Running attack leads Moose past Eagle River

PALMER — Still in contention for a postseason berth, the Palmer Moose varsity football team needed a strong second half to fend off visiting Eagle River at Machetanz Field Friday night. Led behind a strong rushing game, including four rushing touchdowns by senior Nick DeBach, the Moose wrapped up a 43-13 homecoming victory.

Palmer coach Rod Christiansen said both DeBach and fellow running back Jeff Glynn played well offensively. He also credited the effort of Jared Brown, a special teams man, had his first start on offense.

“He earned some more playing time tonight,” Christiansen said. “And Trey (Witz) had some good runs.”

The coach also issued kudos to Farris, Jacoby Glenn and Travis Wheeler, who along with Lucas Santana, and Jacob White, played solid on the defensive side.

Christiansen said he was a little concerned with the slow offensive start his team put forth. In a game riddled by penalties on both teams, the Moose got on the board first. Eagle River received the opening kickoff but soon received a dose of Palmer defense which played strong throughout the contest. After a four-and-out for the visitors, the Moose strung together a series that ate up most of the first quarter. At the 1:10 mark, DeBach capped it with a 16-yard scamper into the end zone. He also ran in the conversion making it 8-0 Palmer with 1:10 remaining in the first quarter.

After exchanging series and with the Moose driving, Eagle River’s defense recovered a bad snap taking possession at its own 15-yard line. Again, Palmer stood tall defensively and made a quick offensive trip down the field, scoring at the 9:11 mark. This time, DeBach scampered seven yards putting the home team ahead 14-0.

A successful Larry Cutsforth kick upped it to 15-0.

The Wolves finally got things going offensively on their next series. Starting at the Eagle River 40, the visitors answered back about three minutes later. A couple of Jordan Porter runs put the ball inside Palmer’s red zone. Wolves quarterback Thad Heagy then threaded the ball to wide receiver TJ Adams from just outside the 10-yard line cutting the home team’s lead to 15-7 at the 6:05 mark.

Palmer took over at midfield and was unable to put anything together. The Wolves followed suit with a three-and out. The Moose then took over and had a third trip by DeBach called back on a holding play. After eventually advancing the ball close to Eagle River’s red zone again, the Wolves scarfed up a fumble at their own 23-yard line. Again, the Moose defense rose up and caught Heagy in the end zone for a safety with 28 seconds left and the half ended 17-7 Palmer.

The Wolves kicked off to start the second half and Palmer took possession on its own 35 only to lose it on a fumble on its next play. Eagle River advanced the ball to the 15-yard line several plays later and got to the eight before turning it over on downs. Taking over on their own six, the Moose moved the ball six more yards on the next play but followed that up with a fumble at the five.

The Wolves’ Dawson Porter scampered 10 yards to pay dirt for their second score. The point-after kick was no good but that cut the home team’s lead to 17-13. From there on out, it was all Palmer. The Moose capped a 33-yard drive with DeBach’s 4-yard run to the goal line with just under five minutes left in the third quarter. Cutsforth made good on the PAT kick upping the score to 24-13.

Moose defense answered the call again on the ensuing kickoff forcing as defensive back Jared Oviak grabbed the ball on Eagle River’s 33-yard line. After an off-sides call negated a touchdown, Moose quarterback Clayton Southwick connected with Austin Farris with just less than three minute left in the period. The two-point conversion failed but the home team still enjoyed a comfortable 30-13 lead.

Eagle River suffered three penalties on its next drive and went backward on the field before having to punt. Palmer took over at midfield advancing the ball to the Wolves 15 before the quarter concluded. Again penalties cost the home team as one touchdown set up by a Witz run was called back. Witz did find the end zone right after that with a 19-yard reception with 10:38 left on the clock. With the point after good, Palmer was up 37-13.

Both teams exchanged the ball for a good chunk of the clock until a series of Oviak efforts led to the final score of the contest. His 11-yard effort with 39 ticks left on the clock capped the game for the Moose.

Contact Frontiersman reporter at Chris Ford at chris.ford@frontiersman.com.