Poll position

PALMER — When Colony kicks off against the Lathrop Malemutes tonight at 7 p.m. at Colony High School, the Knights want to continue their winning streak.

Colony had won two straight to start the 2009 season.

Colony probably wouldn’t mind keeping Lathrop’s scoreless streak alive. The Malemutes have yet to record a point in two games this year.

But there’s one streak the Knights want to snap.

Tonight, Colony wants to become the first 4A team this season to win after being placed at the top of the Alaska Sports Broadcasting Network Prep Football Poll.

“Now that we’re No. 1, that means our kids have to work harder to keep it,” Colony head coach Jamie Mayo said after the poll weekly poll was released Monday afternoon. “It’s easier to get it than keep it. Just look at recent weeks.”

Colony (2-0) is the third team in as many weeks to be placed in the top spot by voting sportswriters and sportscasters. Both North Pole and Bartlett held that position during the first two weeks, and both quickly fell out of the ASBN’s top-five with a loss.

To avoid that the Knights need a win over winless Lathrop tonight. Mayo said it’s key that his players do not overlook a Malemutes squad that hasn’t enjoyed much success this season.

“This week is a very important week for us now that we are ranked No. 1,” Mayo said. “It’s now more important that we keep focused. We want to stay ranked No. 1.”

Leading Colony on to the field tonight will be an experienced crew of veteran talent led by senior Matt Jaronik.

Last week in a 23-6 win over Kodiak, the three-time 3A state runner-up, Jaronik found a number of ways to help his team seal a victory.

At quarterback, Jaronik had more than 150 yards of total offense and notched an 11-yard touchdown run. On defense, Jaronik picked off a Kodiak pass. And on special teams, the senior broke a school record with a 92-yard punt return for a touchdown.

“He’s doing it in all three phases,” Mayo said. “He’s doing a great job on special teams, a great job at quarterback, and he’s the last line on defense.”

Jaronik is also one of seven returning starters on a Colony defense that has surrendered just an average of 6.5 points per game this season.

“We know what they can do,” Mayo said. “And they certainly know what each other can do.”

Wasilla at North Pole

Wasilla (0-2) is on the road for the first time this season, facing North Pole (1-1) tonight at 7 p.m. in the Interior.

The Warriors dropped to 0-2 with a 47-0 Railbelt loss to Juneau-Douglas and are one of two teams in the conference still looking for its first points of the season.

Bartlett downed Wasilla 39-0 two weeks ago.

The Patriots followed a season-opening 17-7 loss to Colony with a 47-7 win over the West Valley Wolfpack last week.

Palmer at West Valley

Palmer (2-0) is also on the road for the first time this season. The Moose are slated to hit West Valley High School in Fairbanks Saturday at 1 p.m. to face the 0-2 Wolpack.

Palmer stayed undefeated with a 46-0 win over Lathrop at Machetanz Field last week. West Valley quickly dropped to 0-2 in conference play with the 47-7 loss to North Pole.

The Wolfpack opened the season with a 41-0 loss to Juneau-Douglas in the capitol city.

Houston at Soldotna

While Wasilla and Palmer are leaving home for the first time this season, the Houston Hawks (0-2) are finally getting a chance to come home.

After being shut out twice on the road during the first two weeks of the football season, the Hawks will host the three-time defending 3A state champion Soldotna Stars Saturday at 2 p.m. at HHS.

Soldotna (1-1) had its 29-game winning streak snapped with a 34-21 nonconference loss to West Anchorage during the first week, but rebounded with a 33-0 win over Homer last weekend.

The Hawks, who dropped a 71-0 defeat to Kenai Central on the Peninsula last week, is looking to avoid an 0-2 start in the Northern Lights Conference.