Running strong

PALMER — The Palmer Moose seem to be rotating their strengths.

Last year, Palmer boasted a veteran offensive line, but a generally inexperienced crop of players at the skill positions.

This year, it’s nearly the opposite.

Virtually everyone returns from a backfield that combined to rush for more than 2,000 yards last season, but Palmer is replacing four graduated starters on an offensive line that will look to push the Moose into the 4A state playoffs for the 15th time in the last 16 years.

“They’re going to work hard mentally to be in the right places, and physically to get after people and give the running backs a place to run,” longtime Palmer head coach said of his offensive line which features only one returning starter, senior Evan Parsons.

The 5-foot-11 senior has been penciled into a guard position, Christiansen said Thursday, and should be joined by seniors Danny Konkler, Chris Bailey and Mike Daniels up front.

The luxury for Palmer this season is the veteran depth in the Moose backfield.

Three of Palmer’s top four rushers from the 2008 season return and five of the seven players who reached the end zone for the Moose are back.

Leading the balanced attack is senior Brennan Bohmam, who rushed for 681 yards and four scores last season. Seniors Coleman Ahrens (461-5) and John Scoresby (268-2) are also back.

Bohman eclipsed the 100-yard mark in three straight games early in the 2008 season, Ahrens topped 100 twice and Scoresby hit 100 yards in each of the final two games of the year for a Moose squad that advanced to the state playoffs for the ninth straight year.

Senior Dustin Silva will be back under center. Although Silva has been pushed by junior A.J. Corbin, Christiansen said the starting quarterback job should be Silva’s.

As a junior, Silva rushed for a pair of touchdowns and threw for 406 yards and two scores. All but 23 of those passing yards came during the final four weeks of the season. Christiansen said the experienced gained as a junior was key to the signal caller’s development.

“Every time I see that, it’s like there’s a whole new player next year,” Christiansen said. “He’s got the confidence now. He’s been through a lot of situations.”

Also returning is Jim McCall, who rushed for a pair of touchdowns last year.

On the other side of the ball, Ahrens and Scoresby are expected to lead the Moose defense from their linebacker positions. Parsons should see time at linebacker and on the defensive line, Christiansen said.

Daniels could be a leader up front, and the Moose have returning starters in Bohman and McCall in the defensive backfield.

The Moose, who finished 5-4 overall last year and suffered a first-round loss to Juneau-Douglas during the first week of the postseason, open with a nonconference match against Dimond Saturday at 7 p.m. at Machetanz Field. Next week, the Moose open Railbelt play with a home game against Lathrop.

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