Prep football: Warriors win Potato Bowl, Hawks undefeated in regular season, Knights cap regular season with big win

The coveted Mayor’s Cup has returned to Wasilla High School.

Wasilla reclaimed the prize with a 56-0 win over rival Palmer during the 44th Potato Bowl Friday at Palmer High School.

Quarterback Jaidus Huffman accounted for seven total scores to help the Warriors earn the Mayor’s Cup, the traveling trophy awarded to the winner of the Potato Bowl each year, for the first time since 2020 and just the second since 2014. It marks Wasilla’s 12th win since the Potato Bowl was kicked off in 1979. It’s among Alaska’s longest standing and most storied events in Alaska prep football history,

Huffman threw for 273 yards and five touchdown passes in the win, and added 75 yards and two rushing scores.

Timothy Grisso grabbed three of those passes for 122 yards and two scores. Max Larson also caught two touchdown passes, and finished with four receptions for 69 yards. Keegan Freezell caught another Wasilla touchdown pass.

Toben Michaud rounded out the scoring with a 24-yard touchdown run.

Kayson Asay led Palmer with 66 yards rushing.

Wasilla finished the season 4-4 overall and 2-2 in Northern Lights Conference play. Palmer finished 0-7 overall and 0-4 in the NLC.

Houston 49, Redington 14

The Houston Hawks had a big night scheduled for Friday. It was senior night, homecoming and the Pink Bowl, the annual game with rival Redington that promotes cancer awareness.

The Hawks had the opportunity to celebrate it all with a victory, and earn a conference title in the process with a 49-14 win over the defending state champion Huskies.

Houston scored on offense, defense and special teams in the win. Mark Kudryn rushed for 80 yards and three scores. Trenton Hawes added 55 yards on the ground and a touchdown.

Noah Whitted and Branden Hina returned interceptions for touchdowns, Kudryn blocked a punt, and Keldin Nicoll scooped up the loose ball and returned it 22 yards for a score.

Houston finished the regular season 7-0 for a touchdown.

The Hawks will host MAC rival Barrow Friday at 6 p.m. in the Division III semifinals.

Colony 49, Service 8

The Colony Knights had a pair of rough weeks in Cook Inlet Conference action in early September, with lopsided losses to Juneau and Bartlett.

But in the last two weeks, things have been different for the Valley’s lone CIC football program. The Knights scored a huge 38-17 win over West Anchorage on Sept. 23.

And another big win followed.

Colony capped its regular season with a 49-8 win over Service in Anchorage.

Junior quarterback Jack Nash put together more than 300 total yards of offense and five touchdowns in the win. Nash completed 12 of 17 passes for 213 yards and four touchdowns. He also ran for 101 yards and a score.

Nash connected with receiver Jayce Underwood for three touchdowns, on completions of 16, 44 and 45 yards. Underwood finished with four catches for 147 yards.

Trevor Jamison also caught a touchdown pass.

Cole Hamilton and Porter Reynolds added rushing touchdowns for the Knights.

Colony finished the regular season 6-2 overall and 5-2 in CIC play. The Knights will see more of the Cougars this week. Colony hosts Service in the first round of the CIC playoffs Friday at 7 p.m. at CHS.

Contact the Frontiersman at sports@frontiersman.com.