko 27 run (Falaniko run) 3:08

Palmer — Barnes 56 pass from Simmerman (Uschmann kick) 1:30

Third quarter

Palmer — Barnes 15 pass from Simmerman (Uschmann kick) 10:50

Palmer — Perkins 29 fumble return (Uschmann kick) 10:30

Palmer — Barnes 52 pass from Simmerman (Uschmann kick) 4:28

Fourth quarter

Palmer — Smith 2 run (Uschmann kick) 5:38

Houston — Falaniko 1 run (run failed) 1:02.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Houston: Falaniko 27-186, Bunn 8-21, Kolb 6-67, Hawes 3-5, Ratcliffe 1-(-5); Palmer: Simmerman 11-40, Perkins 9-54, Frank 5-60, Smith 4-16, Pritchett 3-38, Barnes 1-10, Heal 1-0.

PASSING — Houston: Bunn 1-2-0--5; Palmer: Simmerman 4-9-0--132.

RECEIVING — Houston: Craig 1-5; Palmer: Barnes 3-123, Horman 1-9.