Palmer rides big plays into postseason

PALMER — The Palmer Moose seniors knew they were, most likely, playing their final game at Machetanz Field Friday night. And those seniors wanted to go out with a bang.

The Moose went out with about 12 of them.

Palmer’s famed “Moose Gooser,” a 10-gauge cannon that fires after ever touchdown, extra point and victory, fired a dozen times as the Moose rolled to a 42-6 win over the Colony Knights.

Senior Ian Ahrens ran for three touchdowns and senior quarterback Jackson Buresh threw for three scores to lead Palmer to its first win over Colony since 2007.

“It’s big,” Ahrens said of scoring the win during the final home game of his high school career. “It’s more special, I think, that we beat Colony tonight. We haven’t beat Colony in our whole high school career.”

Similar to its win over North Pole last week, Palmer scored 28 second-quarter points en route to the win. Buresh threw for all three of his scores during that decisive second quarter to help Palmer earn the win and improve to 3-2 in Railbelt Conference play. Palmer’s win, coupled with Wasilla’s victory over North Pole in the Interior Friday, scored a postseason berth for the Moose.

The Moose scored four times in the second, but none was bigger than Steven Lee’s 50-yard touchdown reception midway through the quarter. With the Moose facing first down at midfield, Lee caught a short bubble screen, and scrambled up the right side line 50 yards for the score.

“(Offensive coordinator Brad Hanson) made a great call and saw something that would work,” Palmer head coach Rod Christiansen said.

The score also came only 20 seconds after Colony cracked the end zone, with a 25-yard Wyatt Peltier run.

“It was a big momentum shift,” Ahrens said. “Our offense saw something that was wide open. There was good blocking and Steven just made a play.”

Less than three minutes later, Palmer tacked on another score with another big play. Again on first down, Buresh dropped back to pass and found Jared Straight on the left side of the field. Straight made a juggling catch and went 62 yards for the score.

“Straight made some plays and Jackson was throwing the ball well,” Christiansen said.

Buresh also connected with sophomore James Nisbett on a 15-yard touchdown early in the second quarter. Ahrens, who scored a 6-yard run to cap Palmer’s opening drive, ended the half with a 10-yard run with 16 seconds to go in the second half.

“I really felt like our offense came out and did better,” Ahrens said. “We scored on our first drive, and we were able to answer when they scored.”

Palmer also showed balance, offensively, once again in the win. Four different players scored. Five players had five carries or more.

“It’s a lot of weight off our shoulders at this point,” said Palmer offensive tackle Ben Self. “We’re starting to get more in tune with each other (on offense).”

Self said the Moose are feeling good about their offense.

“We’re going to be confident, just not cocky,” Self said.

Ahrens led the Moose with 74 yards rushing and the three scores. Buresh added 47 and senior Doug Chadwick chipped in 40.

Buresh completed six passes for 135 yards.

Peltier used a stellar effort to provide Colony with its lone score. The junior running back broke a number of tackles en route to the 25-yard score, which cut Palmer’s lead in half at the 7:47 mark of the second.

Peltier led the Knights with 55 yards rushing. Junior Rob Lorentz completed nine passes for 101 yards, and connected with five different receivers. Sophomore Antonio Bush led the Knights with three catches for 41 yards.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com and follow him at twitter.com/matsu_sports.

Palmer 42, Colony 6

Friday, Machetanz Field

First quarter:

Palmer — Ahrens 6 run (kick failed) 6:33.

Second quarter:

Palmer — Nisbett 15 pass from Buresh (run failed) 10:19.

Colony — Peltier 25 run (kick failed) 7:47.

Palmer — Lee 50 pass from Buresh (Ahrens run) 7:27.

Palmer — Straight 62 pass from Buresh (Ahrens run) 4:46.

Palmer — Ahrens 10 run (Kahler kick) 0:16.

Third quarter:

No scoring.

Fourth quarter:

Palmer — Ahrens 4 run (Kahler kick) 10:12.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS:

RUSHING — Colony: Peltier 9-55, Lorentz 6-27, Summers 6-18, Ertz 1-3; Palmer: Ahrens 12-74, Buresh 8-67, Nisbett 6-25, Chadwick 5-40, Roy 5-18, King 3-20, Merritt 1-1.

PASSING — Colony: Lorentz 9-21-0—101; Palmer: Buresh 6-10-0—135.

RECEIVING — Colony: Bush 3-41, Campbell 2-17, Billafer 2-10, Hightower 1-19, Summers 1-15; Palmer: Lee 3-76, Straight 2-64, Nisbett 1-15.