Prep football: Old foes to collide

Aug. 17, 2007

By Jeremiah Bartz/ Frontiersman

PALMER - Soldotna's not the average small-schools program.

Palmer head coach Rod Christiansen knows that, and won't deny the fact his Moose will have their hands full tonight as they host the defending small-schools state champion Stars at Machetanz Field at 7 p.m.

"They have a lot of returners, and they're motivated to do it again,” Christiansen said on Thursday. "And they have a little more confidence.”

Soldotna (1-0) returned 13 starters from a squad that finished 9-1 and beat Kodiak 29-20 in the 2006 small-schools state title game last October.

Last week, the Stars started the 2007 in dynamic fashion, running past North Pole 62-42 in a virtual track meet in Soldotna.

Like the Moose, the Stars thrive on the run. The Soldotna rushing attack logged 43 carries, compared to only two pass attempts, and eclipsed the 400-yard mark.

Both tailback Bryce Gardner and fullback Marvin Tate topped 150 yards, and the Stars posted nine rushing touchdowns.

Christiansen said the Stars are capable of running the trap, sweep, play-action pass and quarterback Anthony Griglione can carry the ball as well.

"They've got about five plays, and they do it well,” Christiansen said. "It's all about execution.”

One of the biggest factors in the success of the Soldotna offense is deception, Christiansen said. Teams really have to focus on reading the scheme.

Opponents also have to worry about the Soldotna offensive line.

"The line is probably their real strength,” Christiansen said. "They're big, mobile guys.”

Christiansen compared Soldonta's front unit to a Chugiak line, said to be among the best at the large-schools level.

"They've got a couple big tackles and a real big center,” Christiansen said. "We're going to have to be real quick if we have a chance.”

Palmer's defensive efforts should be led by senior lineman Everest Moore, who stood out in a 19-14 loss to Dimond last week, and linebackers Shannon Sawyer and J.D. Mitchell.

Christiansen called the loss to the Lynx at Anchorage Football Stadium a learning experience for a defense that includes three sophomore starters, and several athletes who played mainly junior varsity ball last season.

While the Moose stifled Dimond's running game - the Lynx managed only 2.4 yards per carry - Dimond senior wide receiver Rylan Whilden burned Palmer with eight catches for 234 yards and two touchdowns.

Despite that glaring statistic, Christiansen said it was a game the Moose realistically should have won, and their were certainly many positives from the Palmer standpoint.

&#8220We had several players come in and play surprisingly better than we'd hoped,” Christiansen said.

The Moose forced a pair of turnovers on defense, quarterback Conrad Smith hooked up with receiver Mitch Swetzof on a 41-yard touchdown pass and wide receiver Justin Draughon hauled in six passes for 72 yards.

Tonight Palmer and Soldotna, formerly foes in the old Northern Lights Conference, hook up for the second consecutive season. Last season, the Stars edged Palmer 10-7 in a rain-soaked nonconference affair on the Kenai Peninsula.

Houston @ Eielson

Last season the Houston Hawks and Eielson Ravens met in the final week of the regular season, with the Greatland Conference title on the line.

Although the Hawks face the Ravens tonight on Eielson Air Force Base, this game in the second week of the season could play a big role in the hunt for the conference title.

Houston suffered a 46-0 loss to Kenai Central, a perennial power at the 3A level, last week. Before the beginning of the season, Houston head coach Norm Bouchard said the game against the Kardinals will give the Hawks a good indicator on where they stand, and what they need to do to prepare for a very important conference contest against the Ravens.

Playing from behind, the Hawks showed they had the ability to throw the ball. Junior quarterback Jordan Webb finished his first start, with 23 competitions and 198 yards passing. Webb also had 34 attempts and no interceptions.

"We decided to put the football in our quarterback's hands,” Bouchard said in a story that appeared in the Sunday edition of the Frontiersman. "The receivers caught the football and we were able to move the football but not able to score …”

Junior Bryan Mason led the Hawks with a game-high eight catches for 103 yards.

Ryan Contreras and Jon Stinson each had four receptions.

Wasilla @ West Valley

The Wasilla Warriors take the new wishbone offense north to face the West Valley Wolfpack tonight in Fairbanks at 7 p.m.

Wasilla powered its way to 301 rushing yards and 28 second-half points in a 41-6 win over the Eagle River Wolves last week.

&#8220Our biggest thing is trying to establish a new line of scrimmage,” Wasilla head coach Jim Shetter said after the win. &#8220Our big goal is to run the ball.”

Junior Chris Crane rushed for a game-high 96 yards on 11 carries. He scored the Warriors' first touchdown, a 30-yard run in the first quarter and caught an Adrese Lavern touchdown pass in the third quarter.

Senior Joe Barkley rushed for 79 yards, senior Mike Chafin ran for 62 yards and junior Beebo Russel added 50 yards and a touchdown.

The running game opened up the pass for the Warriors in the second half. Lavern, a transfer from West Anchorage, tossed three touchdown passes in the second half.

Senior Patrick Campbell and junior Tim Orr each snagged scoring catches.

Barkley led the Warrior defense with three interceptions, and a 33-yard return for a touchdown.

West Valley surrendered 22 third-quarter points in a 44-23 loss to West Anchorage in Fairbanks.

Playing from behind, the Wolfpack threw the ball 44 times. Starter Sam McKinstry finished 18-of-30, with 259 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions.

The Wolfpack managed only 51 yards on 23 carries.

This contest will open the Railbelt Conference schedule for both teams.

Colony @ North Pole

Colony also opens Railbelt play at North Pole at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

This is the second trip to the Interior in as many weeks for the Knights. Colony stomped Eielson 47-0 last week at Eielson Air Force Base.

The Patriots, meanwhile, suffered a 62-42 loss to Soldotna on the Kenai Peninsula.

The new look Knights - Colony graduated 20 of its starters from a 2006 squad that advanced to the state title game - made easy work of the defending Greatland Conference champion Ravens.

Senior Jaron Murphy, who started in the defensive backfield last season, ran the ball 15 times for 188 yards in his first start on offense.

Murphy also scored three times in the first two quarters.

D.J. Muton added 92 yards rushing, two rushing touchdowns and a scoring catch.

The Colony defense picked off a trio of Eielson passes.

North Pole topped 400 total yards in its loss to Soldotna, but surrendered 402 rushing yards and 43 second-half points to the Stars.

Senior Todd McCormick led the Patriots with 203 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown. Junior quarterback Steven Wright hooked up with senior receiver Andy Musgrove three times for scores.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.