Moose win thriller with late touchdown catch

PALMER — The Palmer offense has never really been known for its passing game. But junior Chase Ferris, channeling former Pittsburgh Steelers great Franco Harris, was on the receiving end of a touchdown pass Moose football fans will likely never forget.

Ferris and first-year starting quarterback Justin Roth connected on Palmer’s version of “the immaculate reception,” turning a tipped pass into a game-winner, as Palmer edged North Pole in a wild 54-49 win over the Patriots Thursday night at Machetanz Field in Palmer.

Call it, “the catch.”

Call it, “ a Moose miracle.”

Most importantly, the Moose are calling it a win, it’s first of the 2014 season.

During the final two minutes, with the Moose trailing by a point, a North Pole defender tipped a Roth pass at the goal line right into the hands of Ferris, and the junior snuck into the end zone to provide the go-ahead .

The play came less than three minutes after North Pole’s De’Aundre Campbell scampered 21 yards into the end zone to cut Palmer’s lead to 48-47. After the Campbell score, North Pole opted for the two-point conversion, and Simi Skipps powered his way across the goal line to give North Pole the 49-48 advantage.

On the ensuing kickoff, Palmer’s Darion Angol took the ball and darted up the middle of the field before he was brought down at the North Pole 48-yard line. The Moose managed to work their way to the 29-yard line. There, Roth dropped back to pass and sent a high, arcing throw toward the goal line. Angol was the intended receiver, but the ball was knocked away by a North Pole defender. And the Patriot defensive back bounced it right to Ferris.

“Believe in your coaches and never give up on a play,” Ferris said after the win. “God gave me a gift. The ball landed in my hands. There’s no real explanation for it.”

Ferris said he didn’t see the ball until it was right there.

“It hit me in the chest,” Ferris said. “That was it.”

The Ferris touchdown catch was the climax to an epic that included 15 total touchdowns and more than 100 points scored. The teams combined for four touchdowns in three of the four quarters. There were nine touchdowns of 19 yard or more, six of 29 yards ore more. Both teams had touchdowns runs of 62 yards or more. Both teams had 67-yard touchdown passes within a two-minute stretch of the fourth quarter. Both teams had a running back finish with more than 200 yards in the game. North Pole and Palmer combined for nearly 900 yards of total offense, and neither squad punted in the game.

Ferris enjoyed a career night on the field. In addition to the go-ahead touchdown catch, Ferris rushed for 291 yards on 26 carries, and five touchdowns on the ground.

All of that work came before his 29-yard touchdown catch.

After the win as Palmer (1-2) celebrated its first victory of the 2014 season, Ferris was quick to share the glory.

The junior said, “I got lucky.”

“It wasn’t just me tonight,” Ferris said.

Ferris quickly pointed out Palmer’s offensive line (center Adam Christiansen, guards Ryker Carrington and Ben Button, tackles A.J. Kollander and Nick Benshetler and tight end Graydon Powell), which paved the way for his 291-yard night.

“They’re the people who did everything. They got the push to the second level. The fullbacks and receivers were blocking amazing,” Ferris said. “That’s why my stats were up.”

Ferris noted Christiansen, a first-team all-state center, specifically. On offense, Christiansen anchored a Palmer offense, which finished with more than 450 yards of total offense. On defense, at his linebacker spot, Christiansen picked off a Sommer pass, and used a long return to help set up Palmer’s first touchdown of the fourth quarter.

“What other center can make an interception 20 yards down the field,” Ferris said. “He works harder than anybody. If I look up to anyone on this team, it’s him.”

Ferris also praised his team for finding a way to win after losing a big lead late. Palmer had led by two scores in the second half.

“We never give up,” Ferris said. “We’re a brotherhood, a real family. You never give up on family, no matter how much adversity you go through. That’s what we preach, and what happened tonight.”

Both teams seemed to have an answer to whatever the other team did Thursday night.

Palmer needed only five plays to take its first lead of the game with a Ferris 20-yard touchdown run. North Pole needed only one play to score.

On North Pole’s first play of the game, Campbell broke to the right side of the field for a 71-yard touchdown score.

On Palmer’s next offensive drive, its second series of the game, Ferris broke free for a 62-yard touchdown run.

Four minutes later, North Pole quarterback Garrett Sommer scored from 8 yards out.

A total of 27 points were scored within a five-minute stretch in the first quarter.

Ferris opened the second quarter for Palmer with a 35-yard touchdown run. Midway through the quarter, Sommer scored from a yard out.

Palmer capped the half with Ferris’ fourth touchdown run of the day, a 4-yarder.

The second half brought even more excitement.

Palmer’s Wayne Hershman recovered a fumble on North Pole’s second play of the third quarter. On the next play, Ferris scored again, this time his fifth touchdown, a 7-yarder to give the Moose a 35-19 lead.

Just as Palmer was starting to feel comfortable with its double-digit advantage, North Pole struck on its next drive.

On the first play of the series, Garrett Wollmann hauled in a jump ball and midfield and raced 67 yards for the score.

That came 18 seconds after the Ferris touchdown.

But once again, one score was answered by another. Three plays after Wollmann’s 67-yard touchdown catch, Roth connected with Angol on a 67-yard touchdown score.

North Pole its running game to stay in the game. Skipps, a 237-pound lineman turned running back, scored from 12 yards out in the third quarter. He also scored on the 2-point conversion twice.

A Sommer 19-yard score and the Campbell touchdown late allowed North Pole to take a temporary lead.

Campbell finished with a team-high 214 yards on 16 carries, and had two touchdowns. Sommer finished with 40 yards rushing and two touchdowns, and 190 yards passing and a score. Wollman led the Patriots with 107 yards receiving on two catches.

Palmer 54, North Pole 49

Thursday, Palmer High School

First quarter:

Palmer — Ferris 20 run (kick good) 9:21.

North Pole — Campbell 71 run (kick failed) 8:56.

Palmer — Ferris 62 run (kick good) 8:36.

North Pole — Sommer 8 run (kick good) 4:36.

Second quarter:

Palmer — Ferris 35 run (kick good) 8:35.

North Pole — Sommer 1 run (kick failed) 4:12.

Palmer — Ferris 4 run (kick good) 0:47.

Third quarter:

Palmer — Ferris 7 run (kick good) 11:11.

North Pole — Wollmann 67 pass from Sommer (run failed) 10:53.

Palmer — Angol 67 pass from Roth (kick good) 8:58.

North Pole — Skipps 12 run (Sommer run) 7:37.

Fourth quarter:

Palmer — Layton 9 run (kick failed) 11:07.

North Pole — Sommer 19 run (Skipps run) 9:04.

North Pole — Campbell 21 run (Skipps run) 4:42.

Palmer — Ferris 29 pass from Roth (run failed) 1:37.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS:

RUSHING — North Pole: Campbell 16-214, Sommer 15-40, Skipps 3-26, Wollmann 1-10, Benett 1-4, Hursh 1-0; Palmer: Ferris 26-291, Layton 8-29, Hershman 5-18, Roth 2-(-2).

PASSING — North Pole: Sommer 6-12-1—189, Rogers 0-2-0—0; Palmer: Roth 6-7-0—110.

RECEIVING — North Pole: Hursh 4-87, Wollman 2-102; Palmer: Angol 5-81, Ferris 1-29.