Palmer edges Wasilla 26-25 in junior varsity shootout

The Palmer and Wasilla junior varsity teams squared off Friday afternoon at Veterans' Memorial Field, setting a tough act to follow for the main event between the schools' varsity squads.

The game started with neither team able to score until late in the first quarter. With one minute and 23 seconds left in the first quarter, Wasilla's Danny Ament threw a touchdown pass to Pat Wallace, giving the Warriors a 6-0 lead.

Wasilla was able to score again with 8:10 remaining in the half on a great run by Steve Sprouse.

With Wasilla on Palmer's 21-yard line, Sprouse caught a short pass on the right side and bounced left en route to the end zone. Wasilla led 12-0.

Palmer's dormant first-half offense immediately came to life in the second half, taking the opening drive in for a touchdown.

After a crucial catch by Aaron Lopez on fourth-and-nine put the ball on the 1-yard line, Kenny Waterer burst into the end zone on the next play for a touchdown.

Wasilla made a critical mental mistake on the ensuing kickoff by letting the ball go uncovered. Palmer's Jeff Sorenson quickly pounced on it to take possession at Wasilla's 34-yard line.

Palmer wasted no time scoring a touchdown, capping the drive with a 3-yard run by Waterer. Palmer tied the game at 12-12.

When Wasilla's offense took the field for the first time in the second half, it responded quickly. With Wasilla on its own 20-yard line, Ament unleashed a bomb down the right side to Mack Langlois, who caught the ball in full stride and rambled down to the 15-yard line before he was brought down.

Ament then hit Bryant Shanigan for a 5-yard touchdown pass. Wasilla added the extra point to make the score 19-12.

The fourth quarter opened with Palmer driving the ball with its pounding running game.

Palmer scored with a 9-yard run up the middle by Waterer. Palmer regained the lead at 20-19 by adding the two-point conversion.

After alternating possessions, the lead again changed hands when Wasilla's Wallace took a pitch on the right side and ran 44-yards for the touchdown.

The two-point conversion was no good, leaving Wasilla with a 25-20 lead with 5:23 left in the game.

After the kickoff, Palmer drove down the field again. With third down and eight on Wasilla's 35-yard line, Justin Trammell picked up a key first down with a 9-yard run to keep the drive alive.

With 49 seconds left to play, Waterer scored his fourth touchdown of the game with a 5-yard run, giving Palmer the lead 26-25.

Wasilla's final effort started on the teams 32-yard line. With consecutive pass plays to Langlois, Wasilla found itself on Palmer's 25-yard line.

After three attempts with little gain, Wasilla faced a fourth-and-nine situation, with nine seconds left. As Ament dropped back to pass, Palmer's Chris Myers rushed through the line and forced a hurried pass that fell incomplete.

Palmer had come back from a 12-0 deficit at halftime to pull out a thriller

26-25.