Senior leads Moose in lopsided win over Eagle River

EAGLE RIVER — After missing virtually all of last week’s game, Palmer senior Chase Ferris was making up for lost times Thursday evening.

Ferris rumbled for a 59-yard score on Palmer’s second play from scrimmage to spark a 47-6 win over Eagle River at Eagle River High School.

“That was a big deal for us, he looked pretty good,” Palmer head coach Rod Christiansen said of the return of Ferris.

Ferris, the state’s leading large schools rusher as a junior, ran for 129 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and hauled in a touchdown pass to help Palmer improve to 3-1 overall and earn a win in its 2015 Northern Lights Conference opener.

Ferris scored on the 59-yard run at the 10:59 mark of the first. Just more than two minutes later, Ferris added a 9-yard touchdown run. Midway through the first quarter, Ferris grabbed an 11-yard Trey Witz touchdown pass.

“It was good for us to be able to get after it and do some things,” Christiansen said.

Ferris now has eight total touchdowns this season, despite missing the bulk of two games. Ferris left with an injury after the first quarter of a 35-19 win over Lathrop in Week 2. Last week, after consecutive 3-yard carries on Palmer’s first two plays, Ferris hobbled off the field and didn’t return during the loss to the Colony Knights.

Nick Daniels added a pair of touchdowns for Palmer. Daniels caught a 15-yard Witz touchdown pass late in the first quarter to give Palmer the 26-0 lead, and added an 8-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

Jeff Glynn rushed for 127 yards and a touchdown, and Austin Farris added another rushing touchdown for Palmer.

“We were doing very well and we tried to spread it around,” Christiansen said.

Palmer continues NLC play next week, hosting Soldotna Friday at 7 p.m. at Machetanz Field.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

Palmer 47, Eagle River 6

Sept. 3, Eagle River High School

First Quarter

Palmer – Ferris 59 run (Cutsforth kick), 10:59.

Palmer – Ferris 9 run (kick failed), 8:28.

Palmer – Ferris 11 pass from Witz (kick failed), 4:58.

Palmer – Daniels 15 pass from Witz (Burton kick), 1:17.

Second Quarter

Palmer – Daniels 8 run (Burton kick), 7:07.

Third Quarter

Palmer – Farris 14 run (kick blocked), 3:00.

Fourth Quarter

Eagle River – Heagy 5 run (run failed), 7:32.

Palmer – Glynn 18 run (Glynn run), 6:28.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING – Palmer: Glynn 5-127, Ferris 10-129, Farris 2-29, Witz 1-11, Daniels 1-8, Southwick 2-(-16). Eagle River: Thompson 10-41, Porter 5-30, George 5-8, Heagy 4-3, Moseley 1-3, Clark 2-0, Walker 3-(-3), Osborne 3-(-4), Team 1-(-13).

PASSING – Palmer: Witz 2-2-0—26, Southwick 1-2-0--6. Eagle River: Heagy 6-9-1—36, Clark 2-5-0—26, Thompson 1-2-0--12.

RECEIVING – Palmer: Ferris 2-17, Daniels 1-15. Eagle River: Smith 3-22, Porter 2-31, Walker 2-15, Sivil 1-7, George 1-(-1).