Mustangs score big win over Knights, clinch Railbelt title

CHUGIAK — In the heavyweight bout of Alaska prep football’s regular season, an early Chugiak strike left Colony stunned.

Chugiak quarterback Hunter Harr connected with fellow senior Derryk Snell on a 45-yard touchdown pass on their team’s first offensive play of the game to provide the quick spark during a 44-25 win over the Knights Thursday night at Chugiak High School.

“We let them punch us in the mouth, and we didn’t punch back,” Colony head coach Rhett Magner said after the loss.

Snell raced up the right side of the field to make the grab, and score the first of his four touchdowns in the win. Magner said it was a play the Knights prepared for.

“We rep’d that play all week. But it’s a little different when you’ve got [No.] 7 staring you in the face,” Magner said of Snell, the Chugiak star who entered the game with 28 total touchdowns.

For Colony, it was worst-case scenario. For Chugiak, it was ideal.

“It was so important,” Harr said after the win. “We wanted to score on that first play, set the tone for the entire game. Getting that first score really caught them off guard, gave us a ton of momentum.”

Snell scored three of Chugiak’s four touchdowns in the first half to help the Mustangs get the best of the Knights during a battle of unbeatens. With the win, Chugiak capped the regular season 8-0 overall and earned its second straight Railblet title. The Knights dropped to 7-1 and are forced to settle for second place in the conference.

Snell, who finished with eight catches for 178 yards receiving and 68 yards rushing on 15 carries, added a 35-yard touchdown run and 7-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter.

“He is something else. Out of this world,” Harr said. “He goes up and gets anything you throw to him. He does anything you ask of him. He’s a great leader, a huge part of this team for sure.”

But Harr said, too much focus on Snell allows Chugiak’s other weapons to strike. Senior Ramal Maad added 58 yards and two touchdowns. Fullback Austin Harr rushed for 56 yards. The Mustangs finished with 464 total yards in the game.

“Once they key on Derryk, they’ll forget about the other players on this team,” Harr said. “We’re a complete team.”

Colony entered the game with the state’s top scoring defense at the Division I level. The Knights allowed only 57 total points, and just seven in conference play. The Knights shut out three opponents this year, including two in the Railbelt.

“They’re the toughest team we played this year,” Harr said of the Knights.

Magner said the Knights simply struggled.

“We were kind of predictable offensively. We didn’t have that spark,” Magner said. “We made uncharacteristic mistakes, especially on defense.”

Colony was held to 135 yards rushing and zero passing yards in the loss. Through the first seven weeks of the season, Colony averaged 368 yards per game.

The bulk of Colony’s points came via the defense and special teams. Oliver Wyche returned a kickoff 90 yards for a score in the first quarter to cut a Chugiak lead in half. Julian McPhail picked off a Chugiak pass and scampered 48 yards for a score in the second. Noah Krozel booted a 35-yard field goal late in the first half.

“The defense gave us a spark in the first half, the special teams absolutely gave us a spark in the first half,” Magner said.

Eric Christy notched Colony’s lone score on offense, an 8-yard run in the fourth quarter.

Magner said now it’s time for the Knights too look ahead. Colony will host either West Anchorage or Service Oct. 6 in the first round of the Division I playoffs.

“I’m hoping we learn from this,” Magner said. “If not, we have a problem.”

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

Chugiak 44, Colony 25

Thursday, Chugiak High

First quarter:

Chugiak — Snell 45 pass from Harr (kick good) 10:19.

Chugiak — Maad 3 run (kick failed) 2:16.

Colony — Wyche 90 kickoff return (Krozel kick) 1:59.

Second quarter:

Chugiak — Snell 35 run (kick good) 11:45.

Chugiak — Snell 7 pass from Harr (kick good) 7:51.

Colony — McPhail 48 interception return (Krozel kick) 5:42.

Colony — Krozel 35 field goal, 0:23.

Third quarter:

Chugiak — Maad 19 run (kick good) 4:00.

Chugiak — Snell 4 run (kick good) 0:37.

Fourth quarter:

Chugiak — Setz 28 field goal, 8:42.

Colony — Christy 8 run (Kizer run) 5:44.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS:

RUSHING — Colony: Jimenez 12-46, Christy 8-52, Hessinger 7-21, Kizer 6-12, Leavitt 1-4; Chugiak: Snell 15-68, A. Harr 15-56, Maad 6-58, H. Harr 6-40, Huffer 5-49, Tomosoulo 2-2, Wedel 1-(-2).

PASSING — Colony: Kizer 0-6-0—0; Chugiak: H. Harr 9-15-1—152, Maad 1-1-0—41.

RECEIVING — Colony: none; Chugiak: Snell 8-178, Carlos 1-9, Maad 1-6.