North Pole can’t stop Moose

NORTH POLE — Just 15 seconds into regulation Friday, the North Pole Patriots had their hands full.

Junior Douglas Chadwick scored on a 54-yard rush on the first drive of the game to spark Palmer’s 47-19 win over the Patriots at Patriot Pride Field.

As the horn sounded to signal the end of the first quarter, Patriots quarterback Moo Rogers rushed into the end zone from 10 yards out to put the Patriots back in the game, 7-6.

The Moose seemed unstoppable, however, scoring two touchdowns in each quarter remaining. Three players scored those six touchdowns: wide receiver Jim McCall and running backs Ian Arhens and David Clement.

“Palmer gave us their best game,” North Pole head coach Richard Henert said after the game. “After watching tapes, they hadn’t done this well this season. Their defense used to run a 3-5, but have successfully converted to a 4-4, and they pursued us hard, which gave us fits on offense.”

The Patriots have less depth than the Moose, Henert added, saying that playing teams that give their best games is harder when a team is smaller.

North Pole’s starting quarterback Danny Grzesiuk went down with an injury in the middle of the first quarter and didn’t see action again.

Henert said his defense also battled its fair share of struggles with the Palmer offense.

“They ran the trap and sweep,” he said. “They switched it up, inside and outside. With 13 (Chadwick) and 21 (McCall), they’re good for that.”

Chadwick finished with 78 yards on seven carries, and McCall chipped in 40 yards on eight touches. Arhens had 12 carries for 37 yards.

Leading the Moose, Clement finished with 132 yards on 12 touches.

Junior running back Chris Vannoy led the Patriots with 56 yards on 11 carries. Rogers chipped in 11 touches as well for 38 yards.

In the air, Rogers threw 17 passes for 124 yards and one interception. Palmer quarterback Jackson Buresh passed for 110 yards on a 5-for-8 night.

“I’m proud of the kids,” Henert said. “The way they act isn’t easy. It’s tough, these games.”

Mathematically, Henert said his team isn’t out of reach of postseason dreams.

“The light’s dark for us,” he said, “but we can’t fall asleep. We have to win out and get help from others, but it’s very possible.”

The Patriots play host in a nonconference game against Soldotna next Saturday at 1 p.m.

“Football’s fun, win or lose,” Henert said. “We have to remember that’s why we’re out here.”

Contact staff writer Renee Thony at 459-7583.

Palmer 47, North Pole 19

Friday, North Pole

First Quarter

Palmer — Chadwick 54 run (Merritt kick), 11:44.

North Poel — Rogers 10 run (kick failed), 0:00.

Second Quarter

Palmer — McCall 9 run (Merritt kick), 9:21.

North Pole — Duncan 56 pass from Rogers (conversion failed), 8:18.

Palmer — McCall 38 pass from Buresh (Merritt kick), 4:37.

Third Quarter

North Pole — Vannoy 3 run (Huezo kick), 8:37.

Palmer — Arhens 25 pass from Buresh (kick blocked), 5:10.

Palmer — Clement 1 run (Merritt kick), 0:44.

Fourth Quarter

Palmer — Clement 35 rush (Merritt kick), 7:51.

Palmer — Arhens 6 run (kick failed), 4:49.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—Palmer: Clement 12-132, Arhens 12-37, Chadwick 7-78, McCall 8-40, Sorensen 3-37; North Pole: Rogers 11-38, Vannoy 11-56, Anderson 3-4, Grzesiuk 2-12.

PASSING—Palmer: Buresh 5-8-0-110; North Pole: Grzesiuk 0-1-0-0, Rogers 8-17-1-124.

RECEIVING—Palmer: Arhens 1-25, Sorensen 1-29, McCall 2-52, Clement 1-4; North Pole: Duncan 6-77, Markie 2-47.