South ends Palmer's season in first round of football playoffs

ANCHORAGE — The Palmer Moose have had postseason success against South Anchorage in the past. But Friday, it was all South.

South scored a 42-2 win over Palmer during the large schools quarterfinals at Anchorage Football Stadium.

Justice Augafa rushed for a game-high 167 yards on 13 carries to help South create an all-Cook Inlet Conference semifinal. South will face Bartlett, which edged Wasilla 31-29 on Friday.

Augafa scored a pair of touchdown runs, and connected with Alain Devoe on a 27-yard scoring pass in the third quarter.

Nicholas Settle and Sam Cook also scored on touchdown runs for the Wolverines. South built an 18-0 lead with Augafa’s 27-yard score with 6:39 left in the first half. Palmer got onto the scoreboard late in the second quarter. The Moose were awarded a safety when South recovered a fumble in its own end zone with 2:45 left in the first half.

Jared Layton led Palmer with 78 yards on 24 carries. Fullbacks Wyatt McGann (27 yards) and Wayne Hershman (21 yards) combined for 48 on the ground.

The Moose came into the game hampered by injuries and missing two of their top players. Junior Chase Ferris, the large schools rushing leader, suffered a season-ending injury in the first half of a Week 8 loss to Wasilla. Senior Ben Button, who was recently named the Railbelt Conference Lineman of the Year, was lost to a season-ending injury during a Week 7 win over Colony.

Palmer did set a state record with its postseason appearance. This marked the 15th straight season that Palmer advanced to the playoffs. It was also Palmer’s 20th trip to the postseason in school history, which is also a large schools state record.

South Anchorage 42, Palmer 2

Large schools quarterfinals

Friday, Anchorage

First Quarter:

South — Murray 18 punt return (kick failed) 4:46.

South – Settle 29 run (run failed) 2:26.

Second Quarter:

South – Augafa 27 run (run failed) 6:39>

Palmer – Safety (South recovered fumble in own end zone) 2:45.

Third Quarter:

South – Seglem 32 field goal 9:13.

South – Augafa 39 run (Seglem kick) 7:23.

South – Devoe 27 pass from Augafa (Seglem) 4:38.

Fourth Quarter:

South – Cook 66 run (Seglem kick) 7:38.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Palmer: Layton 24-78, McGann 4-27, Hershman 6-21, Angol 3-16. South: Augafa 13-167, Settle 12-89, Cook 4-72, Hoover 1-0, Hanks 2-(-2).

PASSING — Palmer: Roth 2-14-0—26. South: Augafa 1-3-0—27.

RECEIVING — Palmer: Reeves 1-17, Layton 1-9. South: Devoe 1-27.