ON THE RUN: Veteran backfield to lead Moose in 2017

PALMER — After finishing as the state runner-up in the medium schools class last season, the Palmer Moose have their sights set on a return to the title game. And the Moose have a herd of veteran running backs that have the potential to carry them there.

“We had a four-way rotation (at running back) and three come back,” longtime Palmer head coach Rod Christiansen said Friday evening.

That group includes senior Larry Cutsforth, who led the Moose with 711 yards rushing as a junior. He also scored five touchdowns, which ranked him second on the squad. Seniors Jeff Glynn (238 yards, one touchdown) and Jared Oviak (269 yards, three touchdowns) also return. The backfield will also feature junior Levi Farris, who saw time as a reserve at fullback last year. Christiansen said, once again, the Moose will feature a variety of options in the backfield.

“We want to keep people guessing a little bit,” Christiansen said.

The Moose also bring back their leading receiver from 2016. Michael Daniels finished with 16 catches for 212 yards as a junior. Skyler Hale (5 catches, 77 yards, one touchdown) is also back.

The Moose will have a new quarterback, junior Luke Guggenmos.

“In (junior varsity) he was real successful,” Christiansen said of the junior signal caller. “We’re real excited about him.”

Leading the Moose up front is senior Jacob White, a returning starter at tackle. Senior Lucas Santana, a veteran with starts on both sides of the ball, is also back. Christiansen said the Moose will also be looking to a group of linemen who have been in the program to step into more prominent roles on the offensive and defensive lines.

“We’ve got a good mix of returning guys and (junior varsity) guys ready to step up,” Christiansen said.

Christiansen said the coaching staff will look to seniors such as Cutsforth, Glynn and Oviok to play key roles on defense, and be leaders on the team.

“Those three will be involved on both sides of the ball pretty heavily,” Christiansen said. “All three are good leaders for us.”

Overall, Christiansen said there’s a feeling of optimism around the program.

“We’re excited. We’ve got a real good coaching staff, and pretty good turnover with the older kids,” Christiansen said.

Last season, the Moose won four of their final five games of the regular season, and advanced to the postseason. Palmer beat Thunder Mountain 28-26 in the medium schools semifinals, before falling to Soldotna 49-13 in the state final.

Palmer opens the 2017 season Aug. 11 against North Pole at Machetanz Field.

“It’s going to be a challenge,” Christiansen said. “North Pole has good turnover. They’re pretty excited up there.”

Palmer follows with back-to-back road games against a pair of large-schools programs, Service and Colony, before opening its Northern Lights Conference schedule Sept. 1 at home against Kodiak. The Moose also hope Soldotna, which is carrying a 49-game winning steak into 2017, Sept. 8. The Moose have conference dates against Eagle River (Sept. 16) and Kenai (Sept. 23) before returning home to host Wasilla in the annual Potato Bowl on Sept. 29.

“It’s a tough schedule,” Christiansen said.

Another storyline for the Moose is Christiansen’s potential to break the state record for career wins by a head football coach. Christiansen, who was named head coach prior to the 1991 season, currently sits at 148 win, two behind the record-holder, the late Buck Nystrom, the longtime head coach at both Eielson and North Pole.

Nystrom won 150 games during his 31 seasons as a head coach.

*** Editor’s note: This is the third piece of a five-part series previewing the 2017 seasons of the Valley’s five prep football programs. For features about the Houston Hawks and Redington Huskies, see fontiersman.com/sports. For features about the Wasilla Warriors and Colony Knights, see upcoming editions of the Frontiersman.