Points pile up for Pats

NORTH POLE — The most important number for Lee Jones wasn’t 357 — the amount of yards he passed for — or five — how many touchdowns he threw.

It was the No. 2 on his brother Sterling Thomas’ jersey.

The North Pole Patriots quarterback donned the jersey in tribute to Thomas, who couldn’t play due to sickness, as the Patriots defeated the Wasilla Warriors 61-6 on Friday night in North Pole.

“I was ready to play today,” said Jones, who also had 40 yards rushing and returned an interception 62 yards for a touchdown. “I was kind of upset my brother didn’t play, so I wore his number.”

Jones, who regularly wears jersey No. 7, threw for 325 yards before halftime, heaving three touchdown passes to Phillip Hingst (25, 56 and 54 yards), and one each to Jared Isaacson (58 yards) and Justin Chace (9 yards).

The Patriots improved to 2-1 overall and in the Railbelt Conference.

Hingst, who finished the night with five receptions for 159 yards, scored North Pole’s first 21 points, as he caught the Patriots’ first three touchdowns and kicked a 28-yard field goal.

Isaacson had four catches for 125 yards, and Josh Hollett reeled in five passes for 64 yards.

The Patriots’ defense quashed any chance of a comeback as it held the Warriors to 94 yards in total offense.

“It was just playing football, just holding our assignments and not letting them blow us back,” North Pole defensive lineman Chris Wentland said.

Though the offense didn’t give Wentland and Co. much of a breather with quick-strike touchdowns — three were scored with fewer than four plays — North Pole’s defense wasn’t complaining.

“We’re always excited to get back out there,” Wentland said. “We just love flying around and making plays.”

Wasilla coach Glenn Nelson said the Warriors’ chances at a comeback diminished as three running backs and starting quarterback Cody Pfeifer were sidelined with minor injuries during the game. The Warriors played three quarterbacks and had nine ball carriers.

Wasilla put its only points on the board after the Patriots’ second touchdown. Isaiah Edwards returned the ensuing kickoff 66 yards to cut North Pole’s lead to 12-6 with 2:14 remaining in the first quarter.

With a 35-6 halftime lead, the Patriots turned to senior running back Eric Antesberger, who had 63 of his 76 yards in the second half.

Antesberger, Alex Innes and Frankie Anderson supplied North Pole with rushing touchdowns after halftime.

“Once we get that D-line down, that’s when we turn it over to the hogs,” Patriots head coach Richard Henert said, referring to North Pole’s running backs and offensive line.

NORTH POLE 61, WASILLA 6

Friday, at North Pole High School

Scoring

First Quarter

NP—Hingst 25 pass from Jones (Martinez kick failed), 4:21

NP—Hingst 56 pass from Jones (Martinez kick failed), 2:26

W—Edwards 66 kickoff return (Pfeifer pass fail), 2:14

NP—Hingst 28 field goal

Second Quarter

NP—Hingst 54 pass from Jones (Martinez run failed)

NP—Chace 9 Pass from Jones (Martinez kick)

NP—Isaacson 58 pass from Jones (Martinez kick)

Third Quarter

NP—Antesberger 10 run (Martinez kick), 6:48

NP—Innes 5 run (Martinez kick blocked), 2:15

NP—Jones 62 interception return (Martinez kick failed), 0:01

Fourth Quarter

NP—Anderson 24 run (Martinez kick), 4:19

Individual Statistics

Rushing

Wasilla: Polis 8-34, Bydlon 3-22, Hall 4-12, Green II 2-0, Fielder 3-7, Marsh 3-7, Langendorf 5-4, Griffiths 1-3, Pfeifer 2-(-9), Welton 1-(-17). North Pole: Antesberger 12-76, Jones 4-40, Anderson 1-24, Barrie 2-7, Innes 1-5, Johnson 1-2, Frazier 5-10, Isaacson 1-(-2).

Passing

Wasilla: Pfeifer 4-11-1-31, Marshall 0-1-0-0. North Pole: Jones 15-20-0-357.

Recieving

Wasilla: Green II 2-21, Taylor 1-5, Probasco 1-5. North Pole: Hingst 5-159, Isaacson 4-125, Hollett 5-64, Chace 1-9.