Palmer MYFA team wins in Kodiak

KODIAK — On a finger-numbing Saturday afternoon, a pair of mainland teams heated up Joe Floyd Track and Field.

Palmer and Chugiak, both from the Mat-Su Youth Football Association, defeated a pair of Kodiak Football League all-star teams in the yearly matchup between the two football leagues.

The Palmer team, composed of fifth- and sixth-graders, used big plays to roll up a 48-0 win over Kodiak’s Cub Division all-stars in the first Cub Bowl.

Chugiak, made up of seventh- and eighth-graders, ran all over Kodiak’s Grizzly Division all-stars 55-6 in the fifth edition of the Grizzly Bowl.

The two games closed the 2012 football season in Kodiak.

Grizzly Bowl

Chugiak went undefeated during its MYFA season to earn the trip to Kodiak.

On Saturday, the Mustangs stayed undefeated with the lopsided 55-6 win.

Chugiak logged 415 rushing yards and five touchdowns on only 38 carries spread among 10 players.

The Mustangs’ Isaiah Capers galloped for three touchdowns and a game-high 160 yards on only five carriers. The speedy back had touchdown runs of 36, 46 and 58 yards.

Chugiak also received rushing touchdowns from Trevor Hicks, Merrick Johnson, Bryant White and Cody Keen. Jakub Kindred also returned a block punt 25 yards for a score.

Kodiak’s offense accounted for only 25 rushing yards and 13 passing yards.

The home team’s only score came when Gage Hodson returned a third-quarter kickoff 65-yards to the end zone. Hodson also had another 40-yard kick return to go along with his team-high 23 rushing yards.

In the second quarter, Kodiak had two plays from Chugiak’s one, but was turned away both times. Chugiak then marched 99 yards on eight plays to take a 27-0 lead.

Kodiak’s longest play from scrimmage was a 19-yard bootleg from quarterback Giovanni Martinez.

The visitors led 13-0 after one, 27-0 at halftime and 41-6 at the end of the third to retain the Grizzly Bowl trophy.

Wasilla beat Kodiak 40-26 in last year’s Grizzly Bowl game played in the Mat-Su Valley. Kodiak hosts the game every other year.

Cub Bowl

Palmer’s offense and defense were equally impressive in its 48-0 win over Kodiak’s youngest players.

The explosive Moose offense needed only 32 plays to score seven touchdowns — three scores came on the first play of a drive, while two more were on the second play.

Levi Farris scored three times and rushed for 78 yards on five carries, while Leif Mumma ran for 81 yards and one score. Palmer also received scoring runs from Parker Smith, Elias Collins and Caleb White.

Palmer’s defense held Kodiak without a first down and -10 yards rushing yards on 30 attempts.

Hamo Sega led Kodiak with eight yards on 12 carries. Stevie Chopek’s 10-yard run in the second quarter was Kodiak’s longest play from scrimmage.

Palmer led 21-0 after the first, 35-0 at halftime and 42-0 at the end of the third.

This was the first time a KFL Cubs Division has fielded an all-star team.

Contact Mirror writer Derek Clarkston at sports@kodiakdailymirror.com.