Moose win Potato Bowl

Oct. 1, 2006

By Jeremiah Bartz/ Frontiersman

PALMER - Make it five in a row for Palmer.

With a 27-7 win over the Wasilla Warriors at Machetanz Field Friday, the Moose continued their control of the Mayor's Cup, the prize awarded annually to the winner of the Potato Bowl, the Valley's most notable sports rivalry.

Palmer junior quarterback Conrad Smith completed five passes for 132 yards and a touchdown - all to senior Tanner Grover - and Smith ran for another score, as the Moose earned a playoff spot and clinched second place in the Railbelt Conference.

Smith connected with Grover on a 75-yard scoring strike to give the Moose the 7-0 advantage in the first quarter.

Palmer head coach Rod Christiansen said the Moose, who are known traditionally for their running game, have been working to steadily increase the importance of the passing game in their offense.

&#8220That first one was big,” Christiansen said of Grover's touchdown catch. &#8220Loosened up that defense.”

Smith found Grover wide open in the middle of the field, and the senior sprinted untouched toward the end zone.

&#8220We've been trying to get the passing game going all season,” said senior Haakan Bohman, who caught a 54-yard touchdown pass in a loss to North Pole last week. &#8220Now that we finally have got it going, we've got to keep it going.”

Smith's ability to run the ball has been evident all season - he also had 11 carries for 71 yards. But his maturation in the passing game is also becoming more apparent to his teammates.

&#8220We have a lot more faith in him now,” Bohman said. &#8220We believe in him, and that's what you need out of your quarterback.”

Grover also had catches of 14 and 21 yards. A 41-yard reception was called back because of a penalty.

&#8220We threw a couple more passes today, and it was working,” Grover said.

Bohman led the Moose with 148 yards on the ground on 25 carries. He scored from 20 yards out - his 14th touchdown of the season - in the second quarter.

Fullback Ryan Thorne added 61 yards and a 2-yard score for Palmer.

Danny Lyles gave the Warriors their lone score of the game, with a 2-yard touchdown late in the third quarter.

Senior quarterback Hunter Scholtz, who topped the 1,000-yard passing mark in the loss, was held to just 60 yards in the air. Scholtz finished the season with a Railbelt-high 1,021 yards. Lyles led the Warriors with 47 yards on the ground.

The Moose entered the game, with a plethora of potential playoff possibilities, and the points Wasilla scored in the game could have determined if Palmer was hosting a playoff game or forced to travel. If North Pole would have won, the Moose would have needed to not only win, but allow eight or fewer points to the Warriors to claim second place in the conference.

Grover said he really didn't any of the different playoff scenarios until Thursday. And then, he just knew his team had to keep Wasilla under

eight.

&#8220All I was thinking, was just play football. Play hard,” Grover said. &#8220And it worked out.”

Christiansen said the Palmer coaching staff did its best to keep the players minds off of all the playoff possibilities. The need to keep Wasilla off the scoreboard was stressed.

&#8220(We knew) Colony shut them down, so we can shut them down,” Christiansen said. &#8220They weren't really down (in scoring position) that often. They never did attempt a field goal. That has got to be about the first time all year for them. If they get close, inside the 30 - NFL close - they're going to kick it. That's pretty amazing for a high school team.”

The Warriors crossed the 50-yard line only three times in the game. Lyles capped on of those drives with a touchdown. Palmer linebacker Justin Ratcliff intercepted a pass on another. And on the third, Wasilla managed to get to just the 48-yard line.

Now Palmer prepares for its third match against Juneau-Douglas in less than a year. The Crimson Bears beat Palmer 49-29 in the 2005 state championship game, and Palmer won the rematch of the title bout 26-6 earlier this year.

&#8220We're excited to be in the playoffs,” Christiansen said. &#8220And hosting a game adds to that.”

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