Patriots top Warriors in shootout

WASILLA — The North Pole Patriots won a shootout against the Wasilla Warriors at Veterans Memorial Field 50-34 Friday night, but the game was much closer than the score would indicate.

Jamie Johnson started the first drive by snatching a touchdown high in the air, just a minute and a half into the game. On the Patriots next possession, quarterback Craig Borba ran to the sideline escaping defensive linemen and sent a pass towards Johnson. The senior wideout bobbled the ball, then regained control in the end zone for his second score in the game's first six minutes. After Wasilla lost possession of a fumble, North Pole running Back C.J. Fontana took a pitch to the outside and beat the defense to the corner of the end zone, building the Patriot lead to 22 points over Wasilla, seemingly on their way to a blowout.

But the Warriors had other ideas.

Wasilla would recover a fumble early in the second quarter and march down the field to their first score of the game, a 5-yard run by Matthew Trask. Facing fourth down, Warrior quarterback Aeron Milliron rifled a pass to Sean McDermott near the corner of the end zone, cutting the North Pole lead to just seven points.

"We fought back from being 22 points down. It's tough to come back from that much, we brought it back to being down one, and our boys fought to the end and played hard. So I was very proud of that," Wasilla head coach Will Stout said.

Following halftime adjustments, Wasilla methodically marched the ball down the field, eating up nearly eight minutes of third-quarter clock. Milliron made one of his many clutch throws when his team needed his accuracy most, finding Christian Fuller in the end zone. After the failed two-point conversion attempt, the Warriors trailed by just one point.

After holding the Patriots high-powered offense scoreless for nearly 25 minutes of play, North Pole wasted no such time in reaching the end zone for their first score of the second half when junior Bradley Antesberger scored from 8 yards out.

The Warriors quickly moved down the field and knocked on the door of the end zone before Milliron's pass was intercepted by Jacob Pflughoeft near the goal line and returned 40 yards. The Warriors caused a fumble on the next play from scrimmage. Each offense struggled to maintain momentum, as penalties plagued both teams. Stellar defensive line play had both quarterbacks scrambling out of the pocket in order to complete passes all night.

Fuller hauled in another touchdown pass on fourth down for Wasilla, this one from 7 yards out. Opting to try and tie the game instead of going for the lead, Stout sent his kicker Emmett Millhouse to try for the point after, which was blocked.

Antesberger sprinted 65 yards for his second score, when a costly fourth quarter fumble set up Johnson for his third touchdown reception of the game. Borba lofted a pass from 22 yards out, and Johnson battled through physical defensive backs to leap and catch the ball at it's highest point in the air.

"They'll fight till the last whistle," said Stout. "Things will be tough and not always go your way, but you've got to fight till the end and make the most out of your opportunities."

Down, but not out, Wasilla came right back. Milliron heaved a 39-yard pass to Reilly Devine.

Not wanting to give the ball back to a Warrior offense that had found it's stride, the Patriots used nearly all of the remaining four minutes on the game clock. Easton Kervin scored with just 18 seconds left to seal the game for North Pole.

Tim Rockey is a freelance reporter. Contact him at timothy.rockey@gmail.com.

North Pole 50, Wasilla 34

Friday, Wasilla High School

First Quarter:

North Pole - Johnson 35 pass from Borba (Fontana run) 10:29

Johnson 16 pass from Borba (Fontana run failed) 6:31

Fontana 6 run (Fontana run) 4:38.

Second Quarter:

Wasilla - Trask 5 run (Trask run) 3:56

McDermott 15 pass from Milliron (Millhouse kick) :35

Third Quarter:

Wasilla - Fuller 27 pass from Milliron (Fuller run failed) 4:52

North Pole - Antesberger 8 run (Antesberger run failed) 2:11.

Fourth Quarter:

Wasilla Fuller 7 pass from Milliron (Millhouse kick failed) 9:49.

North Pole - Johnson 22 pass from Borba (Fontana run) 7:46

Wasilla - Devine 39 pass from Milliron (Millhouse kick) 4:06

North Pole - Kirven 4 run (Borba run) :18.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing: North Pole - Fontana 16-132, Kirven 8-36, Borba 1 - (-1), Plunk 1-2, Johnson 1-2, Antesberger 7-93; Wasilla - McDermott 8-18, Milliron 12-61, Trask 13-69, Devine 1-18, Shogren 4-21, Quenga 3-11.

Passing: North Pole - Borba 5-13-3-127; Wasilla - Milliron 10-16-4-1-162.

Receiving: North Pole- Johnson 5-127; Wasilla - McDermott 3-48, Shogren 2-18, Fuller 3-49, Devine 2-47.