Teams make statements during the fourth week of the prep football season

During the second half of Colony’s 46-15 win over West in Anchorage last Thursday, Knights senior Jon Pomrenke reminded me of one of those bare-footed kickers you saw in the NFL in the 80s.

Standing on the sideline, locked in on every play, Pomrenke stood with his helmet and pads on. But something was missing. His right foot was bare. No sock or cleat. It was like watching Rich Karlis waiting for the green light to trot onto the Mile High grass for a field goal try. (Colony defensive coordinator Norm Bouchard will get that reference.)

Pomrenke wasn’t there to channel bare-footed kickers of the past. The senior hobbled off the field during the final seconds of the first half after making a tackle, and didn’t see any action in the second half.

Jokes aside, it was good to see. Sometimes after an injury, a player sits isolated on the bench, with a head down. But not Pomrenke, he was right there with his teammates, regardless of the injury.

Knights head coach Rhett Magner said Pomrenke wanted to play.

“Better safe than sorry,” Magner said.

And Magner’s right. The Knights were up by 28, and at this point, Pomrenke could be the best all-around player in the state. Before Pomrenke’s exit, the senior helped Colony make a statement against a West squad that will once again be among the state’s top Division schools when we hit October. Pomrenke rushed for 87 yards on only seven carries, and returned an interception 53 yards for a touchdown. In three-and-a-half games this season, Pomrenke has 508 yards rushing on only 21 carries.

No need to do the math to know that’s a pretty impressive average yards per carry.

Defensive statement

Speaking of statement, the Houston Hawks enjoyed a unforgettable night on defense during their 53-6 victory over Monroe Catholic Sept. 1 at Houston High School.

The Hawks scored five defensive touchdowns.

Yes five.

Five.

I think I have only covered a couple of teams that had five defensive scores in a season. Last year, Colony had four defensive touchdowns in nine games. Palmer, Wasilla and Houston had zero.

But Friday, Houston had five.

Houston returned four interceptions and a fumble recovery for scores. Isaac Goodman and Robert Ritter had two defensive scores each. Goodman picked off a pass in the end zone and returned it about 106 yards for a score, longtime Hawks defensive coordinator Jared Barrett said. Goodman returned another interception about 70 yards for a score, Barrett said.

Ritter returned both an interception and fumble recovery for scores. Owen Mulhaney also got involved, returning an interception about 65 yards for a score.

Barrett said the Hawks also had two more defensive touchdowns called back because of penalties.

Five defensive touchdowns in four quarters is mind-blowing. But the fact it could have been seven is absolutely unreal.

Making a statement, Part III

The first three weeks of the season weren’t easy on the Palmer Moose. But after three tough losses, the Moose ran into the win column with a 57-0 win over Kodiak Sept. 1 at Palmer High.

Palmer ran. And ran. And ran some more.

The Moose finished with 558 yards rushing, marking the first time Palmer eclipsed the 500-yard rushing mark since the Haakan Bohman-led Moose ran for 511 during a 40-20 win over West Anchorage Aug. 11, 2006.

Three Palmer running backs topped 100 yards. Jeff Glynn rushed for 189 yards and three touchdowns on only five carries. Jared Oviok also ran the ball only five times, but for 170 yards and two scores. Larry Cutsforth had 13 carries for 151.

How about another stat with a connection to the Bohamn family? Haakan’s younger brother Brennan was among the last three running backs who ran for 100 or more yards in the same game. Bohman (104), Johnny Daly (119) and John Scoresby (100) each finished with at least 100 during a win over Wasilla in the 2008 Potato Bowl.

In the win over Kodiak, quarterback Luke Guggenmos threw a pair of touchdown passes, including a 72-yarder to Skyler Hale.

I’m still trying to figure out the last time Palmer had a touchdown pass of at least 72 yards.

Super senior

Chugiak senior Derryk Snell had another huge day, scoring six times during a 61-13 win over Lathrop Sept. 2. It’s the second straight lopsided Railbelt Conference victory for the Mustangs, who blasted West Valley the week before.

Snell already has a dozen touchdowns this season. Through the first four weeks, Snell, by himself, has scored more points, 72, than Division I schools Service (69), South Anchorage (17), West Valley (53) and Dimond (58).

Traveling Outside

Chugiak is one of four Alaska teams with a road trip to the Lower 48 on the 2017 schedule. The Mustangs will be in North Logan, Utah, Friday night to play the Green Canyon Wolves, a first-year varsity program. Green Canyon is 1-2 overall, and scored its first program win, a 31-21 victory over Shelley, Idaho, Aug. 25 in Idaho.

Chugiak is 4-0.

The Soldotna Stars and Bartlett Golden Bears made trips outside last weekend. The Stars scored a 20-7 win over Crater High School, a program from Central Point, Oregon, at Del Norte High in Crescent City, California. Soldotna was slated to play in Central Point, but the game was moved to California due to poor air quality and the smoke from the wildfires burning across Oregon.

Bartlett also traveled to California playing Pleasant Valley in Chico. Pleasant Valley, a California defending state champion, beat the Bears 41-26.

Service also made a trip to California, falling 43-14 to Capital Christian in Sacramento earlier this season.

ASBN poll

It’s not a surprise there’s no change at the top of the latest Alaska Sports Broadcasting Network prep football polls.

After hammering West 46-15, Colony stayed on top of the Division I poll. Soldotna, which established residency on the top of the Division II/III poll about five years ago, is still there.

There are only four undefeated teams left in Alaska. Colony and Chugiak, both 4-0, are first and second in the DI poll. Soldotna and North Pole, also 4-0, are first in second in the Division II/III list.

Bartlett (2-2), East (3-1) and Service (2-2) hold the final three spots in the Division I top 5.

Eielson (3-1), Homer (3-1) and Kenai (3-1) occupy the final three spots in the Division II/III poll.

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