Prep football: Knights roll past Wolfpack

Oct. 8, 2006

By DARRELL L. BREESE/ Frontiersman

PALMER - George Percak-Dennett loves the defense of the Colony Knights.

A fiery 6-foot-1, 212-pound senior defensive end, Percak-Dennett set the tone Friday night against visiting West Valley when he knocked down a pass from Wolfpack quarterback Duane Aamot on the game's first play from scrimmage.

The blocked pass, combined with a defense that allowed just three first downs, helped turn the Alaska Schools Activities Association state large-schools quarterfinal game into a 54-6 blowout victory, in favor of the Knights.

&#8220We've been doing it all year,” Percak-Dennett said. &#8220But tonight was a blast.”

Colony, ranked second in the Alaska Sports Broadcasting Network's large-school rankings, entered the contest limiting opponents to 6.65 points a game during the regular season.

&#8220Our defense, I just love it,” Percak-Dennett said. &#8220I like the intensity. We're moving, flying around. Everybody's wrapping up. It takes a team defense to make great plays, and we're doing it right now.”

After batting down the pass, Percak-Dennett also set the tone for the Knights offense. On the third play of Colony's first possession, the senior caught a 23-yard Teddy Babcock touchdown pass.

As dominating as the defense was, the Knights demonstrated the efficiency of its passing game as Babcock threw for five touchdowns.

&#8220(West Valley) said we couldn't throw the ball,” Percak-Dennett said. &#8220I guess they were wrong about that.”

Colony head coach Jamie Mayo, who is normally careful not to say the wrong thing following a game, spoke openly about the Knights' passing game.

&#8220I know what I'm about to say will be bulletin board material, but I think Teddy (Babcock) is just as good, or better than any quarterback out there,” Mayo said. &#8220They were putting eight and sometimes nine bodies on the line of scrimmage to stop our running game, leaving our passing game wide open.”

With the Wolfpack focused on containing running back Chebon Jimenez, Babcock had a career night. Completing 12-of-16 passes for 194 yards and five touchdown passes, he also added a 1-yard scoring run in the second quarter.

And he spread the ball around, completing passes to six different receivers. Ryan Coffman caught touchdown passes of 22 and 15 yards; Mike Zagars made scoring catches of 23 and 15 yards; and Percak-Dennett scored on the 23-yard catch-and-run in the first quarter.

Jimenez finally found holes in the West Valley defense in the second half, running for 84 of his 127 yards after the break - including a 25-yard touchdown in the third period.

As impressive as the Knights' numbers were on offense, the night belonged to the defensive unit.

&#8220All year people have been focusing on our offense,” Mayo said. &#8220But out defense has been the backbone of our success. Anytime you can hold a playoff team to just one touchdown, your playing pretty good defense.”

West Valley coach William Russell agreed.

&#8220They dictated the game both on offense and defense,” Russell said. &#8220They had an answer for everything our offense tried to do tonight.”

Ryan Coffman and Regis Price each picked off two passes, stalling any comeback hopes of the Wolfpack.

&#8220I think people under estimate us on defense,” Mayo said. &#8220They think we're all about offense.”

West Valley finally got on the scoreboard with a hook-and-lateral play as the final seconds ticked off the clock. Quarterback Duane Aamot tossed a short pass to Andy Musgrove, who lateraled the ball to Dustin Baxter.

Baxter ran in eight yards for the touchdown.

With the second unit in on offense in the fourth quarter, Colony added another touchdown as Bradley Truax hit Jaron Murphy on a wheel route down the sideline. Murphy slipped through a pair of would-be tacklers, and ran in for the 38-yard score.

The victory moves Colony into a semifinal game against the Chugiak Mustangs, a 33-14 winner over East Anchorage in other quarterfinal match Friday.

Contact Darrell L. Breese at 352-2267 or at darrell.breese@frontiersman.com.