Palmer Moose set to make debut on new turf field

PALMER — The idea of installing artificial field turf at Palmer High School had been proposed for years, and talked about for months.

Construction began in May and crews worked throughout the summer on the project. But until this week, Palmer High had no idea if the new field would be ready for its first home football game of the season. Even as recent as Monday, school officials were not sure if the installation would be complete.

But Wednesday afternoon, Palmer players finally had a chance to take their first steps on their new home field. Saturday, Palmer will host its first game at of the season at Machetanz Field, on schedule, and will debut its new playing surface as the Moose face the Kodiak Bears at 2 p.m.

“It was almost surreal. It felt like, are we really here,” Palmer head coach Rod Christiansen said of his players finally having a chance to practice on the upgraded Machetanz Field.

The Moose started their Wednesday practice just as they had every day for the past three weeks — expecting to do their work on the grass adjacent to Machetanz Field.

“Literally yesterday in practice warming up, the players are asking if we’re on the field,” Christiansen said. “All I could say is, ‘I don’t know.’”

But later that afternoon, Palmer High activities director Jeff Thiede told Christiansen the new field was ready to be used.

“About 4:15 Jeff Thiede walked over, pointed as us and gave us the thumbs up,” Christiansen said.

Questions about the field had certainly added stress to the early stretch of the season. The Moose are off to a 2-0 start, and sit in a three-way tie for first in the Railbelt Conference after a convincing 50-16 win over Lathrop in Fairbanks last week.

But regardless of the early success, and the week-to-week preparation that goes along with any prep football season, there was that lingering thought that wouldn’t escape the minds of Christiansen, his coaches and players.

Would any or all of Palmer’s home games be in jeopardy?

“You try to put it out of your mind,” Christiansen said. “You control what you can control.”

Thiede was arguably the one person more stressed than Christiansen. As the project continued deep into July and spilled over into August, some wondered if the field would be ready in time for the Palmer football program to host home games on Aug. 24 and Aug. 31.

Thiede said an alternative plan was in place in case the field was not ready. With the Colony Knights on the road during Week 3, Thiede said Colony High offered to host the Palmer-Kodiak game.

Thiede praised the work of those involved in the project, notably Mat-Su Borough project manager Jeff Walden and Prosser-Dag Construction. There were delays during the project. Weather played a factor, and Thiede said contractors found a significant layer of silt on the scoreboard side of Machetanz Field that required extensive removal.

Palmer High was concerned the home football games would be in jeopardy, but Thiede said those involved in the project wanted to ensure every measure was taken to make sure the finished product was of the highest quality. In the end, Thiede said, Palmer High wants to boast a state-of-the-art facility. Overall, the project involves multiple phases. Future plans include adding seating to both the home and visitor sides of the field and renovating the press box.

The first phase of the project includes installation of a new synthetic track in addition to the artificial playing field.

The installation of the track is a hurdle Palmer High is yet to clear. Project delays and poor weather pushed back the start date of the installation of the track. Tentatively, Thiede said, contractors have set Monday as the new date to possibly begin installation.

But there are still questions regarding when and if the track will be complete. Thiede said, according to contractors, a period of five to 14 days — with dry weather of 50 degrees of warmer — is needed, as subcontractors apply the eight to nine coats of synthetic material that makes what will be the artificial track.

If work does start on Monday, PHS may not be able to host its scheduled game against West Valley on Aug. 31. But if the work can’t be completed during the fall, Palmer High will not be able to host any events during the prep track and field season in the spring of 2013. Various community groups that regularly use the Palmer High track will also not have access if the track is not complete by next spring.

“That puts a huge damper on our spring sports,” Thiede said.

The decision to start the track installation will be made by the subcontractor.

Thiede admitted he is not optimistic, and wonders if there will be enough good weather to allow the subcontractors to complete the project.

If the track is not completed during the fall, Thiede said, work will have to resume in spring or summer 2013.

Because school officials did not have confirmation that the first home game would be played at Palmer until late this week, Thiede said Palmer High is planning to feature its field dedication ceremony on the night of the Potato Bowl — the annual match between Palmer and rival Wasilla — which is slated for Sept. 28.

As for Saturday, Christiansen said the Moose expect to face a tough Kodiak squad from the medium-schools Northern Lights Conference.

“I think they’re in an appropriate place, in the upper echelon of the medium-schools (class),” Christiansen said. “They’re definitely right in the mix there early in the year, and I am sure they’re aiming at the state title at that level.”

Kodiak, which didn’t play its first official varsity game until Week 2, is 1-0 after a 32-12 win over NLC rival Houston in Kodiak last week.

Melvin Javier rushed for a game-high 164 yards and three touchdowns during the win over the Hawks. Javier broke away for an 80-yard touchdown in the second quarter, and scored twice during the final 90 seconds of the first half.

“They ran the ball, and that’s been a weakness of ours — stopping that (run),” Christiansen said. “We’ve got to go back to basics. Stop the run, establish the run.”

Palmer ran away from Lathrop in Week 2. Vincent Aumavae scored four rushing touchdowns and eclipsed the 100-yard mark on the ground during the route of the Malemutes. James Nisbett added a pair of rushing touchdowns in the win. Ben Aumavae also scored on the ground.

Quarterback Cameron Christiansen threw a touchdown pass for the second consecutive week.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com, follow him @matsu_sports and find him by searching Valley Sports Huddle on Facebook.