Moose win 2021 Potato Bowl

WASILLA — After conference losses to Soldotna and Eagle River earlier this season, Palmer has been left out of the playoff conversation. Regardless, the Moose still had a couple of goals on the checklist.

Finish the season on a winning streak.

Bring the Mayor’s Cup back to Palmer.

The Moose accomplished both.

Palmer used a 29-12 win over rival Wasilla Oct. 1 at Wasilla High School in the 2021 Potato Bowl to cap its season with a three-game winning streak. The Moose also improved to 32-11 in the storied annual rivalry that dates back to 1979, and earned back the coveted Mayor’s Cup, the traveling trophy for the Potato Bowl.

“It’s good for our seniors, good for our program,” Palmer head coach Tim Popowski said. “They wanted this. They worked hard this week.”

After a 1-4 start, the Moose (4-4) put together wins over Houston, Chugiak and Wasilla during the final three weeks of the regular season. Palmer outscored its opponents 104-18 during that stretch.

“It’s huge. We’ve been playing some really good football the last few weeks,” Popowski said.

The Moose rushed for 330 yards in the win.

“The big guys up front kind of put it on themselves,” Popowski said of his senior-laden offensive line.

Popowski also credited Palmer offensive coordinator Josh Henry’s use of the running back rotation. Palmer seniors Lucas Frank and Isaiah Perkins received the bulk of the carries. Frank led the Moose with 170 yards on 13 carries and two touchdowns. With 31 yards on two receptions, Frank had more than 200 yards of total offense. Perkins added 115 yards on the ground.

Senior quarterback Ben Simmerman accounted for two touchdowns. Simmerman connected with tight end Gavin O’Brien on a 22-yard touchdown pass early, and added a 5-yard rushing touchdown.

Wasilla senior quarterback, who was lost twice during the game due to injury, led Wasilla with 137 yards on 15 carries. He was also 7 of 14 passing for 84 yards.

“That quarterback is pretty talented running and throwing the football,” Popowski said of Mahoney. “That read option, he does a really good job.”

Senior Izaiah Lattin broke free down the right sideline for a 64-yard touchdown run to put the Warriors on the scoreboard in the first half.

Wasilla also had a 78-yard Mahoney to Dylan Jeffus touchdown pass negated by a penalty early in the game.

“We knew they were going to have some big plays,” Popowski said. “Wasilla has thrown a lot of stuff at us the last couple years.”

Lattin led Wasilla with 76 yards rushing and two scores. The senior added a 3-yard touchdown run in the second half. Jeffus had five catches for 56 yards.

Palmer senior Dylan Garrettson and junior Parker Glastetter combined for a sack in the end zone to give the Moose a safety in the final minutes of the game.

Wasilla dropped to 4-4 with the loss, and also missed the Division II playoffs.

Palmer and Wasilla are conference rivals once again, thanks to ASAA’s latest reclassification of prep football. Wasilla was moved from the Division I level to the Division II Northern Lights Conference prior to the 2021 season.

“The fact it is a conference game is huge. We were really looking forward to it,” Popowski said. “I wish there was a little more on the line.”

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

Palmer 29, Wasilla 12

Friday, Wasilla High School

First quarter:

Palmer — O’Brien 22 pass from Simmerman (Godfrey kick) 6:49

Second quarter:

Palmer — Frank 4 run (pass fail) 8:02

Wasilla — Lattin 64 run (run fail) 6:31

Third quarter:

Palmer — Simmerman 5 run (Godfrey kick) 7:40

Wasilla — Lattin 3 run (kick fail) 2:33

Palmer — Frank 31 run (Godfrey kick) 0:30

Palmer — Safety, 1:37

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS:

RUSHING — Palmer: Perkins 24-115, Frank 13-170, Simmerman 5-23, Asay 4-20, Chandler 1-2; Wasilla: Mahoney 15-137, Lattin 6-76, Huffman 4-(-4), Grisso 2-(-1).

PASSING — Palmer: Simmerman 3-12-0--53; Wasilla: Mahoney 7-14-0--84, Huffman 4-9-0--8.

RECEIVING — Palmer: Frank 2-31, O’Brien 1-22; Wasilla: Jeffus 5-56, Lattin 3-18, No. 80 2-18, Hays 1-(-10).