QB finds end zone 5 times for Warriors

WASILLA — Sometimes even when it’s just threatening to rain it pours.

Overcast skies could only produce a random second-half sprinkle Friday, but by then the Wasilla Warriors were well on their way to routing Lathrop 55-0 in what was easily the home team’s best overall performance of the season.

After a sloppy three-point loss to North Pole two weeks earlier, Wasilla head coach Glenn Nelson said he was waiting for one of his two quarterbacks to step up and claim the starting spot. That’s what AJ Marshall did with deadly efficiency, throwing for four touchdowns and running for another.

It was a dominating performance that dropped the Malemutes to 0-4 on the season and extended their winless streak to 19 games. It also caps a three-game span in which Wasilla has outscored Lathrop a combined 173-0.

The difference is in the discipline, Nelson said.

“It’s just cutting down on the penalties and the turnovers,” he said. “The kids have been doing a lot of push-ups in practice, a lot of flipping tractor tires. I guess it’s paid off.”

Along with a stifling defense that allowed Lathrop only 59 total yards for the game, Marshall’s decision making from the pocket was also sharp, the coach said.

“The (offensive) line also played well,” he said. “Some of those passes AJ got were a result of good timing.”

Playing more mistake-free football also helps with confidence, as the Warriors pull back to .500 at 2-2 after losing their first two games of the season. Friday’s game was also one where all the pressure was on the Warriors.

“The kids are playing with a little more pride,” Nelson said. “This is our field, and we’re working for the playoffs. You don’t want to be the team that takes them from 0-19 to 1-18.”

For Marshall, being the primary play-caller also has another advantage — Brayden Kuiper goes from behind center to being a primary target at wide receiver. At 6-foot-5, Kuiper makes a big target and caught a pair of touchdown passes.

“He’s a really good target,” Marshall said, adding the offensive line played stellar. “The line did a great job. They blocked phenomenally and really rose to the occasion. Our team’s really starting to put it together.”

As for making the move to wide receiver, Kuiper said the transition isn’t that difficult. He played the position as a freshman.

“I like it,” he said, adding he also likes catching touchdowns as much as throwing them. “I’m happy for today with the big win, but tomorrow it’s time to focus on Juneau.”

Wasilla dominated Lathrop from the kickoff, holding the Malemutes to -12 yards overall deep into the second quarter. Lathrop would finish the half with 25 yards, most gained on Wasilla’s second-string defense.

Marshall set the tone early on Wasilla’s first possession, hitting tight end David Green for a 42-yard touchdown for a 7-0 lead.

And the rout was on. Marshall again capitalized on a big play on Wasilla’s next possession, connecting with Kuiper for a 36-yard score. The defense would then step up as linebacker Shane Gardner harassed the Malemute signal-caller in the end zone for a safety to open the second quarter.

Marshall would hook up with Green and Kuiper again and ran one into the end zone himself to give the Warriors a commanding 34-0 lead.

The second half was reserved for running the football and the clock, but Marshall wasn’t finished, hitting Izaak Probasco for an 11-yard score near the end of the third quarter. In the fourth, running back Tyler Polis powered in from seven yards out and James Craft put the exclamation point on the win with a 34-yard interception return for a touchdown to end the game.

Riding the wave of two wins has put a little swagger in the Warriors’ step, Marshall said, but the team is only scratching the surface of its potential.

“We are not committing as many turnovers and penalties,” he said. “I think we have a lot of potential. It’s exciting.”

Wasilla 55, Lathrop 0

Friday, Veterans Memorial Field

First Quarter

Wasilla — Green 42 from Marshall (Solovyov kick) 7:56

Wasilla — Kuiper 36 from Marshall (kick failed) 3:15

Second Quarter

Wasilla — Safety 11:45

Wasilla — Green 30 from Marshall (2-point failed) 10:57

Wasilla — Marshall 14 run (2-point failed) 9:20

Wasilla — Kuiper 6 from Marshall (Solovyov kick) 6:57

Third Quarter

Wasilla — Probasco 11 from Marshall (Sliwa kick) 2:17

Fourth Quarter

Wasilla — Polis 7 run (Sliwa kick) 5:20

Wasilla — Craft 34 interception (Sliwa kick) 1:38

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Wasilla: Marshall 8-31, Polis 7-24, Teeling 7-72, Wild 1-7, Anderson 1-(-9); Lathrop: No. 3 14-33, Sutton 7-(-5), Desmond 1-2, Barnett 1-2.

PASSING — Wasilla: Marshall 8-12-4-117, Kuiper 1-2-0-49; Lathrop: No. 3 6-11-0-26, Desmond 0-1-0-0.

RECEIVING — Wasilla: Green 3-70, Probasco 3-58, Kuiper 2-42, Teeling 1-4; Lathrop: Barnett 2-25, Wallingford 2-10, Graham-Taylor 1-2, McCoy 1-0.