ON THE LINE

PALMER — The Palmer Moose have long had a reputation of boasting a massive front. In recent years, the front lines have been small by Palmer standards. But this season, the Moose are once again expected to sport the size.

Four starting offensive linemen return to help the Moose try to pave their way back into the playoffs.

“When you look at things, it starts with the line,” longtime Palmer head coach Rod Christiansen said. “We’ve been small the last couple years, but they’re big guys (this year). You step into the huddle and there are guys taller than you and 30 pounds heavier than you.”

The group is led by senior tackle Ben Self, who earned first-team All-Railbelt Conference and first-team all-state honors as a junior.

“He’s blessed with the body and he can really block,” Christiansen said of Self. “He’s got good, quick feet.”

Self also excelled during the offseason, earning honors as the top offensive lineman at the All-Alaska Football Camp at Colony High in June. Self, who stands about 6-foot-3 and flirts with the 300-pound mark, also won the towel pull competition, the camp’s test of strength.

Self is not Palmer’s only big boy up front. Seniors Kade Owens and Jamison Corbin, both starters last year, return. Junior Cole Frohling, another starter last season, is also back.

Owens, Corbin and Frohling are each at least 6-1 and 225 pounds.

Christiansen said the fifth spot is still up for grabs, and he has other lineman also ready to give the returning starters a run for their positions.

“We’ve got some nice young kids pushing those kids and vying for other jobs too,” Christiansen said.

Those offensive linemen will also help make up the wall on the defensive front.

The Moose also have a bit of size at their skill positions, most notably at quarterback. Senior Jackson Buresh returns after a stellar junior campaign in which he earned first-team all-conference and first-team all-state honors as a first-year starter. Buresh threw for 1,006 yards and eight touchdowns in nine games last season. He also ran or 220 yards and eight scores. Buresh scored a rushing touchdown in five of his team’s nine games, and ran for a pair of scores three times. Christiansen said the difference this year is experience.

“It’s just the nature of being a little bit bigger, little bit stronger. He’s a senior, he’s been there before. He’s been in the Potato Bowl, played the Anchorage teams, been in close games,” Christiansen said. “That makes a big difference.”

Palmer also returns its leading rusher from last season, senior Ian Ahrens. As a junior, Ahrens rushed for 478 yards and four scores, and had a pair of 100-yard efforts during the final four games of the season.

Senior Douglas Chadwick is also back after rushing for 330 yards and four touchdowns in 2010.

The Moose will have to find replacements for a few graduated starters. Tight end Collin Christiansen and fullback David Sorensen are gone. Palmer also graduated virtually every wide receiver who saw time. Graduated seniors Jim McCall and Kris Merritt accounted for 48 of the team’s 60 catches. McCall, a first-team all-conference receiver, led the Moose with 36 catches.

Christiansen said junior Luke Huen and sophomore James Nesbitt should work their way into the offense. Senior Jack Tuttle should find a role, and sophomore Vinnie Aumavae earned an award at the All-Alaska Football Camp.

“We’ve got some guys who could surprise us,” Christiansen said.

Palmer graduated a handful of key players on defense, but in addition to the lineman, the Moose have players ready to step in to fill the void.

The Moose return senior Steven Lee, who earned honorable mention all-conference honors at defensive back last season. Chadwick and Huen will have significant roles in the defensive backfield as well. Senior Brandon Wisner will also contribute. Junior Chris Cooney was a Railbelt honorable mention at linebacker last year.

Christiansen said seniors Robby Casagranda, Ben King and Michael Roy are also back to provide depth and vie for time on the field.

The Moose, who have missed the playoffs only once since 1994, finished 5-4 overall and 4-2 in Railbelt play. Palmer finished among the Railbelt’s top-4, advanced to the playoffs and suffered a quarterfinal loss to eventual state runner-up Service.

This year, Palmer begins its season against East Anchorage Aug. 13 at Anchorage Football Stadium. Palmer follows with games against small-schools power Soldotna and Railbelt rival Juneau-Douglas.

“It’s a really tough schedule, right off the bat,” Christiansen said.

** Editor’s note: This is the first piece of a four-part series previewing the Mat-Su Valley prep football teams. Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.